[A Case of Pityriasis Lichenoides Chronica in a Patient with COVID-19 Infection]

Pityriasis lichenoides: assessment of 41 pediatric patients

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to evaluate the characteristics and treatment response of patients with pityriasis lichenoides seen in the last 43 years in a pediatric dermatology service.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, analytical, longitudinal study of patients under 15 years of age. The medical records were reviewed and data were presented as frequencies, means and variances. Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Fisher's exact test, Pearson/Yates chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression model were used, with p < 0.05 considered.

RESULTS

41 patients were included, 32 (78.0%) with pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC), five (12.2%) with pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) and four (9.8%) with clinical PLC without biopsy. The age range of school children and adolescents was 19 (46.3%) and 13 (31.7%) respectively and 27 (65.8%) were male. Two peaks of the highest frequency were observed between 2004 and 2006 (10 patients - 24.4%) and another between 2019 and 2021 (6 patients - 14.7%). There was remission in 71.9% (n = 23), with 56.6% (n = 17) of those who used antibiotic therapy and 80% (n = 4) of those who had phototherapy. The chance of remission was 13 times greater in patients with disease onset after 5 years of age.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical form most commonly found was PLC mainly in school children and adolescents. The frequency peaks coincided with infectious outbreaks. The remission rate was satisfactory with antibiotic therapy, but higher with phototherapy. Remission was greater in patients with disease onset after 5 years of age.

Post-Inflammatory Hypopigmentation: Review of the Etiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Treatment Options

Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation is a common acquired pigmentary disorder that is more prominent in skin of color, leading to great cosmetic and psychosocial implications. Often, a diagnosis with a pigmentary disorder can negatively impact an individual's health-related quality of life and may result in stigma. Although most cases of post-inflammatory hypopigmentation resolve spontaneously over time, a systematic diagnostic approach can help with identifying the underlying etiology and informing treatment strategies. It can be due to cutaneous inflammation, sequelae of inflammatory or infectious dermatoses, or dermatologic procedures. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the epidemiology, patient history, physical exam findings, and clinical features of post-inflammatory hypopigmentation phenomenon can explain the primary cause to providers and allow for patient education. It is also important to understand the various therapeutic approaches available and the efficacy of these options, which will inform providers to choose the appropriate therapy for patients. Although algorithms exist for classifying acquired disorders of hypopigmentation, there are no established algorithms for the diagnosis and treatment of post-inflammatory hypopigmentation, which warrants further exploration and discourse.

Pityriasis Lichenoides Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection/Vaccination

Purpose of Review

Pityriasis lichenoides (PL) is a spectrum of dermatological conditions involving polymorphous lesions. Natural history of the condition ranges from acute to chronic. Cases of PL following SARS-CoV-2 infection/vaccination have been reported, but not yet comprehensively reviewed. Hence, the objective of this article is to review and summarize cases of PL following SARS-CoV-2 infection/vaccination in order to guide clinicians in its diagnosis and management.

Recent Findings

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for relevant articles. Thirteen articles, consisting of 14 cases of PL following SARS-CoV-2 infection/vaccination, were identified. Males represented 64.3% of cases, and the average age of those affected was 41.4 years. The majority of cases (N = 9, 64.3%) were following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, the most commonly implicated being Pfizer-BioNTech (n = 8/10, 80%), while four (28.6) followed infection. The overall latency period ranged from 5 days to 1 month. Treatments varied greatly. However, at the time of follow-up, 12/14 patients (85.7%) had either marked improvement or complete resolution of lesions.

Summary

This review cannot determine causality. However, a temporal association was observed with the case reports, and one case of PL followed SARS-CoV-2 infection and recurred with subsequent vaccination, suggesting an association. Nevertheless, risk of developing PL following SARS-CoV-2 infection/vaccination is likely extremely low. There is also the possibility these cases are purely coincidental. Still, clinicians should be aware of this possible etiology when diagnosing a new or exacerbated case of PL. Finally, given that the majority of patients had marked improvement or complete resolution of lesions at the time of follow-up, clinicians should provide reassurance to their affected patients.

Pityriasis Lichenoides et Varioliformis Acuta as a Complication of COVID-19 Infection

Pityriasis lichenoides is an acute and/or chronic skin disease associated with recurrent erythematous papules that self-resolve. While its etiology is unknown, preceding viral infection may play a role. We present an atypical case of a 40-year-old woman with pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta as a complication of a COVID-19 infection.