Impetigo herpetiformis in the second trimester: a case report and review of the literature

J Int Med Res. 2023 Dec;51(12):3000605231217950. doi: 10.1177/03000605231217950.

Abstract

Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare skin disease that most often occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy. It is currently considered as a form of generalized pustular psoriasis and the typical skin lesions comprise small sterile pustules. Here, a case of impetigo herpetiformis in the second trimester of pregnancy after 7 weeks of hydroxychloroquine administration for suspected Sjogren's syndrome is reported. Treatment with anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medication did not improve the patient's condition. Following delivery of a live male by emergency caesarean section at 29 weeks' gestation, the rash was reported to be completely resolved by 3 months postpartum. Previously published cases of impetigo herpetiformis in the second trimester of pregnancy that were retrieved from a search of the PubMed database are also reviewed and discussed.

Keywords: Caesarean section; Generalized pustular psoriasis; Hydroxychloroquine; Impetigo herpetiformis; Pregnancy; Third Trimester.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cesarean Section
  • Dermatitis Herpetiformis* / diagnosis
  • Dermatitis Herpetiformis* / drug therapy
  • Dermatitis Herpetiformis* / pathology
  • Exanthema*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Impetigo* / diagnosis
  • Impetigo* / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious*
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second
  • Psoriasis* / pathology