Acquired ichthyosis as a manifestation of acute cutaneous graft-versus-host disease

Acquired ichythosis has been described in adult hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. While some authors have suggested the association of acquired ichythosis with cutaneous graft-versus-host disease, the evidence to support this association is rare. We describe a patient who developed enteritis secondary to acute graft-versus-host disease and had concomitant ichthyosiform lesions. Several months later, he was diagnosed with cutaneous graft-versus-host disease. This patient is presented to suggest that acquired ichthyosis is an underrecognized manifestation of acute cutaneous graft-versus-host disease. Given the important prognostic implications of this diagnosis, we recommend a low threshold for performing a skin biopsy to rule out GVHD in the appropriate clinical setting.