Background and Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Jessner’s lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (JLI) and lupus erythematosus (LE), which has been the subject of debate since its initial description in 1953. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective study including all patients with a histopathologically ascertained diagnosis of JLI performed at the Laboratoire d’Histopathologie Cutanée of the Strasbourg University Hospital between 1993 and 2003. Information about patient characteristics and follow-up data were retrieved between 2004 and 2005. Special attention was paid to features indicative of LE. Results: 210 consecutive patients (102 women and 108 men) with a mean age 42 years were diagnosed with JLI in the reference period. 175 patients (83%) had multiple lesions and 32 patients (15%) had only a single lesion at the time of diagnosis (data not available in 3 patients). The head, neck and upper part of the thorax were involved in 171 patients (81%). An annular or arciform configuration and/or arrangement were present in 111 patients (53%). Lesions consisted of red (100%) papules or plaques (98%). Mean follow-up was 4 years. Sixteen patients (7.6%) had proven LE. Only 2 patients (1%) developed >4 ACR criteria of systemic LE. Furthermore, 1 patient had antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and 2 patients had rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusions: This high frequency of patients with typical features of LE strongly argues that JLI could be a dermal variant of LE and not an autonomous entity. It might be the cutaneous marker of a subset of LE patients with excellent prognosis.

1.
Jessner M, Kanof B: Lymphocytic infiltration of the skin. Arch Dermatol 1953;68:447–449.
2.
Talbott JH: Historical background of discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus; in Wallace DJ, Hahn BH (eds): Dubois’ Lupus Erythematosus, ed 4. Malvern, Lea Febinger, 1993, pp 3–10.
3.
Casenave A: Lupus érythémateux (érythème centrifuge). Ann Malad Peau Syph 1850–51;3:297–299.
4.
Prystowski SD, Gilliam JN: Discoid lupus erythematosus as part of a larger disease spectrum. Correlation of clinical features with laboratory findings in lupus erythematosus. Arch Dermatol 1975;111:1448–1452.
5.
Yaffe B: Lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (réticulose cutanée Gougerot). Arch Derm Syph 1954;70:830–831.
6.
Krieger BL: Lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (Jessner). Arch Dermatol 1969;100:247–248.
7.
Herrick R: Lupus erythematosus or lymphocytic infiltration of the skin. Arch Dermatol 1960;81:293.
8.
Cabré J, Steigleder GK: Das Krankheitsbild der lymphozytären Infiltration (lymphocytic infiltration) im Sinne von Jessner und Kanof. Arch Klin Exp Derm 1961;212:525–549.
9.
Cipollaro AC: A case for diagnosis: lymphoma cutis? Lymphocytic infiltration of the skin? Chronic discoid lupus erythematosus? Arch Derm 1957;75:300–306.
10.
Wolf M: Lymphocytic infiltration of the face. Arch Derm 1957;75:136–137.
11.
Gottlieb B, Winkelmann RK: Lymphocytic infiltration of the skin. Arch Dermatol 1962;86:626–633.
12.
Dekle CL, Mannes KD, Davis LS, Sangueza OP: Lupus tumidus. J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;41:250–253.
13.
Casala AM, Bianchi C, Bianchi O, Stringa SG: Lupus érythémateux tumidus (lymphocytic infiltration of the skin) et lupus érythémateux chonique associés chez le même malade. Etude immunofluorescente. Bull Soc Fr Derm Syph 1971;78:256–258.
14.
O’Toole EA, Powell F, Barnes L: Jessner’s lymphocytic infiltrate and probable discoid lupus erythematosus occurring separately in two sisters. Clin Dermatol 1999;24:90–93.
15.
Weber F, Schmith M, Fritsch P, Sepp N: Lymphocytic infiltration of the skin is a photosensitive variant of lupus erythematosus: evidence by phototesting. Br J Dermatol 2001;144:1–7.
16.
Weyers W, Bonczkowitz M, Weyers I: LE or not LE – that is the question. An unsuccessful attempt to separate lymphocytic infiltration from the spectrum of discoid lupus erythematosus. Am J Dermatopathol 1998;20:225–232.
17.
Calnan CD: Lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (Jessner). Br J Dermatol 1957;69:169–173.
18.
Willemze R, Vermeer BJ, Meijer CJ: Immunohistochemical studies in lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (Jessner) and discoid lupus erythematosus. J Am Acad Dermatol 1984;11:832–840.
19.
Toonstra J, van der Putte SCJ: Plasmacytoid monocytes in Jessner’s lymphocytic infiltration of the skin. A valuable clue for the diagnosis. Am J Dermatopathol 1991;13:321–328.
