exfoliative erythroderma

Introduction

A generalized dermatitis (eczema); chronic cutaneous failure.

Etiology

• all forms of dermatitis (eczema)
  • contact dermatitis
  • atopic dermatitis
  • seborrheic dermatitis
  • stasis dermatitis
• psoriasis
• hypersensitivity reactions
• cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (Sezary syndrome)
• other lymphomas
• other malignancies

Epidemiology

• generally occurs in adults over 50 years of age
• more common in men

Pathology

• arteriovenous shunting of blood to the skin
• loss of body heat
• non-specific thickening of the epidermis with some spongiosis

Clinical manifestations

• diffuse desquamative erythema (often scaling) interspersed with lesions of underlying condition
• fever/chills (difficulties with thermoregulation)
• lymphadenopathy

Complications

• difficulty regulating body temperature
• systemic sequelae
  • high-output cardiac failure
  • anemia of chronic disease
  • general debilitation

Management

• aggressive topical & systemic corticosteroids
• systemic therapy of underlying etiology
• underlying etiology may become apparent after some improvement in the dermatitis

More general terms

• dermatitis
• syndrome