Late prurigo of pregnancy

Seven patients who developed a characteristic pruritic rash in late pregnancy are described. Clinically, the lesions consisted of erythematous urticarial papules and plaques, with vesicles in some cases. The eruption started in the striae on the abdomen and spread over the thighs and in most cases also over the arms and buttocks. Biopsy showed lymphocytic vasculitis with a varying admixture of eosinophils and only minor epidermal changes. Immunofluorescence examination of six cases showed C3 deposition among the dermoepidermal junction in only one case. The lymphocytes, identified by a specific anti-T-cell serum, appeared to be mostly T-cells. The nomenclature of pruritic skin disease in late pregnancy is confusing, but the term 'late prurigo of pregnancy' seems appropriate for this condition.