Acquired ichthyosis in bone marrow transplant recipients

Acquired ichthyosis (AI) has been described in a variety of clinical situations. We have observed cases of ichthyosis in bone marrow transplant recipients.

Our purpose was to characterize these changes clinically and histologically and to compare them with other cases of acquired ichthyosis.

Skin biopsy specimens were taken before transplantation and from affected areas after transplantation.

AI was observed in four patients who had received a bone marrow transplant for leukemia. None of the patients had a previous personal or family history of ichthyosis. In all patients graft-versus-host disease developed after transplantation. The eruption clinically and histologically most closely resembled ichthyosis vulgaris. The ichthyotic changes appeared to be unrelated to specific drug therapy.

AI is a previously unreported cutaneous complication of bone marrow transplantation. It may be related to graft-versus-host disease in these patients.