20.
Ashworth M, Turbitt M, MacKie R: A comparison of the dermal lymphoid infiltrates in discoid lupus erythematosus and Jessner’s lymphocytic infiltrate of the skin using the monoclonal antibody Leu 8. J Cutan Pathol 1987;14:198–201.
21.
Akasu R, Kahn HJ, From L: Lymphocyte markers on formalin-fixed tissue in Jessner’s lymphocytic infiltrate and lupus erythematosus. J Cutan Pathol 1992;19:59–65.
22.
Toonstra J, Wildschut A, Boer J, Smeenk G, Willemze R, van der Putte SCJ, Boonstra H, van Vloten WA: Jessner’s lymphocytic infiltration of the skin. A clinical study of 100 patients. Arch Dermatol 1989;125:1525–1530.
23.
Poenitz N, Dippel E, Klemke CD, Qadoumi M, Goerdt S. Jessner’s lymphocytic infiltration of the skin: a CD8+ polyclonal reactive skin condition. Dermatology 2003;207:276–284.
24.
Konttinen YT, Bergroth V, Johansson E, Nordström D, Malmström M: A long-term clinicopathologic survey of patients with Jessner’s lymphocytic infiltration of the skin. J Invest Dermatol 1987;89:205–208.
25.
Kuhn A, Richter-Hintz D, Oslislo C, Ruzicka T, Megahed M, Lehmann P: Lupus erythematosus tumidus. A neglected subset of cutaneous lupus erythematosus: report of 40 cases. Arch Dermatol 2000;136:1033–1041.
26.
Kuo TT, Lo SK, Chan HL: Immunohistochemical analysis of dermal mononuclear cell infiltrates in cutaneous lupus erythematosus, polymorphous light eruption, lymphocytic infiltration of Jessner, and cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia. A comparative study. J Cutan Pathol 1994;21:430–436.
27.
Gilliam JN: The cutaneous signs of lupus erythematosus. Cont Educ Fam Physician 1977;6:34–40.
28.
Kuhn A, Sonntag M, Ruzicka T, Lehmann P, Megahed M: Histopathologic findings in lupus erythematosus tumidus: review of 80 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;48:901–908.
29.
Sonntag M, Lehmann P, Megahed M, Ruzicka T, Kuhn A: Lupus erythematosus tumidus in childhood. Report of 3 patients. Dermatology 2003;207:188–192.
30.
Lowe L, Rapini RP, Golitz LE, Johnson TM: Papulonodular dermal mucinosis in lupus erythematosus. J Am Acad Dermatol 1992;27:312–315.
31.
Sonntag M, Lehmann P, Megahed M, Ruzicka T, Kuhn A: Papulonodular mucinosis associated with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Dermatology 2003;206:326–329.
32.
Del Pozo J, Pena C, Almagro M, Yebra MT, Martinez W, Fonseca E: Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with a reticular erythematous mucinosis-like condition. Lupus 2000;9:144–146.
33.
Pandya AG, Sontheimer RD, Cokerell CJ, Takashima A, Piepkorn M: Papulonodular mucinosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: possible mechanisms of increased glycosaminoglycan accumulation. J Am Acad Dermatol 1995;32:199–205.
34.
Schneider GA, Lipsker D, Grosshans E: Papulonoduläre Muzinose als Begleiterkrankung bei Kollagenosen. Z Hautkr 1998;73:678–681.
35.
Caputo R, Marzano AV, Tourlaki A, Marchini M: Reticular erythematous mucinosis occurring in a brother and sister. Dermatology 2006;212:385–387.
36.
Ackerman AB, Boer A, Bennin B, Gottlieb GJ: Histopathologic diagnosis of inflammatory skin diseases, ed 3. New York, Ardor Scribendi 2005.
37.
Ting W, Stone MS, Racial D, Scofield RH, Sontheimer RD: Toxic epidermal necrolysis-like acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and the spectrum of the acute syndrome of apoptotic pan-epidermolysis: a case report, concept review and proposal for new classification of lupus erythematosus vesiculobullous skin lesions. Lupus 2004;13:941–950.
38.
Marzano AV, Tanzi C, Caputo R, Alessi E: Sclerodermic linear lupus panniculitis: report of two cases. Dermatology 2005;210:329–332.
39.
Massone C, Kodama K, Salmhofer W, Abe R, Shimizu H, Parodi A, Kerl H, Cerroni L: Lupus erythematosus panniculitis (lupus profundus): clinical, histopathological, and molecular analysis of nine cases. J Cut Pathol 2005;32:396–404.
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.