Icthyosiform erythroderma: unusual manifestation of sarcoidosis.

Background. Specific cutaneous manifestations of sarcoidosis can be extreme ly varied. We report one observation of cutaneous sarcoidosis with an excep tional clinical presentation: icthyosiform erythroderma. Case report. A 33-year-old woman had a dry icthyosiform erythroderma associ ated with arthralgia and muscular deficit of the pelvic belt in a context o f fever and weight loss. Skin biopsy revealed the presence of an epithelioi d giant-cell granuloma. This granuloma was also found in the salivary gland s and in the bronchial mucosa. The chest X ray showed diffuse reticularis o pacities. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis was retained. The patient was treate d with oral prednisone (0.75 mg/kg/day). Total skin clearing was obtained a fter 15 days. Discussion. This observation points out the heterogeneous nature of clinica l manifestations of cutaneous sarcoidosis. The icthyosis erythroderma form is exceptional. Correct diagnosis is, difficult and must be based on clinic al, histological, radiological and biological criteria of sarcoidosis.