title: Papular and annular fixed urticarial eruption: a characteristic skin manifestation in patients with relapsing polychondritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin manifestations of relapsing polychondritis (RP) are usually nonspecific.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We report a series of patients with RP who presented with annular skin lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical and histologic features and follow-up data of patients with RP and an annular urticarial eruption were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients (9 male, 1 female) (mean age 63.7 years) were included. All patients had tense, fixed, urticarial papules with an annular configuration predominantly located on the upper part of the trunk. Skin lesions occurred before the chondritis in 7 of 10 cases with a mean delay of 23 ± 13 months. Histologic examination consistently showed a lymphocytic vasculitis with no leukocytoclastic vasculitis, even when biopsies were repeated during the evolution (n = 7). Hematologic abnormalities were found in all cases. A myelodysplastic syndrome was found in 4 patients. Oral corticosteroids were effective in all cases, although skin lesions recurred during the decrease of corticosteroid doses in 4 cases. Five patients died during the evolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retrospective case series design is a limitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Annular and papular fixed urticarial eruption may represent a characteristic skin manifestation of RP. It is frequently associated with hematologic abnormalities and may auger a poor prognosis.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Rouen University Hospital, University of Rouen, Rouen, France.
authors: Anne-Fleur
authors: AF
authors: Tronquoy
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: de Quatrebarbes
authors: Damien
authors: D
authors: Picard
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Courville
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Balguerie
authors: Marie Claude
authors: MC
authors: Boullie
authors: Fabienne
authors: F
authors: Leonard
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Bernard
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Joly