title: Acute generalized exanthematous pustular dermatitis and viral infection.
abstract: Three patients with acute generalized exanthematous pustular dermatitis (AGEPD) are presented. This new clinical entity comprises generalized erythema, erythema multiforme, amicrobial pustules, fever and spontaneous healing over a 10-day period. Histologically, there are a mixed neutrophilic and eosinophilic vasculitis and an eosinophilic subcorneal and spongiform pustule. All the patients experienced pharyngitis 1 week before the onset of the rash. Two of them had high-titered IgM-neutralizing antibodies to enteroviruses and 1 had an enterovirus in stool and urine. AGEPD may be related to a viral infection and may occur in patients with a genetic predisposition to psoriasis. The diagnosis of AGEPD should be made early enough so that the patients are not given the often aggressive therapy of pustular psoriasis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D004890:Erythema / Q000150:complications*; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000150:complications; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral