# Case Report: A 69-year-old woman with dermatopathic lymphadenopathy and hypercalcemia after COVID-19 infection

## TL;DR

A 69-year-old woman developed lymph node swelling and high blood calcium after a COVID-19 infection, likely due to immune system issues.

## Contribution

This case report highlights a rare coexistence of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy and hypercalcemia following a COVID-19 infection.

## Key findings

- The patient's lymph node biopsy showed Langerhans cell histiocytosis, supporting a diagnosis of dermatopathic lymphadenitis.
- Treatment with prednisone and calcitonin led to significant improvement in symptoms and normalization of calcium levels.
- The patient remained in remission for 4 years after treatment.

## Abstract

A 69-year-old female presented with hypercalcemia, recurrent fever, and lymphadenectasis following COVID-19 infection. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) revealed no suspicious malignancy. Lymph node biopsy from bilateral inguinal areas suggested Langerhans cell histiocytosis, supporting a possible diagnosis of dermatopathic lymphadenitis or rare Langerhans cell histiocytosis. The immunohistology staining showed that the proliferated Langerhans cells in lymph nodes expressed CD68, CD1a, and S100, further supporting the diagnosis of dermatopathic lymphadenitis.

The patient was diagnosed with dermatopathic lymphadenopathy. The patient underwent a therapy of prednisone acetate at 30 mg per day. Then, glucocorticoid was gradually decreased by 2.5 mg per 2 weeks, until it reached 7.5 mg per day. Salmon calcitonin was subcutaneously injected to decrease the calcium level and relieve pain during hospitalization.

During the 3 months of treatment, the systemic symptoms were significantly alleviated. The lymph nodes of the right inguinal area and the serum calcium level decreased to normal. She remained in remission for an additional 4 years.

Coexistence of the two unrelated diseases, dermatopathic lymphadenopathy and hypercalcemia, was rare. Immune dysregulation and persistent inflammatory responses post-COVID-19 infection may be the potential mechanism for hypercalcemia.