Pityriasis rosea: an update with a critical appraisal of its possible herpesviral etiology.
Pityriasis rosea is an acute, self-healing exanthem characterized by oval erythematous-squamous lesions of the trunk and limbs, that usually spares face, scalp, palms, and soles. Constitutional symptoms, which have the character of true prodromes; clinical features, which resemble those of the known exanthems; and many epidemiologic data all suggest an infectious origin. A host of infectious agents have been incriminated, but, recently, human herpesvirus 6 and 7 have been extensively studied. The goal of this review is to outline the epidemiologic, clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural features of pityriasis rosea, but mainly to stress its possible human herpesvirus nature. In addition, clues have been added to help the reader to go through the complex subtleties of the virologic investigation.
Drago
Francesco
F
Department of Endocrinological and Metabolic Sciences, Section of Dermatology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Broccolo
Francesco
F
Rebora
Alfredo
A
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017515:Pityriasis Rosea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D017193:Skin Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D012367:RNA, Viral