Background and objective: Papular-purpuric gloves-and-socks syndrome (PPGSS) is a recently described dermatosis in which human parvovirus B19 (HPV B19) has been implicated as etiologic agent; however, it is suspected that PPGSS may be caused by various agents. This study was designed to survey the general characteristics of PPGSS and to determine the role of HPV B19 in its etiology.
Methods: We analyzed data from 21 patient and examined serum samples from three new cases for various viruses.
Results: The PPGSS displays a striking uniform clinical pattern. Histologic and immunofluorescence findings are non-specific. Seroconversion of HPV B19 was reported in six cases and confirmed in two of our patients. In only one case was a possible causative role of Coxsackie virus B6 suggested consistently.
Conclusions: The PPGSS represents a distinctive dermatosis and a manifestation of HPV B19 infection. Unlike erythema infectiosum, anti-HPV B19 antibodies seem to develop later after onset of the skin eruption and while viremia is still present.