Erythema Nodosum

Erythema nodosum is an extraintestinal complication of Crohn´s disease and more seldom, ulcerative colitis.

About 2% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease suffer from this skin lesion at some time.

Most often these red, dull and tender skin nodules are seen on the legs - usually on the anterior tibial surfaces - of the patient, and it is more commonly seen in women.

Erythema nodosum is an indication of the activity of the bowel disease and it is seldom a problem after colectomy, and corticosteroid treatment helps resolving these lesions.

It is more likely to develop when arthritis is complicating the chronic bowel inflammation.

Erythema nodosum is "knölros" in Swedish and "kyhmyruusu" in Finnish.