[A rare cause of severe panniculitis]

A 58-year-old patient presented with a severe, episodic panniculitis of the upper legs. Necrosis of the fatty tissue and a suspected superinfection led to amputation of one leg. The panniculitis was caused by a hereditary deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) due to a ZZ mutation of the AAT gene. Neutrophilic panniculitis is found in 0.1% of patients with the ZZ mutation and therefore is the rarest clinical manifestation of AAT deficiency. With the exception of mild COPD, the patient had no other typical clinical symptoms of AAT deficiency. Treatment with colchicum reduced the frequency and severity of the flares.