Subcorneal pustular dermatosis

Abstract

rare condition is still controversial and little is really known about its etiology or pathogenesis. This partly reflects the confusion that has arisen in the literature from reports that have included patients outside the original diagnostic criteria or have misinterpreted the histology of the subcorneal pustule. These have most likely represented cases of pustular psoriasis or pemphigus, with which subcorneal pustular dermatosis shares overlapping clinical and histological features. A significant proportion of reports, particularly the early ones, additionally lack sufficient detail to allow a critical review. Modern investigative techniques, however, have allowed the identification of a possible subgroup, subcorneal pustular dermatosis type IgA pemphigus,2 also known as intraepidermal IgA pustulosis. It is on this that the latest reports have focused. Our recent experience has once again raised the long-standing issue as to whether some cases of subcorneal pustular dermatosis represent a variant of psoriasis. This is an unanswered controversy that has faded from the literature in recent times, perhaps indicating that subcorneal pustular dermatosis is now more generally accepted as an entity. In light of these developments the question arises as to whether subcorneal pustular dermatosis might represent an entity with more than one etiology. Pathogenesis