[Clinical aspects and etiology of erythroderma: an analysis of 64 cases].

The difficulty of exfoliative dermatitis lies in the finding of underlying causes. In the present study the profile of 64 patients with erythroderma diagnosed between 1.1.1990 and 31.12.1999 were analysed. Clinical, histological and laboratory findings and their relationship to the aetiology were investigated. A masculine:feminine ratio of 2.6:1 was found. Among these patients the most common causative factors were pre-existing dermatoses (58%) and drugs (16%). In about eleven percent of the patients exfoliative dermatitis was associated with malignancy. Six out of seven malignancies were found in males, five of them suffering from pre-existing dermatosis. In 16 percent of the patients no aetiology of erythroderma could be found. No laboratory or clinical findings were indicative for an underlying malignant condition. Since we demonstrated underlying neoplastic disorders in seven (11%) of the cases, five of them also suffering from pre-existing dermatosis, we consider it absolutely necessary to screen for such diseases in the presence of the diagnosis exfoliative dermatitis.