Pityriasis Rubra Pilar and hypothyroidism

Abstract

Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris (PRP) is a chronic and rare papulosquamous disorder. Treatment of Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris is based on empiric evidence because of several doubts regarding its etiology and also because of its relative rarity, making randomized studies difficult to perform. Some factors suggest that the metabolism of vitamin A is involved in pathogenesis. We report a case of Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris associated with autoimmune hypothyroidism which presented rapid and complete response after thyroid hormone replacement, without any association with other systemic treatment. In literature there are only three other reports of significant improvement of the lesions after hormonal correction. Deficiency of thyroid hormone inhibits the conversion of carotene into vitamin A, which would be responsible for the occurrence of Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris in this patient.

Epidemiologic, Clinicopathologic, Diagnostic, and Management Challenges of Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris

“…12 In this context, several case studies have previously reported hypothyroidism in patients with PRP, and some studies have suggested disappearance of PRP upon correction of the hypothyroid state. 13,14 While the pathomechanistic link between thyroid function and cutaneous manifestations in PRP remain unclear, further study of this connection may provide potentially new therapeutic avenues.…”

Pityriasis rubra pilaris: a rare inflammatory dermatosis

“…A retrospective case series of 100 patients diagnosed with PRP found 20% of patients with PRP to have an associated hypothyroidism 2. Four cases in the literature also described significant improvement of PRP with hormone correction 3. Our patient had subclinical hypothyroidism and a strong family history of hypothyroidism, with her mother and maternal aunts affected.…”

Type II Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris Associated with Grave's Disease-Case Report

“…In the literature, PRP is thought to be associated with hypothyroidism [5,12,13], and it was suggested by Aline and his team to investigate for hypothyroidism in all cases with PRP [5].…”

“…Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris (PRP) is a chronic inflammatory papulosquamous disease for which the exact cause is not yet clear, but many reports have associated it with autoimmune disorders, HIV infection, internal malignancies, streptococcal infections, hypothyroidism, and genetic mutation in a familial form [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”