Korean J Dermatol.  2009 Jul;47(7):850-854.

Application of the QuantiFERON(R)-TB Gold Test in Two Cases of Erythema Induratum of Bazin

• Ji JH
• Park HY
• Lee YH
• Lee HJ
• Choi EH

Abstract

Erythema induratum of Bazin is a chronic, nodular subcutaneous eruption usually occurring on the lower legs of young women. Erythema induratum of Bazin hasbeen regarded as a tuberculide, a hypersensitivity response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The pathogenesis of erythema induratum of Bazin associated with tuberculosis is still debatable because mycobacteria cannot be cultured from the skin lesions. QuantiFERON(R)-TB Gold test detects INF-gamma released by T cells in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens, which offers an improved diagnostic test of latent tuberculosis infection. We experienced two cases of erythema induratum of Bazin, which showed normal chest X-ray and negative TB-PCR. However the QuantiFERON(R)-TB Gold test was positive which led us to a diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection. Both patients were treated with anti-tuberculosis medications, which was followed by successful resolution of the skin lesions. Therefore, we report the application of the QuantiFERON(R)-TB Gold test for the confirmation of latent tuberculosis infection in erythema induratum of Bazin patients.

Keyword

Erythema induratum of Bazin; Interferon-gamma; Latent tuberculosis infection; QuantiFERON(R)-TB Gold test

MeSH Terms

Diagnostic Tests, Routine
Erythema
Erythema Induratum
Female
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Interferon-gamma
Latent Tuberculosis
Leg
Mycobacterium
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Skin
T-Lymphocytes
Thorax
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, Cutaneous
Interferon-gamma