Lupus erythematosus panniculitis in children and adolescents

Lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP) or lupus erythematosus profundus is a rare form of chronic cutaneous manifestation affecting both adults and pediatric patients. The prevalence of this manifestation was seldom reported in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE).

From January 1983 to December 2010, 5,506 patients were followed at the Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of our University Hospital and 278 (5%) of them met the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for JSLE. Two (0.7%) of them had LEP at JSLE onset. These two cases had tender deep inflammatory subcutaneous nodules or plaques at the time of diagnosis, and the histopathologic pattern evidenced lobular or mixed panniculitis with lymphocytic inflammatory cells of the fat lobule. Treatments for LEP included mainly antimalarials, systemic corticosteroids and sunscreen protection. One male patient required thalidomide and immunosuppressive drugs, including mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporin and intravenous cyclophosphamide. However, skin lesions improved only after rituximab treatment.

LEP was rarely observed in our cohort of JSLE patients as the first lupus manifestation. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy may be an option for refractory LEP treatment in children.