[Chronic erythematous oedema of the upper face (Degos). Morbihan disease (author's transl)].

We studied 5 patients presenting with erythematous superior oedema of the face and with oedema of the eyelids. The first case, described by Degos 20 years ago, is reviewed. The first of our 5 patients had clinical lesions similar to those of Degos' case, with true pachydermal features of the integument. In all cases the clinical features are typical but the histology was not characteristic: epidermal atrophy, elastosis, discrete lymphocytic infiltrates. The diagnoses of LE, rosacea, sarcoidosis were excluded. No medication appears to be effective except thalidomide provided that it is given early enough. This disease ought to be recognized as a distinct clinical entity.