Acquired perforating dermatoses in patients with diabetic kidney disease on hemodialysis

Acquired perforating dermatoses (APD) is an uncommon skin disorder seen in patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, or both together. We present the clinicopathological features of APD in patients with diabetic kidney disease and discuss the recent advances in management. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 8 patients with APD presenting to our center. All patients were known cases of Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease requiring maintenance dialysis. Acquired perforating dermatoses was diagnosed based on clinical presentation of itchy, keratotic papulonodular lesions, and characteristic histopathological features of transepithelial elimination on skin biopsy. The patients were subdivided into 4 types of APD based on the biopsy features. All our patients had Type 2 diabetes over 5 years duration and were on maintenance dialysis for more than 6 months before presentation. Acquired perforating dermatoses symptoms appeared 2 to 6 months before presentation. The majority of patients (6/8) had a subtype of reactive perforating collagenosis. All the patients showed significant resolution with topical glucocorticoid therapy. Acquired perforating dermatoses is a skin complication seen in Type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or when both are present together. Early identification and therapy prevents the associated morbidity.