PAPULAR-PURPURIC GLOVES-AND-SOCKS SYNDROME

Background and Objective. Papular-purpuric gloves-and-socks syndrome ( PPGSS) is a recently described dermatosis in which human parvovirus B1 9 (HPV B19) has been implicated as etiologic agent; however, it is sus pected that PPGSS may be caused by various agents. This study was desi gned to survey the general characteristics of PPGSS and to determine t he role of HPV B19 in its etiology. Methods. We analyzed data from 21 patients and examined serum samples from three new cases for various v iruses. Results. The PPGSS displays a striking uniform clinical patter n. Histologic and Immunofluorescence findings are non-specific. Seroco nversion of HPV B19 was reported in six cases and confirmed in two of our patients. in only one case was a possible causative role of Coxsac kie virus B6 suggested consistently. Conclusions. The PPGSS represents a distinctive dermatosis and a manifestation of HPV B19 infection. Un like erythema infectiosum, anti-HPV B19 antibodies seem to develop lat er after onset of the skin eruption and while viremia is still present .