Blueberry muffin baby P61.8

The term "blueberry muffin" refers to skin changes that are often characterized by blueberry-like efflorescences shimmering through the skin. It is a transient cutaneous extramedullary haematopoiesis occurring exclusively in the neonatal period as a result of a serious underlying disease which leads to the temporary reactivation of embryonic or fetal haematopoietic mechanisms after birth.

TORCH is the acronym for the following pathogens: Toxoplasma gondii, Other (Treponema pallidum, Hepatitis B, Zoster), Rubella virus, (C)ytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex virus.

Fetal infectious diseases or diseases of the mother during pregnancy(toxoplasmosis, rubella, herpes, zoster, cytomegaly), haematolytic diseases of the fetus and resulting anaemia and neoplasia are described.

1. Bowden JB et al (1989) Dermal hematopoiesis in neonates: report of five cases. J Am Acad Dermatol 20: 1104-1110
2. Hodl S et al (2001) Blueberry muffin baby: the pathogenesis of cutaneous extramedullary hematopoiesis 52: 1035-1042
3. Kitagawa N et al (1989) Congenital alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma presenting as a blueberry muffin baby. J Dermatol 16:409-411
4. Meuleman V Degreef H (1995) Acute myelomonocytic leukemia with skin localizations. Dermatology 190: 346-348
5. Vozza A et al (2003) Late onset Blueberry Muffin Syndrome following congenital rubella. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 17: 204-205
6. Weils AJ (1923) On blood formation foci in the prostate and sole of the feet of newborns and foetuses. Z Pediatrics 35: 1-9