Papuloerythroderma 2009: two new cases and systematic review of the worldwide literature 25 years after its identification by Ofuji et al.

BACKGROUND

Even after the description of papuloerythroderma of Ofuji (PEO) in 1984, little is known about this clinical entity.

OBJECTIVE

To report on 2 new cases of PEO and review of the worldwide literature on this topic.

METHODS

Article citations were searched on several biomedical search engines (PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Google Scholar). Papers were retrieved either online or in print.

RESULTS

A grand total of 170 PEO cases were identified. Most patients were older than 55 years and of Asian or white descent, with an overall male/female ratio of 4.0. Itch and the deck-chair sign were observed in all patients. Peripheral eosinophilia, lymphocytopenia and increased serum IgE were common findings. Histopathology mostly showed aspecific inflammation, while 17 showed histological features of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Atopy, malignancies, infections and drugs were rarely linked to PEO.

CONCLUSION

PEO represents a rather monomorphous entity both clinically and, with the remarkable exception of CTCL, also histologically. Nonetheless, no causative factor could be identified in the vast majority of cases. An etiological classification and diagnostic criteria are proposed in the attempt to contribute framing this puzzling clinical entity.