Acta Dermato-Venereologica 99-13CompleteContent | Page 20
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Neutrophil-rich Variant of Persistent Bullous Grover’s Disease
Sayaka TOGO 1 , Kentaro OZAWA 1 *, Asami FUJII 1 , Tsukasa TANII 2 , Daisuke TSURUTA 3 , Norito ISHII 4 , Takashi HASHIMOTO 4 ,
Taketsugu TADOKORO 1 and Taiki ISEI 1
Department of Dermatology, Osaka National Hospital, 2-1-14 Hoenzaka Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0006, 2 Tanii Dermatology Clinic, 3 Department
of Dermatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, and 4 Department of Dermatology, Kurume University School of
Medicine, Kurume, Japan. *E-mail address: [email protected]
1
Accepted Sep 12, 2019; E-published Sep 12, 2019
The aetiology of Grover’s disease, which was initially
described by Grover in 1970 as transient acantholytic
dermatosis, is unknown. Although the disease typically
resolves within 6–12 months, it can persist for several
years. We report here an atypical and unique case of per-
sistent Grover’s disease that presented with predominant
bullous skin lesions with neutrophil-rich infiltration.
CASE REPORT
A 77-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our de-
partment in June 2012 because of multiple pruritic bullae
and vesicles surrounded by minor erythema on the trunk
and limbs (Fig. 1a), which had initially developed 2
months earlier. She had been treated with topical corticos-
teroids, which resulted in temporary and moderate relief.
(a)
1282
Laboratory blood test results revealed an unremarkable
haematological profile. Enzyme-linked immunoassay
(ELISA) tests for antibodies to desmoglein 1, desmo
glein 3 and BP180 were all negative. Moreover, bacterial
culture of the blister content was negative. Initial biopsy
of the vesicle on the chest revealed an intraepidermal
blister containing acantholytic cells and substantial
neutrophil accumulation (Fig. 1b). Neutrophilic infiltra-
tion was also seen in the papillary dermis. Acantholytic
suprabasal clefts with dyskeratotic cells were noted at
different sites on the same specimen (Fig. 1c). Direct im-
munofluorescence microscopy did not reveal deposition
of immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgM, IgA, C3 or fibrinogen.
Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed
with Grover’s disease. She was administered minocy-
cline (200 mg/day), which resulted in rapid regression of
(b)
(d)
Fig. 1. Clinical, histopathological and direct immunofluorescence
microscopic findings in the present patient. (a) Clinical features at
first visit. (b) Histopathological findings with massive neutrophilic infiltrate
in the epidermis (haematoxylin and eosin (HE) ×100; ×400 inset). (c)
Histopathological evaluation showed suprabasal acantholytic cleft and
dyskeratosis (HE ×100). (d) Results for C3 deposition in the second biopsy.
doi: 10.2340/00015555-3316
Acta Derm Venereol 2019; 99: 1282–1283
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license. www.medicaljournals.se/acta
Journal Compilation © 2019 Acta Dermato-Venereologica.