Incidence of transient acantholytic dermatosis (Grover's disease) in a hospital setting.

BACKGROUND

Grovers's disease may be triggered by bed rest.

METHODS

We have prospectively analyzed, over a 30-month period, all cases of transient acantholytic dermatosis (TAD) diagnosed in the context of a dermatological consultation for inpatients of a community hospital.

RESULTS

A total of 28 cases of TAD were diagnosed within a total of 3,750 patients examined (0.8%). The mean age of patients with TAD was 66.7 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.8. In 83% of cases the length of hospitalization preceding TAD was 66.7 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.8. In 83% of cases the length of hospitalization preceding TAD exceeded 2 weeks, and in all cases there was an association with strict bed rest. No association with malignant disease or other specific pathologies was observed.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that TAD, which is frequent in elderly patients within a hospital setting, is not paraneoplastic and favor the hypothesis of a sweat-related pathogenesis.