eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Papulosquamous Diseases

Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris: Follow-up

Author: Philip D Shenefelt, MD, MS, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine; Past Chief, Section of Dermatology, James A Haley Veteran Affairs Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 22, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) patients who have erythroderma should be monitored for electrolyte abnormalities, hypoalbuminemia, secondary bacterial infection in the skin, and possible sepsis.

Complications

  • Pityriasis rubra pilaris can cause painful and disabling palmoplantar keratoderma.
  • Nail dystrophy and shedding may occur.
  • Erythroderma is a reaction pattern of the skin that can occur in the setting of several different skin disorders, most commonly including psoriasis, eczema, lymphoma, drug reactions, and pityriasis rubra pilaris. It is characterized by generalized erythema and scales, hair loss, and onycholysis.
    • Systemic symptoms include malaise, fatigue, anorexia, fever, and chills.
    • Patients with erythroderma may develop lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and electrolyte abnormalities due to increased transepidermal water loss. Cardiac failure may occur in patients with preexisting heart conditions.

Prognosis

  • Each type of pityriasis rubra pilaris has its own prognosis. In general, the familial form of the disease may be persistent throughout life, and the acquired form of the disease may resolve spontaneously within 1-3 years.

Patient Education

  • Greene reported on pityriasis rubra pilaris support groups.27

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • If pityriasis rubra pilaris appears in an older patient or if it seems atypical, the patient should be evaluated for a possible underlying malignancy.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Margaret H. Rinker, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris

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Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris
Treatment & Medication: Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris
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Multimedia: Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

pityriasis rubra pilaris, PRP, papulosquamous disorder, palmoplantar keratoderma, keratotic follicular papules, erythroderma

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Philip D Shenefelt, MD, MS, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine; Past Chief, Section of Dermatology, James A Haley Veteran Affairs Medical Center
Philip D Shenefelt, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physician Executives, American Contact Dermatitis Society, American Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, Florida Medical Association, Noah Worcester Dermatological Society, and Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Mark G Lebwohl, MD, Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Mark G Lebwohl, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Abbott Laboratories Honoraria Consulting; Actelion Honoraria Consulting; Amgen Honoraria Consulting; Astellas Honoraria Consulting; Centocor Honoraria Consulting; DermiPsor Honoraria Consulting; Galderma  Consulting; Genentech Honoraria Consulting; Helix BioMedix Honoraria Consulting; Medicis Honoraria Investigator

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Jeffrey P Callen, MD, Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Jeffrey P Callen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology
Disclosure: Amgen Honoraria Consulting; Abbott Honoraria Consulting; Electrical Optical Sciences Honoraria Consulting; Centocor Honoraria Consulting; Genetech Honoraria Consulting; Celgene Honoraria Consulting

CME Editor

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE, Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania
Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds None; Genentech Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Grant/research funds None; Covance Consulting fee Consulting; Shire  Consulting

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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