Erythroderma: a Clinico-etiologic Study of 39 Patients.
- Author:
Kyoung Ae JANG
1
;
Se Jin AHN
;
Jee Ho CHOI
;
Kyung Jeh SUNG
;
Kee Chan MOON
;
Jai Kyoung KOH
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Erythroderma
- MeSH:
Biopsy;
Blood Sedimentation;
Dermatitis, Exfoliative*;
Diagnosis;
Eosinophilia;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Leukocytosis;
Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous;
Skin Diseases
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
1999;37(5):598-602
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Erythroderma may result from different causes. Almost all the published original clinical series of erythroderma originated from western countries. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to evaluate various causes of erythroderma in our environment, frequency, clinical and laboratory findings, and patient evolution. METHOD: We reviewed the clinical and laboratory findings including biopsy materials of 39 patients diagnosed as erythroderma and treated during the last 9 years (from 1989 to 1998). RESULTS: The male-female ratio was 3 to 1. The mean age at diagnosis was 54 years. Drug reaction and undetermined cause were the most frequent cause (30.8%, respectively), followed by the pre-existing dermatoses (28.2%), and malignancies (10.3%). Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate was found in 70.4% of the patients. Eight patients were resistant to treatment. In the patients with the persistent erythroderma, leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and eosinophilia were the common findings. CONCLUSIONS: Half of the patients with the erythroderma of undetermined cause showed the protracted course. Two patients diagnosed as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and S zary syndrome had the history of generalized erythroderma of more than 3 years. The close follow-up for the erythroderma of undetermined cause with frequent laboratory and histopathological evaluations would be mandatory.
