Auricular Chondritis as a Rheumatologic Manifestation of Lucio's Phenomenon: Clinical Improvement After Plasmapheresis
Authors: MICHAEL PIEPKORN
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1983)

Brief Reports1 January 1983Auricular Chondritis as a Rheumatologic Manifestation of Lucio's Phenomenon: Clinical Improvement After PlasmapheresisMICHAEL PIEPKORN, M.D., Ph.D., CHRIS BROWN, M.D., JOHN ZONE, M.D.MICHAEL PIEPKORN, M.D., Ph.D.Search for more papers by this author, CHRIS BROWN, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, JOHN ZONE, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-98-1-49 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe Lucio phenomenon in diffuse lepromatous leprosy is an acute lepra reaction pathophysiologically mediated by vasculitis, thrombosis, and secondary cutaneous infarction (1). Because of the presence of immunoglobulin and complement deposition in cutaneous lesions and immune complexes in the serum of affected persons, an Arthus-like mechanism has been suggested as the basis for the clinical syndrome (2).We report a patient with this syndrome in whom elevated circulating immune complexes shown by Raji cell assay declined after immunosuppressive therapy and plasmapheresis, concurrent with clinical improvement. Of additional interest was the transient appearance of auricular chondritis during therapy, a feature that...References1. PURSLEYJACOBSONAPISARNTHANARAX TRP. Lucio's phenomenon. Arch Dermatol. 1980;116:201-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. QUISMORIOREACHANDORLEVANFRIOU FTSNG. Lucio's phenomenon: an immune complex deposition syndrome in lepromatous leprosy. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1978;9:184-93. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. PROVOSTZONESYNKOWSKIMADDISONREICHLIN TJDPM. Unusual cutaneous manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus: I. Urticaria-like lesions: correlation with clinical and serological abnormalities. J Invest Dermatol. 1980;75:495-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. ALBERTWEISMANKAPLAN DMR. The rheumatic manifestations of leprosy (Hansen disease). Medicine (Baltimore). 1980;59:442-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. KARATKARATJOBFURNESS ASCM. Acute exudative arthritis in leprosy—rheumatoid arthritis-like syndrome in association with erythema nodosum leprosum. Br Med J. 1967;3:770-2. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. WEMAMBUTURKWATERSREES SJMR. Erythema nodosum leprosum: a clinical manifestations of the Arthus phenomenon. Lancet. 1969;2:933-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. DONNERSHIVELY RJ. The "Lucio phenomenon" in diffuse leprosy. Ann Intern Med. 1967;67:831-6. LinkGoogle Scholar8. WALLACHCOTTENOTBUSSELPALANGIEPENNEC DFAAJ. Plasma exchange therapy in Lucio's phenomenon [Letter]. Arch Dermatol. 1980;116:1101. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. JAFFE L. Leprosy of the nose, throat, and ears, a neglected subject. Int J Lepr. 1971;39:444-6. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City, Utah. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByMycobacteriaRecognizing and managing the immunologic reactions in leprosyDiagnosis and classification of relapsing polychondritisPseudochondritis in LeprosyOtorhinolaryngologic manifestations of leprosyRheotherapy for Vascular DisordersChondrite auriculaire et granulomatose de Wegener : une association rare mais sans doute non fortuiteLepromatous vasculitis successfully treated by plasma exchange (PE)AUTHORS' REPLYPlasma Exchange in Severe Erythema Nodosum LeprosumCase 26-1985Otorhinolaryngologic complications of rheumatic diseasesTherapeutic Plasma Exchange: Dermatologic Applications 1 January 1983Volume 98, Issue 1Page: 49-51KeywordsDermatologyImmune complexImmunosuppressivesInfarctionLeprosyLesionsSaltsThrombosisVasculitis Issue Published: 1 January 1983 PDF DownloadLoading ...