Lupus vulgaris occurring in a locus minoris resistentiae.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of lupus vulgaris, a form of cutaneous tuberculosis, is not always clear, especially in patients who do not have coexistent extracutaneous tuberculosis and in patients with single lesions.


OBJECTIVE
To report a case of lupus vulgaris in a locus minoris resistentiae (a site of reduced resistance) and to use a unique set of clinical circumstances and laboratory tests to reconstruct the pathogenesis of the lesion and the response to treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Lupus vulgaris can occur in a locus minoris resistentiae; local trauma and possibly other factors, such as increased temperature, topical corticosteroids, and the virulence of the infecting strain, may facilitate the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis present at a locus minoris resistentiae as a result of a silent bacillemia.
Long
Richard
R
Departments of Medicine and Dermatology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. richard.long@ualberta.ca
Beatch
Anita
A
Lee
Mao-Cheng
MC
Cheung-Lee
Melody
M
Wasel
Norman
N
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002056:Burns / Q000382:microbiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008177:Lupus Vulgaris / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged
D000995:Antitubercular Agents