Erythema Nodosum Caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosisin HTLV-1 Infected Patients

HTLV infection seems to increase the susceptibility to tuberculosis TB however in that HTLV and TB co infected patients skin lesions due to Mycobacterium tuberculosishave rarely been described Erythema nodosum is a skin disorder clinically associated a subcutaneous nodules induced by various pathogens drugs and other miscellaneous conditions Here were described two cases of HTLV patients with recurrent Erythema nodosum associated with M tuberculosis One of the patients did not present any TB pulmonary symptoms or X ray abnormalities Skin culture sputum and acid fast bacilli staining for mycobacterium were all negatives The tuberculin skin test was strongly positives and the infection with M tuberculosiswas detected by qPCR at skin lesions Both patients were treated for TB and the Erythema nodosum clinically ameliorated In conclusion these data reveals that Erythema nodosum in HTLV infected patients might be a clinical manifestation associated to cutaneous tuberculosis