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Case Reports
. 2023 Nov 28;2023(11):omad129.
doi: 10.1093/omcr/omad129. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Lupus panniculitis as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus triggered by COVID-19 infection: case report and literature review

Aseel Abuhammad  1 , Salsabeel M AbuKhalaf  1 , Muhammad M AbuKhalaf  1 , Abdelrhman Muwafaq Janem  1 , Saed I Y Attawna  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Lupus panniculitis as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus triggered by COVID-19 infection: case report and literature review

Aseel Abuhammad et al. Oxf Med Case Reports. .

Abstract

COVID-19 has many complications that affect many systems, including rheumatology and inflammatory skin conditions such as cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Herein, we describe the case of a patient with lupus panniculitis who presented with systemic lupus erythematosus in the setting of recent COVID-19 infection. A 66-year-old female patient presented to the hospital with expanded skin lesions all over her limbs, fever, joint pain, and fatigue. Lab tests and imaging revealed a second recent infection with COVID-19, positive titers of systemic lupus erythematosus antibodies, and biopsy confirmed lupus erythematosus panniculitis. She was treated with oral prednisone and hydroxychloroquine for SLE and symptomatic management for recent COVID-19 infection without ICU admission. Lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP) is a rare manifestation of lupus erythematosus. Although some cases of SLE following COVID-19 infection have been reported, lupus panniculitis as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus in these patients is extremely rare.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Firm nodular skin rash on the lower extremities.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Biopsy of lesions was consistent with findings of lupus erythematosus panniculitis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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