[Lupoid leishmaniasis].

INTRODUCTION

Due to the wide variety of clinical pictures, several terms have been used in the literature reporting cases of lupoid leishmaniasis, including chronic leishmaniasis and recurrent leishmaniasis.

CASES

We report three new cases, two of which presented the classical features, and a third one with an unusual distribution of the lesions.

DISCUSSION

Lupoid leishmaniasis is a particular evolving form of cutaneous leishmaniasis with characteristic spreading of the initial nodule, leading to a plaque simulating discoid lupus. Leishmaniasis major was identified in all three patients and recognized as the zoonotic leishmaniasis which usually presents as a classical oriental sore. A clinical course to lupoid leishmaniasis is probably related to changes in cell-mediated immunity leading to localized or diffuse lesions.