Rowell Syndrome: A Diagnostic Challenge

BACKGROUND: Rowell syndrome is a rare disease characterized by a combination of lupus erythematosus (LE) and erythema multiforme (EM)-like lesions and a characteristic immunologic pattern, including speckled pattern of antinuclear antibody (ANA), positive anti-Ro/SSA or anti-La/SSB, and positive rheumatoid factor (RF). This disease was first described in 1963, and to date, about 95 cases of EM-like lesions associated with LE have been described in the literature, with the majority of cases being reported in adult female patients. Here, we describe the case of a 17-year-old male patient exhibiting both systemic LE and EM lesions together with ANA and anti-Ro/SSA positivity who was successfully treated with systemic corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine.