A case report: persistent acantholytic dermatosis in chronic renal failure.

INTRODUCTION This is the second case of persistent acantholytic dermatosis in a patient with chronic renal failure, seen at the same institution in 2 years. CLINICAL PICTURE A 70-year-old Chinese man with end-stage renal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for 6 months presented with pruritic rashes over the scalp and chest for 3 months. Histologically, the lesions resembled Darier's disease. Differential diagnoses include Darier's disease, Grover's disease and perforating dermatosis in chronic renal failure. TREATMENT The patient was treated with anti-histamines, topical steroids and emollients. OUTCOME Resolution of pruritus was documented. However, the extensive hyperkeratotic papules remained persistent. CONCLUSION A chronic non-remitting course is to be expected for this dermatoses in which the aetiology is unknown.