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Case Reports
. 2015 Feb 9:2015:bcr2014207054.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2014-207054.

Ackerman syndrome: a rare cause of arthritis with dermatitis

Kosar Hussain  1 , Liza Thomas  1 , Niaz Ahmed Shaikh  1 , Badr Ahmed Abdul Hamid  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Ackerman syndrome: a rare cause of arthritis with dermatitis

Kosar Hussain et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

We present a case of a middle-aged woman who presented with acute onset of non-erosive oligoarthritis and cutaneous lesions. Her laboratory work up revealed mild anaemia with positive antinuclear antibody. Her skin biopsy confirmed the presence of interstitial granulomatous dermatitis. She was treated with a successful trial of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Interstitial granulomatous dermatitis with arthritis (IGDA), or Ackerman syndrome, is an under-recognised cause of arthritis with dermatitis. This is primarily due to the varied clinical presentation of the skin lesions and the non-specific laboratory findings. Our aim is to highlight the pivotal role of skin biopsy as part of the diagnostic assessment of patients who present with arthritis and concomitant skin lesions.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Image of right upper extremity (A) and bilateral lower extremities (B) of the patient showing the skin lesions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Low-power view of the skin punch biopsy (×40) of the epidermis, dermis and panniculus.
Figure 3
Figure 3
High-power view (×400) of the reticular dermis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Publication types

Supplementary concepts