Histopathology was similar to necrolytic erythema family which includes necrolytic migratory erythema nme. We report a case of a 31yearold woman with hepatitis c virus infection and decreased zinc serum level. Arun c inamadar, 1 ragunatha shivanna, 2 balachandra s ankad 3 1 department of dermatology, venereology and leprosy, sri bm patil medical college, blde university, vijayapura 586103, karnataka, india. When it is obtained, the histopathology associated with nae typically shows psoriasiform, epidermal hyperplasia with a dermal inflammatory infiltrate and necrosis of epidermal cells, however there are no pathognomonic findings. Necrolytic acral erythema is a newly described entity characterized by sharply demarcated scaly plaques on the dorsum of the hands and feet. Necrolytic acral erythema masquerading as cellulitis. Skin biopsy and histopathological study could not be done in this patient. A deficiency of biotin or essential fatty acids also may mimic nae.
Perineum, distal extremities, lower abdomen, and face are the most commonly affected sites. Necrolytic acral erythema is a rare skin disease associated with hepatitis c virus infection. A hallmark sign of this syndrome is a rash known as necrolytic migratory erythema nme. Reviewed by brunilda nazario on september 2, 2019 how is lichen planus linked to hepatitis c. Physical examination revealed scaly, lichenified plaques, welldemarcated with an erythematous peripheral rim located on the lower limbs. Necrolytic acral erythema nae is a member of the necrolytic erythemas, which include necrolytic migratory erythema nme, acrodermatitis enteropathica, and various dermopathies secondary to nutritional deficiencies. Necrolytic acral erythema nae is a rare cutaneous sign of hepatitis c virus infection and has recently been linked to zinc deficiency.
Necrolytic acral erythema in seronegative hepatitis c fulltext. Proposed theories for the cause of necrolytic acral erythema describe alterations in some metabolic factor, many of which are seen in other necrolytic erythemas, including necrolytic migratory erythema, pellagra, essential fatty acid and biotin deficiency, and acrodermatitis enteropathica. Necrolytic migratory erythema nme is a red, blistering rash that spreads across the skin. Backgroundrecently, necrolytic acral erythema nae has been described as a. We report a 53yearold female who presented with migratory annular and arcuate ulcers on her limbs. Critical inflammatory dermatoses diagnostic histopathology. Lack of classic histology should not prevent diagnosis of. Necrolytic migratory erythema has been reported in a heroin smoker 36 a.
A woman in her 40s complained of itchy, thick plaque of 5 years duration on her left foot. Though initial ct scans were normal, follow up scans revealed multiple mass lesions in. Necrolytic acral erythema in the absence of hepatitis c virus. Necrolytic migratory erythema nme is, in most cases, associated with a glucagonoma, which is a slow growing malignant tumour predominantly arising in the cells of the pancreas. Necrolytic acral erythema necrolytic acral erythema nae was first described in 1996 by physicians in egypt, m. The histology of the skin in nme is very similar to the biopsy findings in deficiency states like acquired zinc deficiency, essential fatty acid deficiency, biotin deficiency and pellagra, necrolytic acral erythema, a condition strongly associated with hepatitis c presenting with erythematous patches with erosions and blisters with a. Topical steroids, systemic antibiotics, antifungal agents and descaling measures produced some improvement.
Image correspondence bjd british journal of dermatology image gallery. Necrolytic acral erythema utpal patel md phd, aaron loyd md, rishi patel md, shane meehan md, roopal kundu md dermatology online journal 16 11. Necrolytic acral erythema nae is a newly described entity, seen in. Given the patients positive hepatitis c status and clinicopathological correlation, a diagnosis of necrolytic acral erythema was rendered. Histopathology showed diffuse parakeratosis with a neutrophil.
Itchy hyperkeratotic acral plaque in a patient with. Necrolytic acral erythema without hepatitis c infection. Necrolytic acral erythema nae is a rare condition that was first described in seven patients in 1996 in. Initially there is a ringshaped red area that blisters, erodes and crusts over. Necrolytic acral erythema also may be confused with other necrolytic erythemas, including necrolytic migratory erythema, acrodermatitis enteropathica, and pellagra. Necrolytic acral erythema associated with hepatitis c. The clinical and histopathological findings were compatible with nae. Thirty necrolytic acral erythema cases were biopsied and detailed histological description was performed by three separate dermatopathologists who were blinded as to clinical presentation. Necrolytic migratory erythema primary care dermatology.
The cause of necrolytic acral erythema is multifactorial with liver dysfunction possibly playing a role in the development of the skin disease. Glucagonoma syndrome is a rare disease that is usually associated with an underlying neuroendocrine tumor. Zincresponsive acral hyperkeratotic dermatosisa novel. Necrolytic acral erythema in the absence of hepatitis c. Necrolytic migratory erythema is a red, blistering rash that spreads across the skin. Background recently, necrolytic acral erythema nae has been described as a cutaneous marker for hepatitis c virus hcv infection. Necrolytic migratory ulceration pakran j, riyaz n indian.
Glucagonoma syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic phenomenon. The pathophysiology of necrolytic acral erythema nae is uncertain. Since then, most of the cases have reported concomitant hepatitis c virus hcv infection. Necrolytic acral erythema nae is a recently recognized dermatosis almost exclusively associated with hepatitis c virus hcv infection and closely related to a group of necrolytic. It presents as welldemarcated erythematous plaques in a sandallike distribution on the dorsal feet with psoriasiform epidermal hyperplasia on histology. Necrolytic acral erythema can be distinguished from these entities based on. Necrolytic acral erythema is a rare, cutaneous manifestation of hepatitis c virus infection that is characterized by erythematous, violaceous or dusky papules, blisters, andor erosions in the. Image correspondence british journal of dermatology. Necrolytic migratory erythema may affect any site but it most often affects the genital and anal region, the buttocks, groin and lower legs. Necrolytic migratory erythema as the first manifestation. Necrolytic acral erythema sharp journal of cutaneous pathology. Hyperkeratotic lesions in a patient with hepatitis c virus. Handfoot syndrome is also rarely seen in sicklecell disease. An 18yearold woman developed a rash similar to recurrent seborrheic dermatitis, with welldemarcated erythema, pustules, and hair loss over the scalp.
