A Clinical Study of Patients with Erythroderma Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India

Abstract

Introduction: Erythroderma is characterised by erythema and scaling over more than 90% of the body surface, a morphological reaction pattern of skin having innumerable underlying causes. Morbidity related to erythroderma is considerably high. The importance of finding the etiology with special emphasis on histopathology allow early and appropriate intervention for each case. Aim: To observe etiological factors of erythroderma through appropriate haematological and biochemical investigations and histopathological examination. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional clinical study was done in the , Department of Dermatology and Venereology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, from March 2016 to February 2017 on 37 successive admitted erythrodermic patients. Detailed clinical history recording with laboratory tests were performed. Clinical and laboratory data was analysed by percentage using MedCalc version 7.0.0.2 software. Chi-square test was used for data analysis and p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Of the 37 erythrodermic patients, commonest age group was 40 to 60 years, 16 (43.24%), Male:Female (M:F) ratio 2.1:1, duration of illness in majority from one to six months 20 (54.05%). Chronic dermatitis was the commonest cause of erythroderma, followed by Drug Induced erythroderma, Idiopathic and Malignancy in descending order. Psoriasis was the most common etiology 12 (32.43%). Combination of clinical and histopathological evaluation, diagnosed 31 (83.78%) cases. Conclusion: Erythroderma has high morbidity with low mortality rate. Combination of good clinical history with histopathological evaluation confirms majority of cases and guide for proper management.