Peripheral ulcerative keratitis associated with erythema elevatum diutinum and a positive rheumatoid factor: a report of three cases.

Peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) is a complication of collagen-vascular diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other systemic vasculitides. We report three cases of erythema elevatum diutinum with PUK. These patients presented with nodules and plaques consistent with erythema elevatum diutinum on the extremities and crusted or ulcerated purpuric lesions on the soles. Histopathological examination of these lesions revealed a dense neutrophilic infiltrate with nuclear dust and fibrin around blood vessels. All the patients developed PUK concomitant with the development of the skin lesions. The rheumatoid factor was positive at high titre in all three patients: this was associated with probable RA in one. Cutaneous lesions were dramatically improved by administration of dapsone in all cases. Dapsone was also effective in treating the ocular lesions in two patients.