CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES IN RETICULAR ERYTHEMATOUS MUCINOSIS AND JESSNERS LYMPHOCYTIC INFILTRATE OF SKIN

Background. Little is understood about reticular erythematous mucinosi s and Jessner's lymphocytic infiltrate of skin. Objective: Our purpose was to define reticular erythematous mucinosis and Jessner's lymphocy tic infiltrate of skin further with focus on immunologic studies. Meth ods. In patients with reticular erythematous mucinosis and Jessner's l ymphocytic infiltrate of skin, we measured circulating immune complexe s before, during, and after therapy. We examined natural killer cells in a functional assay; we performed direct immunofluorescence and T- a nd B-cell marker studies in skin biopsy specimens. Results. The infilt rate in reticular erythematous mucinosis is composed of helper T cells . Circulating immune complexes are increased in both reticular erythem atous mucinosis and Jessner's lymphocytic infiltrate of skin and decre ase with hydroxychloroquine therapy and clinical clearing. Natural kil ler cell function is decreased in reticular erythematous mucinosis and Jessner's lymphocytic infiltrate of skin. Conclusion: Changes in circ ulating immune complex titers accompanying therapy with hydroxychloroq uine and clinical clearing, with recurrence of the condition and incre ase in circulating immune complexes on discontinuation of treatment, p oint to a possible relation between these events.