A Case of Herpes Gestationis / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Herpes Gestationis is a rare polymorphous, vesiculobullous disease of pregnancy and puerperium. It is characterized by rapidly progressive skin eruption heraled initially by severe generalized pruritus. Erythematous papules and urticaria like plaques rapidly appear followed by grouped, tense, vesiculobullous eruptions. A 23 year-old pregnant woman was admitted to our departrnent of dermatology hecause of erythematous patches with pruritic vesiculobullous and pustular eruption on the whole body since third week of conception, Biopsy specimen of bullous skin lesion showed spongiosis of epidermal cells, mild necrosis of basal cells, subepidermal bulla, edema, of papillary derrnis and perivascular infiltration of inflammatory cells. Ultrastructural findings showed mild necrosis of basal cells, bulla above or below basement membrane zone and partial separation of basal larnina. Direct immunofluorescences of bullous lesion and normal appearing skin demonstrated deposition of IgG in linear pattern along basement rnembra,ne zone. After treatment with systemic corticosteroid and antihistamin, the lesions were cleared, leaving residual hyperpigmentation, and she delivered normal female baby.