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Prurigo pigmentosa following a ketogenic diet: a case report

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 76, pages 624–625 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

A 19-year-old female of South Asian descent presented with a three-day history of pruritic, clustered papules and vesicles on her abdomen, associated with significant pruritus and intermittent pain. She commenced a ketogenic diet four days prior to the emergence of the rash. Histopathological and clinical findings were in keeping with prurigo pigmentosa, an uncommon dermatosis characterised by pruritic, erythematous papules and vesicles presenting reticulated on the back, chest and neck. Prurigo pigmentosa may be distinguished from many other skin lesions by its reticular pattern. Its pathogenesis is unknown, but it has been hypothesised to be induced by a state of ketosis. Clinicians should therefore be aware of its association with the increasingly popular ketogenic diet. This dermatosis responds well to tetracyclines and has an excellent prognosis. In the patient with ketosis-induced prurigo pigmentosa, administration of insulin or an increase in carbohydrates can also resolve symptoms.

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Fig. 1: Clinical picture. Agminate papules and vesicles associated with reticulate hyperpigmentation on the abdomen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia

    H. Y. Sun & D. F. Sebaratnam

  2. Department of Dermatology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia

    H. Y. Sun & D. F. Sebaratnam

Authors
  1. H. Y. Sun
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  2. D. F. Sebaratnam
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Contributions

DFS and HYS made substantial contributions to the conception of this study. HYS drafted the work and DFS made many critical revisions of drafts, amending it critically for important intellectual content. All authors critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. The patient mentioned in this study was treated under the care of DFS.

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Correspondence to H. Y. Sun.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Written informed consent was obtained from the patient detailed in this case report.

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Sun, H.Y., Sebaratnam, D.F. Prurigo pigmentosa following a ketogenic diet: a case report. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 624–625 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-021-00987-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-021-00987-2

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