Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis

Cytophagic Histiocytic Panniculitis (CHP) was first described in 1980 by Winkelmann as a chronic histiocytic disease of the subcutaneous adipose tissue, which is characterized clinically by tender erythematous nodules, recurrent high fever, malaise, jaundice, organomegaly, serosal effusions, pancytopenia, hepatic dysfunction and coagulatory abnormalities. [1] CHP may occur either isolated or as part of cutaneous manifestations of Hemophagocytic Syndrome (HPS). [2] CHP is a rare and often fatal form of panniculitis with multisystem involvement. But it can also present in a benign form involving only the subcutaneous tissue, thus having a broad clinical spectrum.

References 1. Winkelmann RK, Bowie EJ. Hemorrhagic diathesis associated with benign histiocytic cytophagic panniculitis and systemic histiocytosis. Arch Intern Med.1980; 140: 1460-3 2. Smith K J, Skeleton H J, Yeagre J, Angritt P, Wagner K, James W. D., Giblin W. J., Lupton G. P. Cutaneous histopathological, immunohistochemical, and clinical manifestations inpatients with hemophagocytic syndrome. Military Medical Consortium for Applied Retroviral Research (MMCARR). Arch Dermatol 1992; 128: 193-200