Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia [pseudopyogenic granuloma] among Iraqi patients

ABSTRACT

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia [ALHE] [pseudopyogenic granuloma] is a benign locally proliferating lesion composed of vascular channels with a surrounding infiltrate of lymphocytes and eosinophils. ALHE is a rare disease but in Iraq it apparently seems to be more common than expected, for this reason the present work was arranged to evaluate the clinical and histopathological aspects of the disease. This case descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology- Baghdad Teaching Hospital during the period between June 1982- March 2005. Sixteen patients with this skin problem, were included in this study. All demographic points related to the disease were obtained from each case through detailed history, close clinical and histopathological means. Sixteen patients with ALHE were evaluated. Their ages of patients ranged from 20-50 years with a mean +/- SD of 35.73 +/- 8.72 years, they were 14 females and two males. The duration of the disease ranged from 1-15 [6.4 +/- 4.42] years. The clinical picture consisted of multiple dull to pinkish red angiomatous papules and nodules affecting the head only mostly around the scalp and ears. The histopathological examination revealed a proliferation and ectasia of blood vessels with eosinophilic infiltrate of the dermis. This study revealed that angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia [ALHE] in Iraq, is a disease predominantly of adult females only affecting the head, with no lymphadenopathy and typical histopathology without lymphoid follicle formation. This is the first report describing this disease in Iraq and seems to be more common than European countries