Gianotti-Crosti syndrome: a study of 26 cases

SUMMARY We have studied 26 patients presenting with a symmetrical papular or papulovesicular acrolocated eruption of more than 10 days duration. Mean age at onset was 2 years (range 10 months to 5.75 years). Lymphadenopathy was noted in eight cases, and hepatomegaly in one case. In 12 cases, histopathology and direct immunofluorescence were non‐contributory, Cytolytic hepatitis occurred in one case and was associated with HBs antigenemia. A history of recent immunization was given in two cases. There was serological evidence of recent EpsteinBarr virus infection in seven out of 13 cases tested. Coxsackie B viruses were isolated from three patients, and cytomegalovirus was probably associated with the syndrome in one case. We conclude that the Gianotti‐Crosti syndrome is not rare in France, and that non‐hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐associated cases are more frequent than the classical HBV ‐associated papular acrodermatitis of childhood.