Clinical and Humanistic Burden of Atopic Dermatitis in Europe: Analyses of the National Health and Wellness Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease that negatively impacts overall health, quality of life (QoL), and work productivity. Prior studies on AD burden by severity have focused on moderate-to-severe disease. Here, we describe the clinical and humanistic burden of AD in Europe across all severity levels, including milder disease. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the 2017 National Health and Wellness Survey from adult respondents with AD in the EU-5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK). AD disease severity was defined based on self-reported assessments as "mild," "moderate," or "severe" and by Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) severity bands. Self-reported outcomes for AD respondents by severity were assessed using propensity score matching. These outcomes included a wide range of selected medical/psychological comorbidities, overall QoL and functional status (EuroQol 5-Dimensions 5-Level and Short Form-36 version 2 questionnaires), and work productivity and activity impairment (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire). RESULTS: In total, 4208 respondents with AD (mild AD, 2862; moderate AD, 1177; severe AD, 169) and 4208 respondents without AD were included in this analysis. Results showed greater burden across severity levels compared with matched non-AD controls. A higher proportion of respondents with mild-to-moderate AD, defined by DLQI severity bands, reported atopic comorbidities (P < 0.05) and a wide range of cardiac, vascular, and metabolic comorbidities, including hypertension, high cholesterol, angina, and peripheral vascular disease (P < 0.005), compared with non-AD controls. Relative to potential impacts of various medical and psychological burdens, respondents with mild-to-moderate AD reported higher activity impairment than controls (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Clinical and humanistic burden was observed in European respondents with AD compared with matched non-AD controls across severity levels, with burden evident even in milder disease, highlighting the importance of improving disease management in early stages of AD.

Cutaneous mastocytosis in twins: multiple mastocytomas and urticaria pigmentosa in two pairs of monozygotic twins.

We report two sets of monozygotic twins with cutaneous mastocytosis: one set with urticaria pigmentosa and the other set with multiple mastocytomas. This is the first report of multiple mastocytomas in twins to our knowledge.

Comorbilidades metabólicas y cardiovasculares en psoriasis / Cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidity in psoriasis

La psoriasis es una enfermedad crónica y aumenta el riesgo de mortalidad general, mortalidad cardiovascular y diversas enfermedades metabólicas y cardiovasculares. La inflamación crónica observada en psoriasis y aterosclorosis parece ser la razón de esta asociación. Diabetes, hipertensión, dislipidemia, obesidad, síndrome metabólico y otros factores de riesgo cardiovascular clásicos son más frecuentes en psoriasis; sin embargo, la psoriasis ha demostrado ser un factor de riesgo independiente de mortalidad y de enfermedades cardiovasculares. Infarto al miocardio, enfermedades cerebrovasculares, hígado graso y enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica son alguna de las enfermedades específicas relacionadas con la psoriasis. Todas estas observaciones apoyan la idea de psoriasis como una enfermedad sistémica, más que sólo una condición cutánea.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease and increases the risk of general mortality, cardiovascular mortality and several metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. The chronic inflammation observed in psoriasis and atherosclerosis seems to be the reason for this association. Diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome and other classical cardiovascular risk factors are more common in psoriasis; however, psoriasis has been shown as an independent risk factor for mortality and cardiovascular diseases. Myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are some specific disease related to psoriasis. All these observations support the idea that psoriasis behaves like a systemic disease, more than just as a cutaneous condition.

Treatment of facial atrophic scars with Esthélis, a hyaluronic acid filler with polydense cohesive matrix (CPM).

BACKGROUND: The treatment of atrophic scars is difficult and dermal filler materials provide a simple alternative with immediate results. Esthélis® is an injectable non-animal crosslinked hyaluronic acid of Swiss origin characterized by a polydense cohesive matrix (CPM®) which produces a gel of uniform consistency with better biointegration to the tissues and a longer duration. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate Esthélis in the treatment of atrophic scars. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients aged 18-56 years with facial atrophic scars caused by acne vulgaris, dog bite, piercing, basal cell carcinoma and leishmaniasis were treated with Esthélis. The injection technique was linear threading, serial puncture or a combination of both. Clinical efficacy was assessed independently by the authors and by patients immediately, one week and one month after the injection. Adverse events were registered. RESULTS: Authors described the results as moderate (27%), good (57%) and excellent (17%), immediately, one week and one month after the injection. Patients evaluated the cosmetic improvement as good (42%) or excellent (58%) one month after the treatment. Pain during the injection was described as slight or moderate. Only mild erythema was observed immediately after injection, which spontaneously resolved within few hours. CONCLUSION: Esthélis showed good or excellent results in most patients with atrophic scars, and these were perceived as even better when patients evaluated the cosmetic improvement. The best results were observed in patients with more deforming scars such as surgical scars or trauma.

Hair shaft abnormalities. Pili bifurcati: a scanning electron microscopy analysis.

Pili bifurcati is an extremely rare hair shaft abnormality. We present a case with a scanning electron microscopy analysis.