Does inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus represent a segmental type 1/type 2 mosaic of psoriasis?

BACKGROUND: A 6-year-old girl with a symmetric linear eruption on both of her legs, clinically and histologically resembling inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus (ILVEN) or linear psoriasis (LP), with concomitant psoriasis of the guttata type and a positive family history of psoriasis is presented. The questions as to whether LP actually exists and ILVEN represents a distinct entity are still under debate.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The recent literature concerning case reports of ILVEN and LP is reviewed.

RESULTS: Case reports of ILVEN and LP can be subdivided into four different groups: (1) ILVEN with or without concomitant psoriasis, only in part reacting to antipsoriatic treatment, (2) ILVEN without concomitant psoriasis, (3) LP with concomitant psoriasis vulgaris, with both groups 2 and 3 reacting successfully to antipsoriatic treatment, and (4) LP without concomitant psoriasis vulgaris and with no family history of psoriasis (very rarely reported).

CONCLUSION: It is hypothesized that inflammatory linear verrucous eruption besides nevoid psoriasis/LP represents a further segmental type 1/type 2 mosaic of psoriasis which, if a (verrucous) epidermal nevus exists, shows a high affinity of occurrence in close context to such a nevus. Heritability is thought to be possible.