Zidovudine in HIV-negative pityriasis rubra pilaris

Abstract

Three cases of classical type I pityriasis ruba pilaris (PRP) treated with zidovudine (AZT) are reported. All three patients were healthy and did not have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Recently seven cases of PRP associated with HIV infection have been described, although they showed many atypical features. The PRP improved in four of the patients treated with zidovudine. This study was undertaken to see whether classical PRP not associated with HIV infection is improved by zidovudine. The zidovudine had little effect; one patient showed early but unsustained improvement, one deteriorated and the other showed no change. Further research into PRP and other papulos-quamous disorders associated with HIV infections, and into retroviral agents may nevertheless allow greater insight into the aetiology and treatment of PRP.

Key Words:

• Pityriasis rubra pilaris
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Zidovudine