Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome

Background

Gianotti-Crosti syndrome (GCS) usually presents with a symmetric erythematous lichenoid papular and papulovesicular eruption of the face, extremities, and buttocks, usually occurring in young children. Since the earliest descriptions, there has been an association with various viral infections, including hepatitis B, enteroviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and, rarely, cytomegalovirus and bacterial infections.

OUTLINE

Epidemiology

Disease Associations

Histopathological Features and Variants

Prognosis

Treatment

Commonly Used Terms

Internet Links

EPIDEMIOLOGY CHARACTERIZATION

SYNONYMS Infantile papular acrodermatitis

AGE RANGE-MEDIAN Younger children

DISEASE ASSOCIATIONS CHARACTERIZATION

Epstein-Barr virus J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:1076-9.

Hepatitis B virus Arch Dis Child 1973;48:794-9.

Adenovirus

Respiratory syncytial virus

Parainfluenza virus

Parvovirus B19

Rotavirus

Rubella virus

HIV-1

Bacterial infections Group A -hemolytic streptococci
Mycobacterium avium intracellulare

Immunizations Polio vaccine enterovirus, diphtheria immunization, pertussis immunization, influenza virus immunization

HISTOLOGICAL TYPES CHARACTERIZATION

General

VARIANTS

Associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection
J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:1076-9.
Minimal epidermal spongiosis with marked papillary dermal edema

Associated inflammatory infiltrate showed a mixed mononuclear cell infiltrate with rare eosinophils

Immunohistochemical stains for latent membrane antigen-1 and EBV-encoded nuclear antigen-2 were negative for EBV

The majority of mononuclear cells showed membrane staining for CD3
30% to 40% of the CD3 mononuclear cells showed positive staining for CD4, and 50% to 60% showed positive staining with CD8
TIA+ cells appeared to correspond to the CD8+ cells.

PROGNOSIS AND TREATMENT CHARACTERIZATION

Prognostic Factors Self-healing

TREATMENT Supportive

Weedon D. Weedon's Skin Pathology. Churchill Livingstone. 1997.
Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 5th Edition. McGraw-Hill. 1999.

Commonly Used Terms

Basic Principles of Disease
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Commonly Used Terms
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Diagnostic Process
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Surgical Pathology Report
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Special Stains
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Last Updated 2/12/2003

Epidemiology
Disease Associations
Histopathological Features and Variants
Prognosis
Treatment
Commonly Used Terms
Internet Links

EPIDEMIOLOGY	CHARACTERIZATION
SYNONYMS	Infantile papular acrodermatitis
AGE RANGE-MEDIAN	Younger children

DISEASE ASSOCIATIONS	CHARACTERIZATION
Epstein-Barr virus	J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:1076-9.
Hepatitis B virus	Arch Dis Child 1973;48:794-9.
Adenovirus
Respiratory syncytial virus
Parainfluenza virus
Parvovirus B19
Rotavirus
Rubella virus
HIV-1
Bacterial infections	Group A -hemolytic streptococci Mycobacterium avium intracellulare
Immunizations	Polio vaccine enterovirus, diphtheria immunization, pertussis immunization, influenza virus immunization

HISTOLOGICAL TYPES	CHARACTERIZATION
General
VARIANTS
Associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection	J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:1076-9. Minimal epidermal spongiosis with marked papillary dermal edema Associated inflammatory infiltrate showed a mixed mononuclear cell infiltrate with rare eosinophils Immunohistochemical stains for latent membrane antigen-1 and EBV-encoded nuclear antigen-2 were negative for EBV The majority of mononuclear cells showed membrane staining for CD3 30% to 40% of the CD3 mononuclear cells showed positive staining for CD4, and 50% to 60% showed positive staining with CD8 TIA+ cells appeared to correspond to the CD8+ cells.

PROGNOSIS AND TREATMENT	CHARACTERIZATION
Prognostic Factors	Self-healing
TREATMENT	Supportive