Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TURKDERM-TURKISH ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEROLOGY, cilt.42, sa.4, ss.113-117, 2008 (SCI-Expanded)
Background and Design: Erythema nodosum (EN) is the most common type of inflammatory nodules. Etiologic factors that lead to EN show a wide spectrum including drugs, infections, malignant and inflammatory diseases. The aim of our study was to investigate frequency of etiologic factors, clinical and laboratory findings of EN patients treated in our clinic, and to identify whether these findings were predictive for a specific etiology in these patients or not. Material and Method: A total of 72 patients diagnosed with EN in our clinic during the period 2003-2007 were included. Results: Patients were divided into two groups with regard to their etiologies. Group I was consisting of 30 cases (41.6%) in whom no underlying disease or precipitating factor were found and Group 11 was consisting of 42 cases (58.4%) in whom an etiologic factor was identified. Infections (n=24) were the most common identified etiologic factors followed by Behcet's disease (BID), drugs, pregnancy, and sarcoidosis. Statistical analysis revealed no difference according to age and sex characteristics, localization of disease, and the presence of fever and arthralgia as accompanying findings between the groups (p>0.05). The duration of disease was longer in Group 11 and patients in Group 11 were found to have more frequently >1 attack of EN, culture positivity and elevated ASO level when compared with that of Group I (p<0.05). However, a statistically significant difference was not found between the two groups regarding presence of leukocytosis, anemia, elevated CRP level and accelerated ESR (p>0.05). Conclusion: Infections, BID and drugs were the most frequently detected etiologic factors in our study. Our results revealed that the localization of lesions and laboratory findings like elevated ESR and CRP, leukocytosis, and anemia were not predictors of secondary EN, and that a further search for an underlying disease is necessary in patients having relapsing EN with a long disease duration. (Turkderm 2008; 42: 113-7)