Panniculitis in a patient with mixed connective tissue disease.

A 51-year-old woman who had been suffering from mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) for 8 years developed an erythematous rash with pain and tenderness on her left leg. A skin biopsy revealed septal panniculitis with multiple lymphangiectasis. No vasculitis was observed. An increase in her prednisolone dose from 5 mg to 20 mg/day led to an improvement in these lesions. Panniculitis is very rare in MCTD. The clinical significance of panniculitis in MCTD is also discussed.