Peripheral keratitis associated with erythema elevatum diutinum.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of peripheral keratitis associated with erythema elevatum diutinum (EED), an unusual immune-complex-mediated cutaneous vasculitis.

DESIGN: Observational case report.

METHODS: A 25-year-old man who was diagnosed 15 months previously with erythema elevatum diutinum presented with an inflammatory peripheral keratitis of the left eye.

RESULTS: Serologic investigations for systemic disorders associated with vasculitic peripheral ulcerative keratitis were unremarkable. As the sclerokeratitis was thought to represent an ocular extension of the patient's cutaneous vasculitis, dapsone therapy was initiated and resulted in a rapid response of both the cutaneous and the ocular inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS: Erythema elevatum diutinum should be included in the differential diagnosis of vasculitic peripheral keratitis.