Erythrodermic psoriasis and human immunodeficiency virus: association and therapeutic challenges

Abstract: Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare but severe type of psoriasis that may be triggered by human immunodeficiency virus infection. We describe the case of a 65-year-old male patient with chronic psoriasis who presents an exacerbation of his condition over a period of two weeks. Because of the severity of his case and subsequent need for systemic therapy, human immunodeficiency virus enzyme immunoassay was performed and tested positive. He thus began antiretroviral therapy combined with acitretin, showing good clinical response after 8 weeks of treatment. There is little evidence regarding the management of erythrodermic psoriasis associated with HIV infection, so antiretroviral therapy and systemic retinoid remain as the first-line treatment.

Eritrodermia psoriática en un hombre joven: sospechar infección por VIH / Erythrodermic psoriasis in young man: suspect HIV infection

Resumen La infección por VIH puede presentarse con distintas manifestaciones cutáneas, que en algunas ocasiones son consideradas marcadores de infección. Una posible manifestación es la eritrodermia psoriática, que corresponde a una forma generalizada de psoriasis. Presentamos un caso clínico de un hombre joven en que se sospechó una infección por VIH por un cuadro de eritrodermia psoriática confirmada por biopsia, asociado a un sarcoma de Kaposi. Posteriormente, la infección por VIH fue confirmada por serología. Se manejó con terapia antirretroviral, con buena respuesta al mes de tratamiento. La eritrodermia psoriática se puede considerar un marcador cutáneo de infección por VIH cuando ocurre en pacientes previamente sanos o con psoriasis recalcitrante.

HIV infection can be manifested with different skin symptoms, which are sometimes considered infection markers. Erythrodermic psoriasis is a possible manifestation, which is a widespread form of psoriasis. We report a clinical case of a young man suspected of HIV infection due to a psoriatic erythroderma confirmed by biopsies, associated with Kaposi sarcoma. Afterwards, HIV infection was confirmed by serological tests. Antiretroviral therapy was started, with positive response at one month of treatment. Erythrodermic psoriasis can be considered a skin marker of HIV infection when occurs in previously healthy patients or in recalcitrant psoriasis.

Eritrodermia exfoliativa y dermatitis infecciosa en un lactante infectado por el virus linfotrópico humano-I (HTLV-I) / Exfoliative erythroderma and infective dermatitis in an infant infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV I)

We report a HTLV-I positive infant, whose infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The infant presented with an acute, severe, generalized eczema, exfoliation and severe erythroderma that yielded to an acute proteic malnutrition and frequent staphyloccocal infections, unresponsive to treatment, since the second month of life. Immunodeficiencies from other origin and other causes of erythroderma were ruled out. The histopathology studies and clinical course yielded to the diagnosis of infective dermatitis associated to HTLV-I. A review of the literature is performed.

Se presenta un niño infectado por virus HTLV-I por vía vertical, confirmado por reacción de polimerasa en cadena, quien, a partir del segundo mes de vida, presentó un cuadro de eccema agudo severo generalizado, que llegó a la eritrodermia y exfoliación masiva, provocando una desnutrición proteica aguda e infecciones repetidas por Staphylococcus aureus, de difícil manejo. Se descartaron inmunodeficiencias de otro origen, así como otras causas de eritrodermia. Posteriormente, de acuerdo con la evolución clínica y con las biopsias, se interpretó el cuadro como una dermatitis infecciosa asociada a HTLV-I. Se revisa la literatura en relación a la infección por HTLV-I.