Cutaneous sarcoid-like granulomas in primary immunodeficiency disorders

We report the occurrence of cutaneous sarcoid-like granulomas in one patient with common variable immunodeficiency and another with 'thymoma and hypogammaglobulinaemia'. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such skin lesions have been described in patients with primary immunodeficiency. These granulomas may be attributed to a combination of interleukin-2 deficiency and a profound CD4 lymphopenia. The lesions are similar to the non-infectious 'papular eruption' associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection, and might reflect a common pathogenic mechanism.