Lupus pernio
A chronic skin lesion pathognomonic of sarcoidosis.
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Lupus pernio is a chronic, raised, indurated skin lesion that is often purplish in color and appears on the nose, ears, cheeks, lips, and forehead. It is pathognomonic of sarcoidosis. The name is a misnomer, as the condition shows granulomatous infiltration microscopically and lacks features of either lupus or pernio.
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Signs and symptoms
Lupus pernio is marked by firm, reddish or purplish patches on the central face, typically the nose and cheeks. In rare cases, these lesions can appear on the ears or the backs of the hands and feet.
The condition may start as small bumps on the nose or develop into vivid, widespread plaques across both cheeks. Lesions progress slowly, eventually hardening and invading the underlying bone and cartilage, which leads to disfigurement. This form of sarcoidosis also carries a greater risk of internal involvement, particularly affecting the respiratory tract.
Causes
Doctors still don’t know exactly what causes cutaneous sarcoidosis. The leading idea is that it results from a mix of inherited risk, immune system problems, and environmental triggers.
The inflammation and granulomas form because the body’s cell-mediated immunity overreacts to one or more unknown antigens. Certain metals, like beryllium, zirconium, and aluminum, can trigger similar granulomas, pointing to a possible environmental role. Some bacteria, especially mycobacteria and cutibacteria, have also been proposed as possible causes.
More in Monocyte- and Macrophage-related Cutaneous Conditions
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Lupus pernio (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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