Erythema Multiforme, Tongue Lesions, Purpura on Buccal Mucosa

[neveragain22]

Hi there,

I've been sick for six weeks. Doctors think I must have caught a strange virus. Tested for HIV, Mono, Hep A,B,C. All Negative. Liver and Kidney function within normal limits.

Six weeks ago my symptoms began with fever, night sweats, diarhhea, and strange lesions on the tip of my tongue. Basically my tongue looks like erythema multiforme, kinda like this, only without the scarring on the lip:
http://www.studydroid.com/imageCards/0b/87/card-11803657-front.jpg

Here's a photo of my actual tongue, 3 weeks later:
http://www.medhelp.org/photos/show/7769562?type=posts

Night sweats went away but the tongue illness remains and rises and falls in terms of severity. but numbness on the tip of my tongue, swollen (grooved) tongue edges, and enlarged red papuliae on the tip of the tongue are a constant. Lately, in the last 3 weeks, I also began getting blood blisters/purpura on the inside of my cheeks, i.e., on my buccal mucosa, and occasionally on my upper and lower lip.

My complete blood count was thrown off, but seems to be improving. Right now everything is within normal range except my lymphocytes (my lymphocytes are currently @ 1.3 ... normal is 1.5-4.0). My lymphocytes have been low for several weeks consistently. I'm wondering if anyone has had similar symptoms or can offer any insights.

Thanks!

[maatson]

It would be wise to rule out primary amyloidosis of the tongue.Manifestations
include macroglossia, in up to 50% of
patients, and oral petechiae or blood-filled
bullae.A biopsy may be essential. Do consult your doc.
Best wishes.

[neveragain22]

Thanks Maatson, I'll discuss amyloidosis with my GP. Can you advise me of any specialists I should see? I have an appointment to see a dematologist but it will take one month to see him/her. I look forward to your reply.

[neveragain22]

Also, the one irregularity in my other tests included elevated ALBUMIN. My test result was 53. The normal range is 32-52. Does this further suggest amyloidosis? Thanks again.

[maatson]

I do not think this is significant.Also remember that localized amyloidosis
(Not serious) is distinct from the serious systemic counterpart.
So this is only a differential diagnosis to the virus induced EM.
Best wishes.

[neveragain22]

Hi Maatson, I spoke with a coordinator with a national amyloidosis support group yesterday. She said that after meeting 4000 amyloidosis patients, and attending loads of conferences, she's never amyloidosis affect anyone who is only 30 years old. But I understand your point about amyloidosis, and I'll seek to have that ruled out by biopsy.

I began taking antihistamines yesterday for the first time to see if it would have any effect on  this ongoing, 6 week, illness. I'm taking Xyzal (5mg). It made me feel slightly better, and the hypertrophied fungiform papillae on the tip of my tongue seem to have responded with a moderate reduction in their swelling. Do you know of any allergic reactions that can cause purpura in the mouth and some of the other symptoms I've described? (Night sweats, fever, swollen tongue, low lymphocytes, etc). Also, if I have a viral illness, would it be unsafe to take antihistamines?

I still suspect Mono or EBV, or Herpes as triggering this whole illness. I tested negative for Mono and a swab of my tongue did not detect Herpes, but I know that during the second week of symptoms, when I was taking Valtrex, my night sweats remitted, and everything felt much better except the tip of my tongue still had hypertrophied fungiform papillae. After I finished my Rx of Valtrex, my night sweats returned for about a week and then disappeared again. I haven't had real night sweats (changing damp shirt multiple times per night) now in about 3 weeks.

Thanks for your help Maatson. Its great to have someone knowledgable to discuss this with. I've seen over 15 different doctors now in six weeks and still no Dx--I haven't even had anything ruled out, except HIV appears to be exceedingly unlikedly given my Combo test results (negative) at 28 days post last exposure. Most doctors I've seen aren't worried about me, but I know my own health, I know that I'm very ill, and have never felt like this before. I also know that blood blisters in the mouth are not a good sign. I do not have a history of hypochondriac type behaviour. Also, my CBC results show something is unusual:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/265672?personal_page_id=2132440

I asked my GP to do a differential composition analysis of my lymphocytes, but he refused, saying it was unnecessary. I'm in Canada and we have socialized medicine. If i could pay for a specialist to see me, I would do so in a flash. Right now I've got a long wait (a month or more) before I can see any specialists. I feel its up to me in the mean time to try to figure out what's causing this illness. Do you think seeing a dentist would be of any use?

Please let me know if any ideas/tests/strategies come to mind. Again I REALLY appreciate your input. I owe you one.

[maatson]

Kindly excuse delay in replying. Seems there is a server problem to be corrected. I will get back to you.
Cheers!

[maatson]

Oh yes, Guess we are at a near diagnosis. Extremely rare though Henoch- schonlein purpura can have a oral-facial presentation.Not a serious condition but then presentation like this is very rare.
Recurrent Henoch-Schonlein purpura presenting as gingival petechiae and mandibular pain Original Research Article
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Volume 48, Issue 6, June 1990, Pages 634-637
Raymond J. Enzenauer, Stephen H. Sutley, Robert W. Enzenauer

[maatson]

Also I am terribly sorry for not replying for quite sometime, and the PC was out of action!
Even from day1 I did think of Anaphylactoid purpura (Henoch schonlenn) as a differential diagnosis but that it can present at the oral mucosa was an eye opener from the above article I read.
Do talk to your doctors and let me know your progress.
.M.

