Acquired ichthyosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

Acquired ichthyosis is an uncommon disease, it is characterized by symmetric scaling of the skin, which ranges from minor roughness and dryness to the desquamation of large plaques. It has been associated with various systemic diseases, although malignant conditions, especially Hodgkin's lymphoma are the most commonly cited. Drugs, HIV infection and autoimmune diseases such as dermatomyositis and mixed connective tissue disease have also been associated, and it has only rarely been found among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Herein, we report a patient with active SLE who developed a generalized acquired ichthyosis corroborated with skin biopsy, which completely disappeared after treatment. The association of autoimmune conditions with acquired ichthyosis could indicate that an abnormal host immune response, probably against components of the granular cell layer in particular the keratohyalin granules, may have a role in the pathogenesis. Thus, this finding may be a relevant cutaneous marker for an autoimmune origin.