[Down syndrome: another cause of immunosuppression associated with multiple eruptive dermatofibromas?]

Abstract

The term "multiple eruptive dermatofibromas" usually refers to a clinical situation characterized by the development of between five and eight dermatofibromas during a period of up to four months. It is usually linked to immunodeficiency associated conditions as autoimmune disorders, hematologic malignancies, HIV infection, and transplants. We report three patients with Down syndrome. One patient had psoriatic arthritis under treatment with methotrexate, one had Graves-Basedow disease, and one had hypercholesterolemia. All three patients developed multiple eruptive dermatofibromas. We suggest that the immunologic disturbances associated with Down syndrome, together with other underlying conditions present in these patients, could trigger the development of cutaneous lesions.