ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Although rare, skin lesions are regularly reported in patients with systemic amyloidosis. The existence of bullous skin lesions however is very rare; only thirty cases have been previously reported. We report a new case of bullous amyloidosis revealing a light chains lambda myeloma, and underline the usual characteristics of this type of systemic amyloidosis. EXEGESIS: An 85-year-old man was hospitalised for a bullous eruption associated with a general asthenia. Bullous amyloidosis revealing a light chains lambda myeloma was diagnosed and confirmed by histopathological examination of a skin biopsy specimen. The patient died of a severe congestive heart failure, 15 days later, due to cardiac involvement of the amyloidosis. CONCLUSION: Bullous amyloidosis lesions can be an early manifestation of occult dysglobulinemia. Early diagnosis would allow rapid treatment, before onset of systemic amyloidosis, which is often lethal.
