Lupoid cutaneous leishmaniasis: a report of 16 cases.
BACKGROUND
Lupoid cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is known as the chronic form of CL. However, keeping its clinical presentation in view, there is a need to revisit this form of disease.


OBJECTIVE
To redefine/describe lupoid CL in view of clinical features.


METHODS
It was a case series seen in Muzaffarabad (Pakistan) from Jan 2006 to May 2008. All patients clinically suggestive and consistent with laboratory diagnosis of CL were registered. Patients of all age groups and either sex having cutaneous lesions resembling lupus vulgaris or lupus erythematosus on the face or elsewhere were included in the study. Those having chronic fluctuating/relapsing course or scarring within the lesions were also included. Various demographic features of the patients and clinical patterns were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.


RESULTS
Of 254 registered patients of CL, 16 (6.3%) were diagnosed as lupoid CL. None of the patients had scarred lesions. Age ranged from 38 to 75 (55 + 15.11) years and duration of lesions varied from 4 to 32 (14.25 + 07.59) weeks. All patients had lesions over the face. Thirteen (81.25%) had a large solitary plaque extending over the nose and a large part of the cheeks and three (18.75%) had multiple lesions. Lesions were central/nasal in two (12.5%), unilateral/asymmetrical in four (25%) and bilateral/symmetrical in 10 (62.5%). Morphological patterns included erythematous/infiltrated (7), psoriasiform (6), ulcerated/crusted (2) and Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)[G1] like (1).


CONCLUSIONS
Lupoid CL is not strictly a chronic form of disease, which presents on the face from the very onset and shows no scarring or recurrence.
Ul Bari
Arfan
A
Department of Dermatology, Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, Faisal, Pakistan.
Raza
Naeem
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008177:Lupus Vulgaris / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate