Disseminated lupus vulgaris: a case report

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Mycobacteriology

Background:

• Lupus vulgaris is a chronic, secondary cutaneous tuberculosis infection.
• Typically affects the head and neck, but can involve extremities and trunk.
• Untreated lupus vulgaris can persist for years, causing significant morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of disseminated lupus vulgaris in an elderly patient.
• To highlight the clinical presentation and treatment outcome of extensive cutaneous tuberculosis.
• To emphasize the importance of timely antituberculosis therapy for lupus vulgaris.

Main Methods:

• A clinical case presentation of a 73-year-old male patient.
• Detailed description of the lesions' morphology, distribution, and duration.
• Documentation of the therapeutic response to standard antituberculosis treatment.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with a 5-year history of slowly progressive, atrophic, eroded, and ulcerated red-brown plaques.
• Lesions were disseminated across the forehead, nose, cheeks, ear lobes, trunk, and extremities.
• Complete healing of all disseminated lesions was achieved following antituberculosis therapy.

Conclusions:

• Disseminated lupus vulgaris, though rare, can occur and affect extensive body surface areas.
• Antituberculosis therapy is highly effective in achieving complete remission of lupus vulgaris.
• Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent long-term complications of cutaneous tuberculosis.