Lupus erythematosus tumidus

Last Updated: 2023-07-07

Author(s): Anzengruber F., Navarini A.

ICD11: EB51.Y

  • Hoffmann 1909.
  • Gougerot u. Burnier 1930.

LET, lupus tumidus, intermittent cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ICLE).

Special form of cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Tumidus means „to vaporise“ and is meant to describe the large skin lesions.

  • Age peak: 30th-40th LJ.
  • Women: Men = 1:1.

  • Erythematous, sharply demarcated, non-scarring, non-scaling, succulent, indurated, urticaria-like nodules and plaques. 

  • S. cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Belongs to CDLE.
  • Note:
  • >70% ↑ photosensitivity.
  • ANA ( up to 30% positive, but rarely high titre).
  • Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies (rare).
  • Anti-La/SSB antibodies (rare).
  • Anti-cardiolipin AK at 10% pos.

  • UV-exposed areas.

Dermal „patchy“ perivascular or periadnexal, lymphocytic infiltrates, vacuolar degeneration of the basement membrane zone occur, dermal focal mucin deposits. Few plasma cells, germinal centres.

  1. Freund E. Über einen Fall von Lupus erythematosus tumidus (Typus Gougerot-Burnier). Arch f Dermat 1932;165:469-74. 
  2. Kuhn A, Richter-Hintz D, Oslislo C, Ruzicka T, Megahed M, Lehmann P. Lupus Erythematosus Tumidus. Arch Dermatol 2000;136. 
  3. Schepis C, Lentini M, Siragusa M, Batolo D. ACE-Inhibitor-Induced Drug Eruption Resembling Lymphocytic Infiltration (of Jessner-Kanof) and Lupus erythematosus tumidus. Dermatology 2004;208:354-5. 
  4. Walling HW, Sontheimer RD. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: issues in diagnosis and treatment. Am J Clin Dermatol 2009;10:365-81. 
  5. Okon LG, Werth VP. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: diagnosis and treatment. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2013;27:391-404. 
  6. Kuhn, A. (2016).  
     S1-Leitlinie: Kutaner Lupus Erythematodes. Awmf.org. Retrieved 30 May 2016, from http://www.awmf.org/leitlinien/detail/ll/013-060.html