A 60-year-old woman presents with generalised erythema, scaling and desquamation involving >90% BSA for 3 weeks. She has hypothermia (35.2°C) and bilateral leg oedema. This is most likely exfoliative erythroderma. The MOST common underlying cause in India is:

• A Drug hypersensitivity
• B Atopic eczema
• C Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
• D Psoriasis ✓

Explanation

Psoriasis is the most common identifiable cause of exfoliative erythroderma worldwide and especially in India, accounting for approximately 25–30% of cases. The clinical triad of hypothermia, hypernatraemia-risk, and high-output cardiac failure reflects massive disruption of the skin barrier. Drug reactions and eczema follow psoriasis in frequency; Sézary syndrome (CTCL) is an important but less common cause that must be ruled out in persistent cases without clear aetiology.

Reference: Neena Khanna Illustrated Synopsis of Dermatology & STD, 6th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.