Papular-purpuric gloves and socks syndrome due to parvovirus B19: a report of two simultaneous cases in cohabitant families

The so-called papular-purpuric gloves and socks syndrome (PPGSS) is a condition characterized by acute onset of intense erythema, edema and petechiae with a typical localization on the hands and feet, besides mucosal lesions of the oral cavity. The syndrome has a favorable and self-limited course, requiring only a symptomatic therapy. In the 50% of the cases described in literature (ninety cases in 22 years), is documented an acute infection caused by parvovirus B19 and in only two cases the onset of PPGSS is reported among different members of the same family. The aim of the work is to describe two cases of PPGSS arisen during a short time period in two family members affected by an acute parvovirus B19 infection found by serum sampling. The peculiarity of the study was the infrequence of the syndrome and the rareness of the description of PPGSS in rheumatology. This syndrome is usually described in dermatology, but it is also interesting for the rheumatologist because it comes in differential diagnosis with various autoimmune diseases.