Reticular Erythematous Mucinosis — What Exactly Is This Condition?

Jeffrey P. Callen, MD

Characteristics, associated conditions, therapies, and outcomes in 25 cases

Reticular erythematous mucinosis (REM), first described relatively recently, is characterized by reticulated erythematous papules coalescing into a plaque on the mid-upper back or mid-chest. Some believe that the process is reactive; it is difficult to distinguish from tumid lupus erythematosus (LE).

These authors detail characteristics of 25 patients (16 women; average age, 46) treated over 22 years at two European medical centers. Light as an exacerbating factor was observed in five patients, and four patients had noted improvement with sun exposure. Most patients had no other disease; four had hypertension, three had a malignancy (but a paraneoplastic relationship was not reported), and three had autoimmune disorders (ulcerative colitis, hepatitis C viral infection with Raynaud phenomenon, and hypothyroidism). Most of the patients received antimalarial therapy and were said to have a good response.

Citation(s):

Rongioletti F et al. Reticular erythematous mucinosis: A review of patients characteristics, associated conditions, therapy and outcome in 25 cases. Br J Dermatol 2013 Aug 12; [e-pub ahead of print].