MULTICENTRIC CASTLEMANS-DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH CHARACTERISTIC SKIN-LESIONS

A 52-year-old man came to us with multiple, infiltrated, erythematous papules, nodules, and plaques on his face, neck, and trunk. He complai ned of general malaise, a loss of appetite, and weight loss. Cervical, axillary, mediastinal lymph nodes were swollen. Laboratory examinatio n revealed polyclonal hyperimmunoglobulinemia (IgG, IgA, IgM) without M-protein, mild anemia, elevated C-reactive protein, and an accelerate d erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The serum interleukin-6 level was el evated. Skin biopsy specimens revealed dense plasmacytic infiltration in the dermis. Lymph node biopsy showed an increase of lymph follicles , a dense plasma cell infiltration between the follicles, vascular con gestion, and dilated sinuses. These clinical and laboratory findings w ere considered to be consistent with a diagnosis of multicentric Castl eman's disease associated with characteristic skin lesions.