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Septic, CD‐30 Positive Febrile Ulceronecrotic Pityriasis Lichenoides et Varioliformis Acuta
Author(s) -
Herron Mark D.,
Bohnsack John F.,
Vanderhooft Sheryll L.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
pediatric dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1525-1470
pISSN - 0736-8046
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2005.22418.x
Subject(s) - medicine , histopathology , dermatology , pathology , immunology
We report life‐threatening febrile ulceronecrotic pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta in an 8‐year‐old girl. Hemorrhagic‐crusted papules and plaques covered over 90% of the patient's body, leaving her susceptible to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteremia as well as Candida parapsilosis fungemia. Sepsis delayed definitive treatment of the underlying cutaneous disease for 2 weeks. Combined therapy with methotrexate and cyclosporin caused remission of the process. Although immunohistochemistry revealed CD‐30 positive cells, suggesting the diagnosis of lymphomatoid papulosis, the histopathology was most compatible with pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta. A partial loss of CD2 and CD5 in the predominant CD3 T‐cell lymphocytes suggested a clonal proliferation. Elevated soluble interleukin‐2 receptor levels reflected marked T‐cell activation, and the downward trend of the levels during treatment coincided with clinical regression of this inflammatory dermatosis.