FEBRILE ULCERONECROTIC PITYRIASIS LICHENOIDES ET VARIOLIFORMIS ACUTA

An unusually severe form of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis ac uta (PLEVA) with a fatal outcome in an 82-year-old woman is reported. After a period of a mild eruption, extensive polymorphous, papular and ulcerohemorrhagic skin lesions developed, associated with intermitten t high temperature and constitutional symptoms. Skin biopsies showed t he typical histopathological changes of PLEVA. Early recognition of th is severe variant of PLEVA is important, since the fulminating course can lead to death.