Acrokeratosis verruciformis (Hopf)—a clinical entity?

Abstract

Contrary to the unitarian concept of acrokeratosis verruciformis and Darier's disease, a comparative familial, clinical and histopathological analysis of six cases each of these two diseases has suggested that they are separate entities. Though clinically similar, acrokeratosis remained non-dyskeratotic throughout life, whereas the acral lesions of Darier's disease showed, on careful scrutiny and follow-up, various gradations of benign acantholytic dyskeratosis. Malignant transformation indicated that dyskeratosis in Hopf's disease would be very rare and of a different nature. The probability of a genetic linkage between the two genodermatoses is reviewed and discussed.