Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis

A 40 year retrospect

Nervi, Stephen J. MD
Schwartz, Robert A. MD, MPH
Dmochowski, Marian MD

^aFrom Dermatology, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
^bDermatology, Karol Marcinkowski Medical University, Poznan, Poland

Reprint requests: R. A. Schwartz, MD, MPH, Dermatology, New Jersey Medical School, 185 S Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07103-2714. E-mail: [email protected].

Funding sources: None.

Conflicts of interest: None identified.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 55(2):p 285-289, August 2006.

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) is a noninfectious eosinophilic infiltration of hair follicles first described 40 years ago. There are 3 variants: classic EPF, immunosuppression-associated (mostly HIV-related), and infancy-associated EPF. EPF has been classified as an AIDS-defining illness. In both children and adults EPF should be viewed as a possible cutaneous sign of immunosuppression. However, it may also be seen in persons with normal immune status. We review EPF on the 40th anniversary of its original description.