Hi All,
I have had a rash since May that was undiagnosed until it was biopsied last week. It is granuloma annulare, a benign inflammatory reaction that will go away on its own. I guess it could last years! Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this after their stem cell transplant.
Grace
plasma cell leukemia
SCT
Forums
7 posts
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WeatherNurse13 - Name: Gracie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 10/2012
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Granuloma Annulare after SCT
I've had a rash which looks like this disorder. But I also have dry and itchy skin accompanying it. It's mostly on my legs and arms. I've had it since the transplant. What did your doc say to do. When I show my skin to mine he just says, "um!" then says to treat it with cortisone cream and emoluments. This has been three years! Nothing seems to help.
I also had an episodic breakout after I was off Velcade for a year, several years ago. It was much worse, but went away on its own.
Does your's itch, and what do you treat it with?
Thanks, Julia
I also had an episodic breakout after I was off Velcade for a year, several years ago. It was much worse, but went away on its own.
Does your's itch, and what do you treat it with?
Thanks, Julia
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Jubyanne - Name: Julia Munson
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself, son's mother-in-law
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Spring 2008
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Granuloma Annulare after SCT
Hi Julie!
Sounds like you had the same answers I did from several doctors and PAs. Cortisone, even the strongest prescription hasn't done anything for my granuloma annulare (GA). My don't itch, except for some of them on my hands. My skin is usually dry too, but that hasn't changed since transplant. I am only 6 months post transplant and had Velcade last in January. Velcade is a common med in multiple myeloma. Something else to consider as the perpetrator!
I wrote the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and got a timely response.
"The precise cause of granuloma annulare is unknown. Proposed mechanisms for granuloma annulare include cell-mediated immunity, immune vasculitis and an abnormality of tissue monocytes. Some others are degeneration of connective tissue leading to granulomatous inflammation, lymphocyte-mediated immune reaction and cytokine degradation of connective tissue. Risk factors are diabetes, thyroid diseases and malignancies."
My dermatologist says as long as they don't bother me, I don't need to treat them. Because of their appearance they sometimes inject each spot with steriods or something, but I have way too many spots to treat like that.
Hope this helps. Good luck with your rash...After just a day, I have had 4 responses of people with unknown rash after transplant. Interesting!
Sounds like you had the same answers I did from several doctors and PAs. Cortisone, even the strongest prescription hasn't done anything for my granuloma annulare (GA). My don't itch, except for some of them on my hands. My skin is usually dry too, but that hasn't changed since transplant. I am only 6 months post transplant and had Velcade last in January. Velcade is a common med in multiple myeloma. Something else to consider as the perpetrator!
I wrote the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and got a timely response.
"The precise cause of granuloma annulare is unknown. Proposed mechanisms for granuloma annulare include cell-mediated immunity, immune vasculitis and an abnormality of tissue monocytes. Some others are degeneration of connective tissue leading to granulomatous inflammation, lymphocyte-mediated immune reaction and cytokine degradation of connective tissue. Risk factors are diabetes, thyroid diseases and malignancies."
My dermatologist says as long as they don't bother me, I don't need to treat them. Because of their appearance they sometimes inject each spot with steriods or something, but I have way too many spots to treat like that.
Hope this helps. Good luck with your rash...After just a day, I have had 4 responses of people with unknown rash after transplant. Interesting!
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WeatherNurse13 - Name: Gracie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 10/2012
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Granuloma Annulare after SCT
Sorry to hear about your skin condition, Grace. Also sorry that the MMRF didn't provide you with information beyond what you could find with a quick online search for information about your condition.
Emedicine says the following about the potential causes of the condition:
"Proposed pathogenic mechanisms for granuloma annulare include cell-mediated immunity (type IV), immune complex vasculitis, and an abnormality of tissue monocytes. Some other possible mechanisms include primary degeneration of connective tissue leading to granulomatous inflammation, lymphocyte-mediated immune reaction with macrophage activation, and cytokine-mediated degradation of connective tissue."
Link: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1123031-overview#showall
And PubmedHealth adds:
"Causes, incidence, and risk factors - Granuloma annulare most often affects children and young adults. It is slightly more common in females. The condition is usually seen in otherwise healthy people. Occasionally, it may be associated with diabetes or thyroid disease. Its cause is unknown."
Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001836/
Any of this information sound familiar?
The above sources have additional information on the condition which you may find helpful, as does Wikipedia.
Unfortunately, none of this information answers whether the condition is linked to your stem cell transplant. That's something that would interest me.
Are you taking any maintenance medication right now? If so, perhaps that is playing a role in the development of the condition.
In any case, I'm glad the condition isn't creating too many problems for you. I hope it stays that way!
