Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease associated with herpes simplex virus type 2.

Abstract

Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease is a rare severe variant of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, a disease within the pityriasis lichenoides spectrum of disorders. It remains uncertain whether these disorders are preneoplastic or reactive against infectious or other antigenic stimuli. Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease varies in severity and may be accompanied by a range of systemic symptoms. We present a case associated with herpes simplex virus infection. In this case, no significant T cell clone was identified. Clonality may be a prognostic marker, but reports with T-cell receptor polymerase chain reaction results are limited to eight previous cases, and further reports are required. Awareness of the condition is important because of its fulminant potential.