LYMPHOMATOID PAPULOSIS - TREATMENT WITH RECOMBINANT INTERFERON ALFA-2A AND ETRETINATE

Lymphomatoid papulosis is a rare cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorde r with nodular, papulonecrotic or plaque-like lesions. Although it is clinically benign, the histology shows large, atypical lymphoid cells that display antigenic markers of activated T-helper lymphocytes and e xpress CD30. There is a close relationship to Hodgkin's disease and to Ki-1-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma of the skin. For therapy , various modalities such as PUVA, steroids and acyclovir have been us ed. We report on a patient with a 10-year history of disease. Treatmen t with interferon alfa-2a, 3 MU 3 times/week for 4 weeks, and etretina te, 50 mg/day for 5 months, was initially successful, but lesions furt her relapsed 5 months after cessation of the therapy.