Clinical characteristics and treatment of Morbihan disease of the eyelids: A single-center retrospective study.

[PURPOSE] To evaluate clinical and histopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes of Morbihan disease (MD) of eyelids, a rare condition characterized by chronic erythematous edema.

[DESIGN] Retrospective study.

[METHODS] Clinical records of patients diagnosed with eyelid and facial MD were reviewed to assess clinical features, treatment outcomes, recurrence, and histopathological findings. Nonsurgical treatments were categorized as observation, oral steroids (oral group), intralesional steroid injections (injection group), and combination group. Treatment response was classified as complete (CR), partial (PR), or no response. Intralesional injections were subdivided into low-dose (<20 mg) and high-dose (≥20 mg). Recurrence was defined as erythematous edema reappearing after CR.

[RESULTS] The study included 67 patients (mean age, 54.3 ± 11.9 years; 65.7% male) with a mean follow-up of 1.69 ± 1.83 years. Of 57 patients who underwent nonsurgical treatments, significant differences in treatment response were observed among oral (n = 13), injection (n = 16), and combination (n = 28) groups (P < 0.001). Injection (56.2%) and combination (64.2%) groups showed higher response rates (CR or PR) than the oral group (38.4%) (P < 0.05). Recurrence was higher in the oral group (53.3%) than in the injection (26.7%) and combination (20.0%) groups (P = 0.018). High-dose injection showed better response than low-dose (70.8% vs. 50.0%, P = 0.017). Debulking surgery with blepharoplasty was performed in 23 patients (40.4%), with 91.3% achieving long-term control. Common histopathological findings included dermal edema (91.3%) and dilated lymphatic or blood vessels (60.8%).

[CONCLUSIONS] Intralesional steroid injections, particularly at doses ≥20 mg, were more effective than oral steroids in treating eyelid MD. Eyelid debulking surgery is beneficial in refractory or recurrent cases.