Article: Erythema Nodosum: A Consequence of Tuberculosis

Erythema nodosum is a form of panniculitis that presents as red lumps most commonly on the shins. It commonly presents due to tuberculosis, streptococcal infections, sarcoidosis, or can be drug related. This report describes the case of a young woman who presented with erythema nodosum and reactive arthritis; this was determined to be a sequelae of tuberculosis. Investigations were ordered as there was a high level of clinical suspicion for an underlying systemic cause for the presenting complaints. The systemic condition was determined to be tuberculosis due to the endemic environment and a positive tuberculin skin test.

Citing Articles

Clinico-Laboratory Profile of Tuberculides: An Experience at a Tertiary Care Centre from Chandigarh, India.

Poonia K, Thami G, Dogar K, Jain S Indian J Dermatol. 2024; 69(2):201.

PMID: 38841219 PMC: 11149802. DOI: 10.4103/ijd.ijd_1191_23.

Tuberculids: A Narrative Review.

Dhattarwal N, Ramesh V Indian Dermatol Online J. 2023; 14(3):320-329.

PMID: 37266079 PMC: 10231720. DOI: 10.4103/idoj.idoj_284_22.

Tuberculosis-Associated Erythema Nodosum.

Laborada J, Cohen P Cureus. 2022; 13(12):e20184.

PMID: 35004007 PMC: 8723782. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20184.

Erythema Nodosum: A Manifestation of Salmonella Infection.

Hassan A, AlSaihati A, Al Shammari M, Sharroufna M, Alaithan H, Aljubran S Case Rep Gastroenterol. 2019; 13(3):456-461.

PMID: 31762735 PMC: 6873087. DOI: 10.1159/000503894.

References

1.

Kakourou T, Drosatou P, Psychou F, Aroni K, Nicolaidou P . Erythema nodosum in children: a prospective study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001; 44(1):17-21. DOI: 10.1067/mjd.2001.110877. View

2.

Mert A, Ozaras R, Tabak F, Ozturk R . Primary tuberculosis cases presenting with erythema nodosum. J Dermatol. 2004; 31(1):66-8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.2004.tb00509.x. View

3.

Mert A, Ozaras R, Tabak F, Pekmezci S, Demirkesen C, Ozturk R . Erythema nodosum: an experience of 10 years. Scand J Infect Dis. 2004; 36(6-7):424-7. DOI: 10.1080/00365540410027184. View

4.

Kumar B, Sandhu K . Erythema nodosum and antitubercular therapy. J Dermatolog Treat. 2005; 15(4):218-21. DOI: 10.1080/09546630410033754. View

5.

Schwartz R, Nervi S . Erythema nodosum: a sign of systemic disease. Am Fam Physician. 2007; 75(5):695-700. View

6.

Requena L, Yus E . Erythema nodosum. Dermatol Clin. 2008; 26(4):425-38, v. DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2008.05.014. View

7.

Gilchrist H, Patterson J . Erythema nodosum and erythema induratum (nodular vasculitis): diagnosis and management. Dermatol Ther. 2010; 23(4):320-7. DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8019.2010.01332.x. View

8.

Na S, Park S, Cho H, Choi J, Choi M, Park H . Application of IFN-γ releasing assay for the diagnosis of erythema induratum of Bazin. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2012; 28(1):41-5. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.12052. View

9.

Chen S, Chen J, Chen L, Zhang Q, Luo X, Zhang W . Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is associated with the development of erythema nodosum and nodular vasculitis. PLoS One. 2013; 8(5):e62653. PMC: 3641092. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062653. View

10.

Ariza-Prota M, Pando-Sandoval A, Garcia-Clemente M, Casan P . Poncet's disease mimicking rheumatoid arthritis in a patient with suspected Crohn's disease. Clin Case Rep. 2016; 4(1):72-5. PMC: 4706396. DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.455. View

11.

Wheeler D, Cascino T, Sharpe B, Connor D . When the Script Doesn't Fit: An Exercise in Clinical Reasoning. J Gen Intern Med. 2017; 32(7):836-840. PMC: 5481232. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-017-4018-x. View