[Cutaneous sarcoidosis through a hospital series of 28 cases].
BACKGROUND
Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease, of unknown etiology, characterized by noncaseating epithelioid granulomas. It may affect many organs mainly lungs, lymph nodes and skin.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study is to evaluate retrospectively the epidemiological, clinical features and therapeutic particularities of cutaneous sarocidosis through a hospital series conducted in the dermatology department of Habib Thameur hospital. METHODS We have included 28 patients (23 females and 5 males) with a mean age of 45.5 years.


RESULTS
The most frequent skin lesions were: papular sarcoidosis in 6 cases, nodular sarcoidosis in 8 cases and plaques in 6 cases. The other clinical types observed were: lupus pernio (2 cases), subcutaneous nodules (2 cases) and scar sarcoidosis (2 cases). Three patients presented erythema nodosum. Tuberculin skin test was negative in 77% of cases. Lymph nodes were palpable in 4 patients. Investigative exams revealed intrathoracic involvement in 8 cases and anterior uveitis sequels in 2 cases. Cutaneous manifestations were treated by chloroquin in 13 cases, allopurinol in 3 cases and intralesional betamethasone injections in 1 case. Five patients, with systemic involvement, underwent a therapy with oral corticosteroids.


CONCLUSIONS
Sarcoidosis is a rare affection in Tunisia that affects mainly females. Cutaneous manifestations incite physicians to carry out complete investigations and to uphold a regular follow-up in order to detect systemic involvement.
Ben Jennet
Salima
S
Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Habib Thameur, Tunis, Tunisie.
Benmously
Rym
R
Chaâbane
Saif
S
Fenniche
Samy
S
Marrak
Hayet
H
Mohammed
Zghal
Z
Mokhtar
Inçaf
I
D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology