Weber-Christian Disease in a 12-year-old Filipino Female: A Case Report

Weber-Christian Disease (WCD), or relapsing febrile nodular panniculitis is a rare form of subcutaneous fat inflammation commonly affecting women aged 40-75 years old. It is rarer in children with only 1 previously reported case in the Philippines. It presents as erythematous nodules, frequently affecting the lower extremities. There is no standard treatment, but reportedly improves with steroid therapy, cyclosporine, and immunomodulators.

This is a case of a 12-year-old-female, who presented with a 4-month history of palpable facial nodules, thigh pains, and recurrent fever. Work-up for hypersensitivity reaction, autoimmune condition, hematologic problem, or infectious etiology yielded unremarkable findings, and corresponding management had no significant response. Patient developed firm lesions on the abdomen which was sent for biopsy and showed results consistent with WCD. Steroid, hydroxychloroquine, and topical indomethacin were then started and noted gradual improvement of the lesions. Patient was then discharged improved with lesions noted to progressively decrease in size and with no appearance of newer lesions upon follow-up.

WCD is a rare form of nodular panniculitis, more so in the younger age group. It is characterized by presence of cutaneous lesions associated with systemic symptoms. Skin biopsy is necessary to confirm its diagnosis. Visceral organ involvement and failure to respond to treatment may result to poor prognosis, and occasionally leads to death.