The role of atorvastatin in management of eruptive xanthoma on a boy: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Eruptive xanthoma (EX) is a benign skin lesion caused by the accumulation of cholesterol and triglycerides in the skin’s dermis. Xanthoma can be an early clinical manifestation of systemic diseases such as dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus. The clinical presentation varies from asymptomatic skin lesions to intense pruritus and tenderness. This study aims that oral atorvastatin is effective in treating a child with EX. CASE REPORT: A 3-year-old boy with an 8.4 kg body weight and 82.5 cm height came to the hospital with a chief complaint of small yellowish-white papules and nodes, discrete, 2–5 mm in size, painless on pressing, itchy, scattered, mainly in the lower extremity around the buttocks. On laboratory examination, Hb 11.5 g/dL, leukocyte 9900/ul, platelet 413,000/uL, and blood glucose 66 mg/dL. Further evaluation revealed total cholesterol 814 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) 970 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) 341 mg/dl, triglycerides 621 mg/dL; there is no evidence of familial hypercholesterolemia. The diagnosis is EX. After starting treatment with atorvastatin 0.2 mg/ kg body weight/day in one dose for 6 months, his cutaneous lesions gradually subsided and significantly decreased cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels. CONCLUSION: Early therapy with atorvastatin will reduce the morbidity and mortality of EX.