True about Erythema elevatum diutinum
**Core Concept**
Erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) is a rare, chronic skin condition characterized by the formation of palpable, indurated, and erythematous plaques, typically on the extensor surfaces of the hands, feet, elbows, and knees. It is a type of leukocytoclastic vasculitis, which involves the inflammation of small blood vessels.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
EED is often associated with chronic infections, such as bacterial endocarditis or hepatitis B, and may also be linked to autoimmune disorders. The condition is thought to result from the deposition of immune complexes containing IgG and C3 in the dermal blood vessels, leading to inflammation and damage to the vessel walls. The lesions in EED are usually composed of neutrophils, eosinophils, and histiocytes, with the presence of leukocytoclasis, which is the fragmentation of neutrophils.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option may be trying to confuse the reader with a similar-sounding condition, but it is actually describing a different entity altogether.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because it does not accurately describe the pathophysiology of EED.
**Option C:** This option may seem plausible but is actually describing a different type of vasculitis.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
EED is often associated with chronic infections, such as bacterial endocarditis or hepatitis B, and may also be linked to autoimmune disorders. It is essential to consider EED in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with palpable, indurated, and erythematous plaques on the extensor surfaces of the hands, feet, elbows, and knees.
**Correct Answer: D**