Etiology and pathogenesis of necrolytic migratory erythema. Necrolytic acral erythema nae is one of the cutaneous manifestations of hepatitis c virus hcv infection. In this paper, the authors describe a patient with nme and other features of the glucagonoma syndrome. Necrolytic acral erythema without hepatitis c infection wu 2009. Oral zinc treatment 45 mcg orally 3 times daily alleviates the severe signs and symptoms, in which cessation of supplementation leads to rapid recurrence. More than 30 patients have been reported since 1996, all of whom had anti. The code is valid for the year 2020 for the submission of hipaacovered transactions. Zincresponsive acral hyperkeratotic dermatosisa novel entity or a subset of some wellknown dermatosis. Since their initial description, there have been several other small studies and cases adding to our knowledge of this entity. Erythematous scaly lesions with centrifugal growth characterize the clinical appearance of the disease.
Necrolytic acral erythema nae is a recently recognized dermatosis almost exclusively associated with hepatitis c virus hcv infection and closely related to. Necrolytic migratory erythema nme was first described by becker and colleagues in 1942 in a woman with an alphacell tumor of the pancreas with an. Endocrine tumors of the gastroenteropancreatic system associated with specific skin manifestations are rare. The authors considered the case reported by them as an addition to the list of these few cases. Necrolytic acral erythema 310 cutis the pathogenesis is unknown, but a relationship to metabolic alterations has been hypothesized. Necrolytic migratory erythema nme is a rare skin disorder which was first described by becker et al. There is a low prevalence of necrolytic acral erythema in patients given the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis c in the philadelphia area. Most of the cases of necrolytic acral erythema nae are associated with hepatitis c virus infection, and only a few cases have so far been reported without associated hepatitis c infection. Necrolytic migratory erythema is often one of the first presenting symptoms. Necrolytic acral erythema is a cutaneous condition that is a manifestation of hepatitis c viral infection or zinc deficiency it is a papulosquamous and sometimes vesiculobullous eruption bearing clinical and histologic similarity to other necrolytic erythemas such as necrolytic migratory erythema, pseudoglucagonoma and nutritional deficiency syndromes. Like nme, ae follows a periorificial and acral distribution, and is commonly associated with diarrhea, angular cheilitis, glossitis, and stomatitis. Chemotherapyinduced acral erythema is reddening, swelling, numbness and desquamation skin sloughing or peeling on palms of the hands and soles of the feet and, occasionally, on the knees, elbows, and elsewhere that can occur after chemotherapy in patients with cancer. Necrolytic migratory erythema nme has been associated with intestinal malabsorption disorders, hepatic cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and nonpancreatic malignancies, but may not always be associated with glucagonoma. Nme is the presenting feature in 70% of patients with pancreatic glucagonoma.
How is necrolytic acral erythema linked to hepatitis c. Necrolytic migratory erythema necrolytic migratory erythema nme is a classic example where recognition of a dermatological condition can lead to the timely diagnosis of a potentially fatal internal malignancy. Necrolytic acral erythema nae is a recently described, poorly. To date only eight cases have been described in literature, a fact that makes full histological description and appreciation of the disease process inadequate. Zalewski pdforbes ijgiannakis c physiological role for zinc in prevention of.
An unusual rash during evaluation for chronic pancreatitis. Nae is distinct from the other necrolytic erythemas by virtue of its consistent association with hepatitis c hcv together with the acral distribution of its lesions, in. Williams reported a case of necrolytic acral erythema in an adolescent boy with a history of infection with hepatitis c virus. In the late phase, there is onset of welldelimited plaques with erythema on their outer rim, lichenification, secondary hyperpigmentation and fine desquamation on the surface. Necrolytic acral erythema nae is thought to be a reliable diagnostic marker of infection by hepatitis c virus hcv. She recalled the presence of a rash on both feet during this period. Necrolytic migratory erythema associated with glucagonoma.
A 44yearold man with a history of hepatitis c infection presents with thick, dry plaques on his fingers and hands. We hereby describe a case of a 30yearold lady who was referred to us with treatment refractory bilaterally symmetrical plaques on the dorsum of hands and feet. It particularly affects the skin around the mouth and distal extremities. Necrolytic acral erythema nae is a distinctive skin disorder. They may present with paraneoplastic phenomena known together as the glucagonoma syndrome. Acral hyperkeratosis, hyperkeratosis, necrolytic acral erythema, zinc how to cite this article. It is a cutaneous manifestation of hepatitis c viral infection considered an early cutaneous marker of hepatitis c with onset typically between 35. These changes can mimic nutritional deficiencies including necro. She had had a history of chronic calcific pancreatitis for which she had undergone rouxeny lateral pancreaticojejunostomy followed by the frey procedure some years later. Low prevalence of necrolytic acral erythema in patients. Necrolytic acral erythema is a newly described entity characterized by sharply. The patient developed a pruritic eruption on his face, trunk, genitals, and extremities, and the eruption had a predilection for bony prominences. Necrolytic acral erythema nae is a rare condition, first described in 1996.
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