ACQUIRED ICHTHYOSIS-LIKE CONDITION - A DI AGNOSTIC CHALLENGE

We report on four patients with acquired ichthyosis-like skin lesions seen in our out-patients' clinic in the last 6 years. Emphasis is plac ed on the case of a 25-year-old patient who suffered from mycosis fung oides with the clinical features of an acquired ichthyosis-like condit ion. Three further observations illustrate the broad clinical spectrum of acquired ichthyosis-like dermatoses. In these patients renal insuf ficiency, HIV infection or an extreme diet were the cause of the skin lesions. Our observations emphasise that an acquired ichthyosis-like c ondition should be regarded as a challenge to make a definite diagnosi s. Guidelines for a step-by-step diagnostic procedure are proposed.