Acquired cutis laxa in a 55-year-old female with multiple myeloma and serologic evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Cutis laxa (CL) is a rare connective tissue disorder characterized by loosely hanging skin folds. Histopathology reveals degenerative changes in the dermal elastic fibers, although loss of elastin can also occur in alveolar walls, blood vessels, and other organs. The coexistence of autoimmune diseases and monoclonal gammopathies is rare but well documented in the literature. Here we report an unusual case of cutis laxa (CL) preceding the development of serologic evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM) by seven and eleven years respectively.