Panniculitis in association with apomorphine infusion

This study was undertaken to ascertain the histopathology and aetiology of cutaneous nodules observed in Parkinson's patients treated with continuous subcutaneous apomorphine. Ten patients were recruited, answered questionnaires, and underwent skin biopsies and full blood count, and nine were patch tested to apomorphine and its preservative. Six had serum IgE levels measured. A florid panniculitis was seen in all biopsies; five were predominantly eosinophilic, three lymphocytic and two neutrophilic; in seven cases the panniculitis was mixed and in three it was septal. Patch testing was universally negative and the IgE levels were normal.