[neveragain22]

Hi Maatson

My GP thinks allergies are an unlikely cause because there's usually more respetory symptoms with allergies. I didn have a cough or a runny nose. I'm referred now to two specialists. I'm concerned about lymphoma. My lymph nodes were swollen during the first week of symptoms. And they're still painful from time to time even now six weeks later. I also had night sweats for three weeks which is one of lymphoma's classic 'B symptoms'.  Do you think lymphoma could be a possible cause of the oral symptoms? Would there be any clues in my CBC if lymphoma was the issue?

Many thanks. I'll MSG back with any new info I find out from my doctors. Please let me know your opinion about lymphoma.

[neveragain22]

Hi again Maatson I just wanted to mention ITP or idiopathic thrombocynic purpura. My GP thought that my ITP could not have caused my purpura because my platelet and red blood cell counts were within normal limits. However I did experience a drop in both platelets and red blood cells and I had an irregularly high mean platelet volume measurement. When MPV is high, it indicates increased destruction of platelets, thus making ITP more plausible. Please share any thoughts you made have and thanks again for talking with me !

[maatson]

Why the lesions are localized to the oral mucosa only? That is the crux issue here.A viral fever with lympadenopathy seems likely with a drug induced localized shonlenn purpura.
I believe this would settle down.
My best wishes.

[maatson]

Even I do not think of ITP with normal count.But a vasculitis, yes. Could I have your drug history? I do not think of a lympoma here.ok?

[maatson]

A lymphoma(Most unlikely)-Corrected spelling!

[neveragain22]

Hi Maatson,

Here's a new photo of my Symptoms and the Medications I've taken.

http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/266690

As you can see, my symptoms have improved a lot, even since three weeks ago. But I still have "geographic tongue" and a intermittent metallic/stinging battery type taste on my tongue

Some more details about the medications in that chart:
1.Nystatin was prescribed for suspected thrush. (2 x 2 week dose)
2.Valtrex was prescribed for suspected herpes (on tongue) (1 week dose)
3. Suprax- given by doctor at my request. 10 day dose, I took it for 6 days then stopped taking it--it *seemed* to make my condition worse (diarrhea, metallic taste in mouth, etc.)

Other medications I've taken in the last year:

A year ago I was on 30 days ofloxacin (for suspected prostatitis). I think it was a fungal UTI and misdiagnosed as a bacterial infection.

Over the last 8 months I've taken Fluconazole 150mg single dose on three occasions for post-antibiotic fungal issues

I regularly use, especially in the summer, antifungal creams to treat recurring jock itch in the groin area

One month before symptoms started, I was prescribed Zithromax 2g single dose for a suspected STD causing UTI with discharge (chlamydia most likely). I think this diagnosis was correct, I had white/yellowish discharge from my urethra every day for a week.

I have been eating a lot of protein supplements lately but discovered that some brands are known to have high levels of arsenic, so i stopped eating them one week ago.

Also, one week ago I started taking Xyzal, an antihistamine, once every morning. I'm not sure whether its helping or not.

Blood tests:

HIV negative (1,2,4 &6 weeks after symptoms began)
Monospot negative
Hepatitis A,B,C negative
Liver function normal
Syphilis Negative
Herpes: Unknown

Urine:
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Negative
kidney function normal


Also, a note about my CBC results (which you can see here):
http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/265672
Doctors told me that my CBC results from years ago show a low lymphocyte count, suggesting that my normal lymphocyte count is on the low end of normal.

Thanks again Maatson

[maatson]

Well done and perhaps one of the best clinical presentations ever! But then as I had told you you are on the recovery phase of a possible mononucleosis-like illness induced by cytomegalovirus or adeno virus.
My good wishes for speedy recovery.
Cheers!

[neveragain22]

Thanks again Maatson. I'll post any new information or test results I have following my specialist appointments. Please check back when I do to offer your opinion!

Be well & Take care!

[neveragain22]

Hi Maatson, I hope you're doing well. I'm waiting to see a dermatologist and still getting geographic tongue and those odd purpura on the buccal mucosa. Yesterday I also noticed a water filled cyst underneath my tongue. It has since burst and is not painful. I thought I'd post a picture in case it provides any clues about my illness:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/269094

Please let me know if it gives you any new ideas about what might be effecting me. Thanks again!

[maatson]

This is typically a mucous cyst of minor salivary glands and is ok. Do keep me informed.
Best wishes.

[neveragain22]

Hi Maatson. My dermatologist referred me to an infectious disease specialist today. He said my symptoms were serious and required urgent attention. He was alarmed when he noted a heart murmur while listening to my heart. He said the murmur could be the result of an underlying infection. He also gave serious consideration to the idea that an exposure to an exotic fungus or bacteria in my apartment may have caused the illness. I'll let you know what the infectious disease specialist says. Thanks again for your help

[maatson]

Sure. Do keep me informed.ok?

[maatson]

Fever and petechie and cardic murmer. Do they think of sub acute Bacterial endocarditis? But then you do not have preexisting valve defect.
Let us see.

[neveragain22]

Hi Maatson

According to the internal medicine specialist the murmur is not very pronounced and may have been pre existing. I have an echocardiogram scheduled for this coming Monday. I also had a lot of new blood tests ordered by the internist so I shoul have those results by the end of next week. I'll let you know what I find out!  Thanks for your help and ongoing attention!

[maatson]

Do not worry and things will turn out to be localized.Regards.

[neveragain22]

Hi again. Just thought I would add that after 6 weeks of peace at night my night sweats have returned. They started again two nights ago seem to be getting worse. Tonight I'm back to having to change my shirt