Emedicine says the following about the potential causes of the condition:
"Proposed pathogenic mechanisms for granuloma annulare include cell-mediated immunity (type IV), immune complex vasculitis, and an abnormality of tissue monocytes. Some other possible mechanisms include primary degeneration of connective tissue leading to granulomatous inflammation, lymphocyte-mediated immune reaction with macrophage activation, and cytokine-mediated degradation of connective tissue."
Link: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1123031-overview#showall
And PubmedHealth adds:
"Causes, incidence, and risk factors - Granuloma annulare most often affects children and young adults. It is slightly more common in females. The condition is usually seen in otherwise healthy people. Occasionally, it may be associated with diabetes or thyroid disease. Its cause is unknown."
Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001836/
Any of this information sound familiar?
The above sources have additional information on the condition which you may find helpful, as does Wikipedia.
Unfortunately, none of this information answers whether the condition is linked to your stem cell transplant. That's something that would interest me.
Are you taking any maintenance medication right now? If so, perhaps that is playing a role in the development of the condition.
In any case, I'm glad the condition isn't creating too many problems for you. I hope it stays that way!
Re: Granuloma Annulare after SCT
My husband has had a rash, starting about 6 weeks after his transplant (almost 2 years). It initially started on his back, but after a few months it has only been on his face. He has "lumps" that are initially pink, then become skin colored. He has not been able to find any cause. The local dermatologist biopsied them with no conclusions. He also saw the dermatologist when he was back at Mayo for a check-up. They were not able to tell him anything definitive. He has been most frustrated by this. They don't itch, but they are somewhat unsightly and embarrassing to him.
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rumnting - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 4/9/11
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Granuloma Annulare after SCT
I have had a red rash on the side of my face since about 3 weeks after my autologous stem cell transplant. The triamcinolone lotion I received at AZ Mayo does fade it a bit, but I don't like using it very often.
When I returned home to my oncologist/hematologist in Montana, he looked at it and said he had seen this before, and it was his opinion that sometimes, even with autologous SCT, there is a tiny graft vs. host reaction, and this was it. "You'll outlast the rash!" Was his final statement, which I have accepted with a smile!
I am now almost 5 months post-transplant, and the rash is still there. I just keep smiling...I feel fantastic, and am thankful for each day!
When I returned home to my oncologist/hematologist in Montana, he looked at it and said he had seen this before, and it was his opinion that sometimes, even with autologous SCT, there is a tiny graft vs. host reaction, and this was it. "You'll outlast the rash!" Was his final statement, which I have accepted with a smile!
I am now almost 5 months post-transplant, and the rash is still there. I just keep smiling...I feel fantastic, and am thankful for each day!
Re: Granuloma Annulare after SCT
Hallo, new to this forum.
Had something similar ( 8 month post SCT now) - hematologist paid no attention in the first place -so I went to GP , which prescript a creme which did not help. She sent me to dermatologist then which thought it was an eczema, that creme did not help either. Went back and complained, as I had this ''skin thing'' for about 4/5 month now (not itching btw, more burning kind of feeling), got another creme with cortisone (low) but also did a biopsy due to my history of multiple myeloma. Finally the result was: plasma cells in the skin (igG kappa)! Strange thing was, with my other monthly testing I had no more m-protein in blood and urine.! Otherwise it would be a relapse, but oncologist discussed that with the other dr's from the clinical trial -then phoned to say that i should not be worried as the blood is clean, maybe it was a rest of those plasma cells nestling there....?! Find it strange, and hope he is right. Anyone with those rashes, be alert and if it does not go away, ask for a biopsy! It's still there from the outside, but not that inflamed anymore, much less then before- but to be sure I got creme #4 with more cortisone in it (for 2 weeks)....
Had something similar ( 8 month post SCT now) - hematologist paid no attention in the first place -so I went to GP , which prescript a creme which did not help. She sent me to dermatologist then which thought it was an eczema, that creme did not help either. Went back and complained, as I had this ''skin thing'' for about 4/5 month now (not itching btw, more burning kind of feeling), got another creme with cortisone (low) but also did a biopsy due to my history of multiple myeloma. Finally the result was: plasma cells in the skin (igG kappa)! Strange thing was, with my other monthly testing I had no more m-protein in blood and urine.! Otherwise it would be a relapse, but oncologist discussed that with the other dr's from the clinical trial -then phoned to say that i should not be worried as the blood is clean, maybe it was a rest of those plasma cells nestling there....?! Find it strange, and hope he is right. Anyone with those rashes, be alert and if it does not go away, ask for a biopsy! It's still there from the outside, but not that inflamed anymore, much less then before- but to be sure I got creme #4 with more cortisone in it (for 2 weeks)....
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Vally
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