Impetigo herpetiformis is a form of pustular psoriasis that occurs during pregnancy and may be life-threatening. The pathogenesis and etiology of impetigo herpetiformis is not clear, but several reports have associated onset of this disorder with
hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism, and the use of oral contraceptives. The typical lesions are erythematous patches that are studded with tiny superficial pustules particularly coalescing at their margins causing pain, and a burning sensation.
Laboratory
findings include an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, increased peripheral blood leukocyte counts, hypoalbuminemia, and in severe cases, hypocalcemia. The histopathology is the same as that of pustular psoriasis. Our patient, a 31-year-old
female
(Intra Uterine Pregnancy 28 weeks), was admitted to our hospital due to generalized skin eruption and severe constitutional symptoms. Her clinical features, laboratory and histopathologic findings were compatible with that of impetigo
herpetiformis. In
spite of our all efforts, intrauterine fetal death was noted at her 33rd week of pregnancy. We report a case of impetigo herpetiformis terminating in fetal death with the review of literature. (Kor J Dermatol 1997;35(1) : 150∼154)
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