Generalized granuloma annulare: clinical and laboratory findings in 100 patients

Clinical and laboratory records of 100 biopsy-proved cases of generalized granuloma annulare seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1966 and 1986 were reviewed. The skin eruption involved predominantly annular lesions in 67 patients and predominantly nonannular papules in 33. The ratio of female-to-male patients was 2.9:1 in the annular group and 1.4:1 in the nonannular group. The mean age at onset was 51.7 years. The eruption was symptomatic in 34 patients, and specific precipitating factors could be implicated in 16 patients. No consistently associated systemic disorders were identified. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 21% of our referral group of generalized granuloma annulare cases, compared with 9.7% in 1350 cases of localized granuloma annulare and 10.3% in 1383 cases of all forms of granuloma annulare seen at the Mayo Clinic in the same period. Serum lipid abnormalities were more common in the generalized annular group. Follow-up data indicated a chronic, relapsing course in most patients.