The profile of 247 patients with erythroderma during a 23 year period
from January, 1962 through March, 1985, with a follow-up period rangin
g from 1 to 26 years were analysed. The patients presented with diffus
e erythema, scaling and pruritus of more than 2 months' duration, and
the age ranged from 16 to 60 years. Psoriasis was the most frequent un
derlying disease with an estimated frequency of 44.9%, the reaction to
the use of drugs appeared in 7.3% of total cases and association with
reticulosis showed a frequency of 4.1%. The cause of the erythroderma
could not be determined in 29.2% of the cases. Sex differences in ter
ms of underlying diseases were not observed. One or more skin biopsies
along with the clinical findings were diagnostic or suggestive of the
underlying disease in 63.6% of the cases. Repeated skin biopsies are
recommended as the best method for etiologic diagnosis of erythroderma
. At P=0.05 significance level, masculine/feminine ratio of 2 : 1 was
found. The question arises wether causal agent of erythroderma may not
be somehow related to different exposure by sex to environmental anti
gens.