PROTOTHECOSIS IN A PATIENT WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

A rare case of protothecosis in a 40-year-old Japanese woman with syst emic lupus erythematosus, under long-term prednisolone treatment is pr esented. The patient developed extensive ulcerative skin lesions after injury. The characteristic histopathological findings and biochemical sugar assimilation tests indicated infection by Prototheca wicherhami i. The lesions improved following treatment with amphotericin B. The i mmunodeficient state of this patient seemed to contribute to the infec tion with Prototheca.