Erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) is emerging as a specific HIV-associated d
ermatosis, 11 cases having so far been reported in the medical literature a
nd five patients with the disease having been seen by us during the last 4
years. As the disease is poorly known, it is easily confused with Kaposi's
sarcoma or bacillary angiomatosis, but the histopathological features are d
iagnostic. EED is considered to be an immune complex-mediated vasculitis. A
streptococcal infection seemed to be the trigger factor in four of our pat
ients. Partial control of the cutaneous lesions was achieved by the use of
antibiotics.