open access

Vol 10, No 1 (2024)
Case report
Published online: 2023-11-27
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Difficulties in the diagnosis of erysipelas in immunosuppressed patients

Marta Całus1, Konrad Bagiński1, Małgorzata Duzinkiewicz1, Julia Nowowiejska1, Anna Baran1, Iwona Flisiak1
·
Forum Dermatologicum 2024;10(1):24-28.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Dermatology and Venereology Medical University of Bialystok, Poland

open access

Vol 10, No 1 (2024)
CASE STUDY
Published online: 2023-11-27

Abstract

Introduction: Erysipelas is an acute inflammatory condition of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by Streptococci. The lesions usually affect the lower limbs or face unilaterally and are characterized by erythema, oedema and pain. By the definition, the disease is accompanied by high fever. On the laboratory investigations, elevated C-reactive protein and leukocytosis are observed. However, in immunocompromised patients, the diagnosis might be unclear.

Case description: This study presents cases of three patients admitted to the department of dermatology with erysipelas: a 51-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab, methotrexate and methylprednisolone, a 51-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with prednisone, and a 75-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate. Clinical pictures shared common symptoms in all cases: oedema, erythema and pain in one of the limbs. However, none of the patients had a fever on admission. On laboratory tests, in two cases, there was no significant increase in inflammatory markers. The treatment with intravenous antibiotics and low-molecular heparin resulted in good clinical improvement.

Conclusions: Chronic immunosuppressive treatment acting due to inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines reduced patients’ immune response, which resulted in the absence of fever and no significant increase in the inflammatory parameters. Presented cases show some peculiarities of erysipelas in the distinct group of immunosuppressed patients and draw attention to unusual manifestations. Nowadays, there are more and more patients treated with biological agents for different diseases, including dermatoses. Hence, the number of atypical erysipelas cases may rise.

Abstract

Introduction: Erysipelas is an acute inflammatory condition of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by Streptococci. The lesions usually affect the lower limbs or face unilaterally and are characterized by erythema, oedema and pain. By the definition, the disease is accompanied by high fever. On the laboratory investigations, elevated C-reactive protein and leukocytosis are observed. However, in immunocompromised patients, the diagnosis might be unclear.

Case description: This study presents cases of three patients admitted to the department of dermatology with erysipelas: a 51-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab, methotrexate and methylprednisolone, a 51-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with prednisone, and a 75-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate. Clinical pictures shared common symptoms in all cases: oedema, erythema and pain in one of the limbs. However, none of the patients had a fever on admission. On laboratory tests, in two cases, there was no significant increase in inflammatory markers. The treatment with intravenous antibiotics and low-molecular heparin resulted in good clinical improvement.

Conclusions: Chronic immunosuppressive treatment acting due to inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines reduced patients’ immune response, which resulted in the absence of fever and no significant increase in the inflammatory parameters. Presented cases show some peculiarities of erysipelas in the distinct group of immunosuppressed patients and draw attention to unusual manifestations. Nowadays, there are more and more patients treated with biological agents for different diseases, including dermatoses. Hence, the number of atypical erysipelas cases may rise.

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Keywords

erysipelas, immunosuppressive therapy, immunosuppression, biological treatment, infection

About this article
Title

Difficulties in the diagnosis of erysipelas in immunosuppressed patients

Journal

Forum Dermatologicum

Issue

Vol 10, No 1 (2024)

Article type

Case report

Pages

24-28

Published online

2023-11-27

Page views

230

Article views/downloads

174

DOI

10.5603/fd.96995

Bibliographic record

Forum Dermatologicum 2024;10(1):24-28.

Keywords

erysipelas
immunosuppressive therapy
immunosuppression
biological treatment
infection

Authors

Marta Całus
Konrad Bagiński
Małgorzata Duzinkiewicz
Julia Nowowiejska
Anna Baran
Iwona Flisiak

References (16)
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