Refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria after heterologous COVID-19 booster vaccination.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) involves recurrent, pruritic wheals lasting more than 6 weeks in response to various etiologies, including unknown causality. Though most cutaneous reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine series are self-limited and of short duration, more complex presentations including chronic spontaneous urticaria have been described. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of chronic spontaneous urticaria following heterologous mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccination that includes vaccination with both forms of the mRNA vaccine. Our patient received Pfizer-BioNTech for the primary series and Moderna for the booster. After failing several therapies, our patient's urticaria was refractory even to omalizumab. The source for chronic spontaneous urticaria development in our patient may be related to the unique humoral response elicited by receipt of a different mRNA vaccine manufacturer.

Ibrutinib skin toxicities: Report of two cases.

Ibrutinib is a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to treat many hematologic conditions, most commonly B-cell lymphomas and leukemias. Reportedly, skin rash is an adverse event in up to 27% of treated patients. Histopathologic description of these lesions is limited. We present two cases of ibrutinib-associated skin toxicities showing diverse histopathologic features. Case 1: A 72-year-old man was started on ibrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Two months later, he developed multiple erythematous crusted papules on the chest, abdomen, and extremities. Biopsies revealed varied histopathology including poorly formed granulomatous dermatitis, epidermal necrosis, ulceration, and panniculitis. Ibrutinib was discontinued and his skin lesions resolved within 1 month. Case 2: A 48-year-old man received ibrutinib after failing standard therapy for primary central nervous system EBV positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Two months after initiation of ibrutinib, he developed multiple firm, red, non-tender nodules on the forehead, buttock, and thigh. Biopsies revealed "pseudolymphoma"-like reaction with dense pandermal lymphohistiocytic inflammation and granulomas. His skin toxicity resolved without cessation of therapy. Awareness of the spectrum of histopathologic features that may be encountered in skin lesions of patients treated with ibrutinib, as illustrated by these two cases, will be critical for optimal patient management.

Keratoacanthomatous Changes: Unifying the Histologic Spectrum of Actinic Granuloma.

Actinic granuloma (AG) manifests as annular plaques on sun-damaged skin. There remains no universal consensus on the nosology, etiology, or clinicopathologic criteria of AG as a distinct entity. Broadly, AG is characterized by granulomatous inflammation, multinucleated giant cells, elastophagocytosis, and the absence of mucin and necrobiosis. It is not uncommon, however, to encounter overlapping histological features of other granulomas, such as granuloma annulare and necrobiosis lipoidica, confounding the diagnosis of this controversial entity. Herein, we describe 2 cases of AG with features of granuloma annulare and necrobiosis lipoidica, supporting the concept of AG as a histologic spectrum. These 2 cases displayed dilated follicular infundibula and pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia analogous to changes in keratoacanthomas. These unique epithelial changes, in tandem with characteristic elastin alterations and clinical findings, are helpful and unifying features that permit accurate diagnosis of this controversial entity.

A toxic epidermal necrolysis-like presentation of linear IgA bullous dermatosis treated with dapsone.

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis is a rare autoimmune vesiculobullous disease characterized by linear deposition of IgA along the basement membrane zone. It is classically idiopathic, but may also arise secondary to drug exposure. A heterogeneous spectrum of clinical features has been described, including a rare, morbid variant mimicking toxic epidermal necrolysis. Herein, we present a case of vancomycin-induced linear IgA bullous dermatosis that manifested clinically as toxic epidermal necrolysis and resolved with dapsone therapy.

Persistent blaschkitis responsive to high potency topical steroids.

Blaschkitis is an acquired, rare dermatosis distributed along the lines of Blaschko. The papulovesicular eruption generally resolves in weeks and shows minimal response to topical steroids. Herein, we present a case of blaschkitis in an adult male who had lesions present for one year, which showed significant improvement after two weeks of topical clobetasol ointment.

Topical Esomeprazole Mitigates Radiation-Induced Dermal Inflammation and Fibrosis.

Radiation therapy is a mainstream strategy in the treatment of several cancer types that are surgically unresectable. Unfortunately, cancer patients often suffer from unintended consequences of radiotherapy, including the development of skin inflammation (dermatitis), which may progress to fibrosis. These morbid complications often require interruption of radiotherapy and threaten the relapse of underlying cancer. Current treatment options for radiation dermatitis are suboptimal and compel the need to develop safer, more effective therapies. In this study, we assessed the biophysical properties of topically-formulated esomeprazole (here referred to as dermaprazole) and performed proof-of-concept studies to evaluate its efficacy in vitro and in vivo. We found that dermaprazole induced nuclear translocation of erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and significantly upregulated heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) gene and protein expression in a 3D human skin model. Our animal study demonstrated that dermaprazole improved macroscopic appearance of the irradiated skin and accelerated healing of the wounds. Histopathology data corroborated the photographic evidence and confirmed that both prophylactically and therapeutically administered dermaprazole conferred potent anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects. Gene expression data showed that dermaprazole downregulated several pro-oxidant, pro-inflammatory and profibrotic genes. In conclusion, topical formulation of the FDA-approved drug esomeprazole is highly effective in attenuating dermal inflammation and fibrosis.

A subgroup of melanocytic nevi on the distal lower extremity (ankle) shares features of acral nevi, dysplastic nevi, and melanoma in situ: a potential misdiagnosis of melanoma in situ.

Melanocytic lesions in certain locations (eg, genital, breast, acral) may have histologic and clinical features simulating melanoma. Here we describe a group of lesions from the lower distal extremity and analyze their histologic features and possible relation to dysplastic nevi (DN) and melanomas. One hundred fifteen melanocytic lesions from the ankle were retrieved from January 1990 to August 2006 from the files of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and were classified as benign melanocytic nevi (BN; n=17), DN (n=35), melanomas (MM; n=52), and melanocytic nevi of the ankle with atypical features (MNAAF; ie, cases that did not readily fit in any of the previous categories, n=11). Data analyzed included clinical (age and sex) and histologic features (circumscription, symmetry, cohesiveness of nests, suprabasal melanocytes, confluence, single-cell proliferation, nuclear chromasia, size, and nucleolar features). Follow-up was collected for all MNAAF. MNAAF differ from the other types of lesions in regard to sex incidence (73% in women). The median age of those patients MNAAF was 47 years (range 29 to 76 y). All MNAAF showed moderate-severe architectural disorder whereas 78% showed only mild-moderate cytologic atypia. No MNAAF cases had recurred after follow-up (4 mo to 13 y). This study highlights a group of melanocytic lesions located on the ankle that share histologic features with acral nevi, DN, and melanoma. These lesions are more predominant in females and have moderate to severe architectural atypia but only mild-moderate cytologic atypia. After complete excision, follow-up data indicate an apparently benign outcome. Pathologists should be aware of this type of lesions to avoid overdiagnosis of melanoma.