Introduction: The epidermodysplasia verruciformis is a rare, autosomic, recessive, genodermatose characterized by a chronic, disseminated, cutaneous infection with human papillomavirus. The majority of these patients have a genetic or acquired immunodeficiency.
Patients and methods: This retrospective study was conducted on the records of all patients who presented in our dermatology department with an epidermodysplasia verruciformis in a 13 years and 6 months period, from January 1st, 1992 to June 30th, 2005.
Results: We have collected 45 cases of epidermodysplasia verruciformis. They were aged from 3 to 57 years, with a mean of 24.6 years. The most concerned age bracket was that from zero to 9 years. They were 29 women (64.4%) and 16 men (35.6%). The eruption presented as papules of 2 to 3 mm size, associated with hypochromic, finely squamous macules with the same size. We noted three cases of itching. We found 37.7% of family cases. We observed 14 cases of HIV positive patients and one case of cancer.
Conclusion: This study confirmed that the epidermodysplasia verruciformis was rare. Genetic factors or immunodeficiency would support the appearance of the disease.