| Author | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Zachary Skaggs, MD | University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Jordana Haber, MD | University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada |
CASE PRESENTATION
A 33-year-old female with a history of psoriasis presented to the emergency department with a diffuse, pruritic skin rash that had been progressive for two days. She complained of associated subjective fever, chills, and myalgias. Her exam revealed a diffuse erythematous, blanching, non-tender rash to the face, body, and extremities (Images 1 and 2). The rash did not involve mucus membranes, but there was involvement of the palms and soles. There was scaling over the extensor surfaces and sparing of the flexor surfaces. The patient had been admitted to the hospital several weeks prior for a similar rash requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission, steroids, and methotrexate.
DIAGNOSIS
Erythroderma (erythrodermic psoriasis flare)
Erythroderma, or “red skin,” is a severe cutaneous condition that presents with diffuse erythema involving greater than 75% of the body’s surface and skin exfoliation.1 It classically spares the periorbital regions and nasolabial folds. This patient also demonstrates findings consistent with long-term psoriatic arthritis such as Dupuytren’s contractures and dactylitis.2,3 While a prior visit required ICU admission, during this visit her vital signs were normal and she had an uneventful hospital course after the resumption of corticosteroid therapy.
CPC-EM Capsule
What do we already know about this clinical entity?
The majority of cases of erythroderma are secondary to exacerbation of a prior skin condition such as psoriasis. Important triggers include recent withdrawal of corticosteroid or antipsoriatic therapies, infection, and stress. Patients experience impaired temperature regulation and increased insensible losses. Increased skin breakdown makes these patients prone to superimposed cutaneous infections.
What is the major impact of the image(s)?
These images should aid in physician recognition of a potentially life-threatening rash. Patients with severe erythroderma flare as depicted here require supportive care in the form of temperature monitoring, fluid resuscitation, and electrolyte repletion. In severe cases, these patients may require admission to a burn care unit.
How might this improve emergency medicine practice?
Appropriate recognition of, management, and disposition of patient’s suffering from erythrodermic psoriasis flare.
Documented patient informed consent and/or Institutional Review Board approval has been obtained and filed for publication of this case report.
Footnotes
Section Editor: Rick A. McPheeters, DO
Full text available through open access at http://escholarship.org/uc/uciem_cpcem
Address for Correspondence: Zachary Skaggs, MD, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, 1800 W. Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102. Email: zskaggs@gmail.com. 2:384 – 385
Submission history: Revision received June 13, 2018; Submitted September 6, 2018; Accepted September 21, 2018
Conflicts of Interest: By the CPC-EM article submission agreement, all authors are required to disclose all affiliations, funding sources and financial or management relationships that could be perceived as potential sources of bias. The authors disclosed none.
REFERENCES
1. Pal S, Haroon TS. Erythroderma: a clinico-etiologic study of 90 cases. Int J Dermatol. 1998;37(2):104.
2. Lebwohl M. Psoriasis. Lancet. 2003;361(9364):1197-204.
3. Boyd AS, Menter A. Erythrodermic psoriasis. Precipitating factors, course, and prognosis in 50 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1989;21(5 Pt 1):985-91.
