IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL AND VIROLOGICAL STUDY OF SKIN IN THE PAPULAR-PURPURIC GLOVES AND SOCKS SYNDROME

The pathogenesis of viral exanthems remains unclear, We have undertake n an immunohistochemical study of lesional skin biopsies in patients w ith the papular-purpuric gloves and socks syndrome (PPGSS) secondary t o parvovirus B19 infection, Intracytoplasmic staining of the dermal en dothelial cells, keratinocytes, and sweat glands was shown with an ant ibody to parvovirus B19, There were perivascular dermal infiltrates. w ith T cells, sometimes with exocytosis, By polymerase chain reaction, virus DNA was detected in all skin biopsies and in one serum sample. T he cutaneous manifestations of parvovirus infection seem secondary to infection of the endothelium and epidermis.