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Case Reports
. 2020 Apr;13(4):40-42.
Epub 2020 Apr 1.

Rowell Syndrome: A Diagnostic Challenge

Lucia Gallo  1   2 , Matteo Megna  1   2 , Bianca Festa  1   2 , Pio Stellato  1   2 , Rosita di Pinto  1   2 , Gabriella Fabbrocini  1   2 , Maria Ferrillo  1   2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Rowell Syndrome: A Diagnostic Challenge

Lucia Gallo et al. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rowell syndrome is a rare disease characterized by a combination of lupus erythematosus (LE) and erythema multiforme (EM)-like lesions and a characteristic immunologic pattern, including speckled pattern of antinuclear antibody (ANA), positive anti-Ro/SSA or anti-La/SSB, and positive rheumatoid factor (RF). This disease was first described in 1963, and to date, about 95 cases of EM-like lesions associated with LE have been described in the literature, with the majority of cases being reported in adult female patients. Here, we describe the case of a 17-year-old male patient exhibiting both systemic LE and EM lesions together with ANA and anti-Ro/SSA positivity who was successfully treated with systemic corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine.

Keywords: Rowell syndrome; erythema multiforme; lupus erythematosus.

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Conflict of interest statement

FUNDING:No funding was provided for this study. DISCLOSURES:The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article.

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Erythematous and infiltrated plaques varying in size from 1cm–5cm on the nose and malar region
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Erythematous annular patches measuring less than 3cm in diameter with a regular round shape coalesced into large polycyclic lesions on the palms
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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