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Affected Populations
Based on conversations within the PRP community, we can say with metaphysical certitude that PRP isn’t a punishment for misbehavior or forgetting to put the seat down on a toilet (loo in some parts of the world). There are thousands of perfectly wonderful people who have – or had – PRP. Moreover, there are many very bad people who don’t have it. Who then gets the short end of this rare disease stick?
Prevalence
In March 2003, Dr. Andrew Griffiths delivered a “Dowling Oration” to to members of the British Association of Dermatology assembled in Liverpool, England. Dr. Griffiths reflected on 35 years of diagnosing, treating and researching pityriasis rubra pilaris. He unilaterally fixed the PRP prevalence rate at one in 400,000. While the methodology used by Dr. Griffiths is subject to debate, dermatologists worldwide have accepted his estimates.
Age
Pityriasis rubra pilaris is a rare disorder that may develop during childhood or adulthood. Juvenile Onset accounts for 45% of the “active” patient population while Adult Onset accounts for 55%. (2) DermNet New Zealand. (2)
Although PRP may occur at any age (10), it most commonly a ects those in their first, second, fifth or sixth decades of life (3) (4).
Gender
PRP appears to occur in males and females in relatively equal numbers. However, in childhood, the male to female ratio is 3:2 (5).
Race
Persons of any race may be affected. (4) (6)
Acquired or Inherited
PRP is usually sporadic (occurring randomly) but some forms may be inherited. (2) (4)
(1) Griffiths WA. Edited version of the Dowling Oration delivered to the British Association of Dermatologists in Liverpool, England. March 2003. http://prpsurvivalguide.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Dowling-Oration-2003-Liverpool-England.pdf Accessed August 7, 2017.
(2) DermNet New Zealand. Pityriasis rubra pilaris. www.dermnetnz.org/topics/pityriasis-rubra-pilaris/ Updated October, 2015. Accessed August 7, 2017.
(3) Judge MR, McLean WHI, Munro CS. Disorders of keratinization. In: Burns T, Breathnach S, Cox N, Gri ths C, editors. Rook’s textbook of dermatology. 8th ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd; 2010. p. 19.1-19.122.
(4) Paravina M, Ljubenovic M, Milosavljevic M, et.al. Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris: A Report of Two Cases and Literature Review. https://www.degruyter.com/downloadpdf/j/sjdv.2015.7.issue-4/sjdv-2015-0016/sjdv-2015-0016.pdf. Serbian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology 2015; 7 (4): 181-194 DOI: 10.1515/sjdv-2015-0016. Accessed August 7, 2017.
(5) Sehgal VN, Srivastava G. (Juvenile) Pityriasis rubra pilaris. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16650174 Int J Dermatol 2006;45(4):438-46. Accessed August 7, 2017.
(6) Medscape. Pityriasis rubra pilaris. http://reference.medscape.com/article/1107742-overview#a6 Updated April 17, 2017. Accessed August 7. 2010
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PRP – Affected Populations