Fatal Lucio's phenomenom: an autopsy case report

Authors

  • Fernando Peixoto Ferraz de Campos Hospital Universitário - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brasil.
  • Cristiane Rúbia Ferreira Hospital Universitário - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brasil.
  • Amaro Nunes Duarte Neto Faculdade de Medicina - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brasil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.2016.003

Keywords:

Lucio’sphenomenum, Leprosy, Vasculitis, Histopathology, Necrosis.

Abstract

The diffuse leprosy of Lucio and Alvarado is considered the most anergic spectrum of leprosy and is characterized by a generalized skin infiltration, with a diffuse and total
alopecia associated with a systemic involvement. When the number of bacilli in the endothelium is high a medium and small vessel’s leukocytoclastic vasculitis develop over a diffuse and generalized cutaneous involvement by leprosy, what leads to large necrotic and ulcerative lesions, named after Lucio’s phenomenon. We present an autopsy case of a female patient who has been presenting ulcerated lesions for the last 20 years without a specific diagnosis. Three weeks before the patient’s admission the lesions got worse and new ones appeared. Due to the extension of cutaneous involvement and consequent infectious complications the patient evolved to a fatal
outcome. The pathological evaluation revealed systemic involvement by leprosy and multiple skin ulceration. The cutaneous lesions were due to leukocitoclastic vasculitis
and vascular occlusion, compatible with Lucio’s phenomenon .

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Author Biographies

  • Fernando Peixoto Ferraz de Campos, Hospital Universitário - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brasil.
    Divisão de Clínica Médica Hospital Universitário - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brasil.
  • Cristiane Rúbia Ferreira, Hospital Universitário - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brasil.
    Serviço de Anatomia Patológica do Hospital Universitário - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brasil.
  • Amaro Nunes Duarte Neto, Faculdade de Medicina - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brasil.
    Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brasil.

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Published

2011-06-08

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2011)

Section

Article / Autopsy Case Report

License

Authors of articles published by Autopsy and Case Report retain the copyright of their work without restrictions, licensing it under the Creative Commons Attribution License - CC-BY, which allows articles to be re-used and re-distributed without restriction, as long as the original work is correctly cited.

How to Cite

de Campos, F. P. F., Ferreira, C. R., & Neto, A. N. D. (2011). Fatal Lucio’s phenomenom: an autopsy case report. Autopsy and Case Reports, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.2016.003