HELP! Panniculitis?

[jackib4]

Hi everyone, I am on week 24 of tx and I posted on here a couple of weeks ago, and was asking about bruising/knots on the shins and calves. My doctor sent me to dermatologist for a biopsy (which I had done today - Ouch!) and she said it looks like panniculitis and is probably from the interferon shots. My GI said he had never seen anything like it before. Has anyone else had this problem? The dermatologist seemed to think that it would go away after treatment. I have pulled up a couple of articles on the internet that sound pretty scary....I guess there is a nodular panniculitis and a vascular panniculitis. I read where the latter caused hemmoraging and death. My pathology will be back in 2 weeks. I called the Be In Charge hotline and they have no records of anyone having this side effect from interferon. It is very ugly, and is starting to look look like my legs from the knees down are rotting off! Maybe I am just panicking....a very good possibility, eh? Thanks in a advance for any input!

[jackib4]

First of all, congrats on completing tx! I hope and pray I will be able to to the same! The dermatologist is saying that it is more than likely the interferon. However, in researching further, I came across this is pdf version of "Dermatology Rounds".

http://www.dermatologyrounds.ca/crus/dermeng6_5_07.pdf

The second type of panniculitis listed on this is actually associated with Hep C itself and not the treatment. She said it didn't look like veins were involved, which is a good thing. I would hate to have these "crater" looking things left behind (atrophic scars) Right now they look like the craters they describe with red rings around them. The "crater" part is very dark. The nodules are actually around the crater. I had some bumps on my shins, but the ones that "stay" are around my calves and ankles. I've had them for the last 8 weeks and sounds like I will have them until after treatment. Red, I am glad to hear that yours are subsiding! I will keep you posted on what I find out.

[redrodeo]

     Thanks for the post, now I have a name for it. I had it pretty much the entire 24wks. Actually just today(3wks post tx) that my legs were getting better. Not as painful and not so nodule. I had never heard of that. So its was the interferon that did that?
      Red

[jackib4]

LOL, well it would have been more fun to have gotten them from sex!  I thought I was clumsy too, actually I AM clumsy, but these things don't go away and actually really stand out after getting out of a hot shower or bath. Strange....I did find this under one of the types of Panniculitis. Sounds like what the dermatologist was saying.

Erythema Nodosum:
"erythematous eruption commonly associated with drug reactions or infection and characterized by inflammatory nodules that are usually tender, multiple, and bilateral; these nodules are located predominantly on the shins with less common occurrence on the thighs and forearms; they undergo characteristic color changes ending in temporary bruise-like areas; this condition usually subsides in 3-6 weeks without scarring or atrophy."

[GSDgirl]

Hi, I had some major bruising on my inner thighs (no not from sex LOL) it looked like fingerprints tho.  I also had bruises on my shins and arms.  My gastro acted like I was just clumsy (first gastro).  So I was never diagnosed with anything.  Good Luck!!

Denise

[jackib4]

I should have given a definition of the above....it's inflammation of subcotaneous fat tissue. I didn't think I had any fat left on my shins or calves! LOL