Introduction: Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare dermatitis that occurs during pregnancy and may be life threatening for both mother and child. In this case report, we present an Ondine curse involving the baby, and the good response to isotretinoine.
Case report: A first pregnancy, 26 year-old woman developed at 8 months a widespread skin lesion involving the medial side of the thighs, abdomen and intertriginous areas, with a severe systemic toxic condition and fever. Diagnosis of impetigo herpetiformis was made and corticosteroids, methotrexate and cyclosporine were unsuccessful. Isotretinoine rapidly improved the patient with good control of the disease. The full term baby had an Ondine curse.
Discussion: Our case is typical of impetigo herpetiformis. Maternal and infant complication may be life threatening and we report a real Ondine curse the etiology of which remains unknown. Moreover, this observation is unusual because the lesions did not clear despite delivery and good treatment. In our opinion, the great improvement with isotretinoine would suggest it could be used as first line treatment.