Lupus Panniculitis Treated by a Combination Therapy of Hydroxychloroquine and Quinacrine

Abstract

Lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP) is an unusual clinical variant of lupus erythematosus (LE) in which the cutaneous inflammatory reaction occurs primarily in the deeper corium. The common clinical features of LEP includes asymptomatic, firm, sharply defined nodules. The histologic findings are characterized by nonspecific panniculitis composed of lymphoid cells, plasma cells, and histiocytes with varying degrees of necrobiotic changes with fibrinoid deposits. In our case, a 24-year-old male patient visited our clinic with non-tender, hard, plaque-like lesions and overlying erythema on the left zygomatic, nasal, and submandibular area. Histopathologic and direct immunofluorescent findings of the lesion were compatible with LEP. His skin lesions waxed and waned with systemic steroid or hydroxychloroquine therapy. He has responded well to a combination therapy of hydroxychloroquine and quinacrine.