Recurrent Erythroderma in a 56-Year-Old Female

Abstract

A 56-year-old female with no significant pathological personal history, presented to the Dermatological Department for the recurrence of an erythematous, scaly eruption, which involved more than 90% of the skin, evolving for 6 months. Differential diagnosis included drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome, mycosis fungoides and actinic reticuloid. Allergic contact dermatitis represents an allergic reaction caused through a delayed-type hypersensitivity response (type 4) by small molecules called haptens (less than 500 Da), in contact with a previously sensitized person’s skin and accounts for approximately 20% of contact dermatoses.

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome was excluded by the fact that the patient denied any associated morbidities and use of any drugs in the last year and by the absence of systemic findings.

Mycosis fungoides represents the most frequent T-cell cutaneous lymphoma, encompassing more than 50% of all primary cutaneous lymphomas and is characterized by three stages of evolution: macules, plaques and tumors.

Actinic reticuloid also called chronic actinic dermatitis represents a rare and severe photodermatitis which usually affects elderly males and is characterized by the appearance of cutaneous plaques similar to those identified in mycosis fungoides and other T-cell lymphomas.