Cross-sectional nationwide epidemiologic survey on quality of life and treatment efficacy in Japanese patients with congenital ichthyoses.

BACKGROUND: Congenital ichthyoses sometimes present with severe skin symptoms that significantly affect the patient's quality of life (QOL). Symptomatic treatments are the mainstay therapies, and their efficacy is limited and inadequate. OBJECTIVE: To assess the disease severity and QOL in patients with congenital ichthyoses, and to investigate the effectiveness of current treatments. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire-based Japan-wide epidemiological survey of patients with congenital ichthyosis who received medical care from 1 January 2016-31 December 2020. Effectiveness of past and current treatments was assessed. The outcomes were the physician's assessment, disease severity assessed using the clinical ichthyosis score (CIS), and the disease burden estimated using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI), and the Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life Index. RESULTS: One hundred patients with 14 ichthyosis subtypes from 47 institutes were included in the final analysis. The CDLQI score showed a positive correlation with CIS (rs = 0.59, p = 0.004), while the DLQI score showed no significant correlation (rs = 0.13, p = 0.33). All existing medications were effective for many patients. Etretinate improved QOL and reduced CIS, but side effects including bone growth retardation were reported. Decreased treatment willingness was observed in patients with very low and very high CIS. CONCLUSION: QOL scores were found to correlate with CIS in children, but not in adults. Considering the adverse events, it is speculated that etretinate is not indicated for children with mild cases. Petrolatum was the most commonly used medication, even in patients who were reluctant to receive treatment.

Mood symptoms, neurodevelopmental traits, and their contributory factors in X-linked ichthyosis, ichthyosis vulgaris and psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: High rates of adverse mood/neurodevelopmental traits are seen in multiple dermatological conditions, and can significantly affect patient quality of life. Understanding the sex-specific nature, magnitude, impact and basis of such traits in lesser-studied conditions like ichthyosis, is important for developing effective interventions. AIM: To quantify and compare relevant psychological traits in men with X-linked ichthyosis (XLI, n = 54) or in XLI carrier women (n = 83) and in patients with ichthyosis vulgaris (IV, men n = 23, women n = 59) or psoriasis (men n = 30, women n = 122), and to identify factors self-reported to contribute most towards depressive, anxious and irritable phenotypes. METHODS: Participants recruited via relevant charities or social media completed an online survey of established questionnaires. Data were analysed by sex and skin condition, and compared with general population data. RESULTS: Compared with the general population, there was a higher rate of lifetime prevalence of mood disorder diagnoses across all groups and of neurodevelopmental disorder diagnoses in the XLI groups. The groups exhibited similarly significant elevations in recent mood symptoms (Cohen d statistic 0.95-1.28, P < 0.001) and neurodevelopmental traits (d = 0.31-0.91, P < 0.05) compared with general population controls, and self-reported moderate effects on quality of life and stigmatization. There were strong positive associations between neurodevelopmental traits and recent mood symptoms (r > 0.47, P < 0.01), and between feelings of stigmatization and quality of life, particularly in men. Numerous factors were identified as contributing significantly to mood symptoms in a condition or sex-specific, or condition or sex-independent, manner. CONCLUSION: We found that individuals with XLI, IV or psoriasis show higher levels of mood disorder diagnoses and symptoms than matched general population controls, and that the prevalence and severity of these is similar across conditions. We also identified a number of factors potentially conferring either general or condition-specific risk of adverse mood symptoms in the three skin conditions, which could be targeted clinically and/or through education programmes. In clinical practice, recognizing mood/neurodevelopmental problems in ichthyosis and psoriasis, and addressing the predisposing factors identified by this study should benefit the mental health of affected individuals.

The Burden of Autosomal Recessive Congenital Ichthyoses on Patients and their Families: An Italian Multicentre Study.

Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyoses (ARCI) are characterized by generalized skin scaling, hyperkeratosis, erythroderma, and disabling features affecting the skin (palmoplantar keratoderma, fissures, pain, itch), eyes, ears, and joints. Disease severity and chronicity, patient disfigurement, and time and costs required for care impose a major burden on quality of life. This multicentre cross-sectional study investigated the impact of ARCI on quality of life of patients and families, using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Children DLQI (CDLQI) and Family Burden of Ichthyosis (FBI) questionnaires. Disease severity was assessed by a dermatologist. A total of 94 patients were recruited, of whom 52 (55.3%) children. Mean age was 20.1 (median 13.5) years. The mean CDLQI/DLQI score was 7.8, and 21 patients scored >10, indicating a major impairment in quality of life: symptoms, feelings and treatment problems were the most affected domains of quality of life. FBI showed a major repercussion on psychological factors and work. The results of this study highlight the impact of ARCI on specific aspects of patient and family life, underlining the need for psychological support.

Cutaneous manifestations in an Italian military COVID hub.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of the pandemic Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by a novel coronavirus named Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), affecting a high number of patients in Italy, forced a great number of doctors, even dermatologists, to work in the first lines in the dedicated departments. We analyzed the features and the incidence of dermatological issues emerged during the hospitalization due to COVID-19 and absent before. METHODS: All the SARS-CoV-2 positive patients hospitalized in Celio Military Hospital - COVID hub no-intensive care wards from March 16, 2020 until May 4, 2020 were evaluated by dermatologists several times during the hospital stay. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients (15 civilians and 81 Italian servicepeople) were enrolled: 34 (35.4%) patients developed cutaneous manifestations; 15 (16.0%) suffered from skin dryness; 5 (5.2%) irritant contact dermatitis; 4 (4.2%) seborrheic dermatitis; 4 (4.2%) morbilliform rashes; 3 (3.1%) petechial rashes and 3 (3.1%) widespread hives. CONCLUSIONS: A deeper knowledge of cutaneous manifestations in military and civilian hospitalized COVID-19 patients could suggest more effective treatments to win the battle against SARS-CoV-2.

Ictiosis Lamelar autosómica recesiva: revisión de la literatura y caso clínico / Autosomal recessive lamellar ichthyosis: review of the literature and clinical case

Resumen Las ictiosis congénitas autosómicas recesivas (ICAR) son poco frecuentes a nivel mundial con una incidencia de 1:300,000 nacimientos, se caracterizan por trastornos de la queratinización, entre sus variantes engloban las formas no sindrómicas de ictiosis, como la ictiosis laminar (IL), la eritrodermiaictiosiforme congénita (EIC) y actualmente se incluyen la ictiosis arlequín, el bebé colodión autorresolutivo, el bebé colodión autorresolutivoacral y la ictiosis en traje de baño. Desde el punto de vista genético son heterogéneas, originadas por una mutación en el gen de la transglutaminasa 1 y se las haasociado a TGM1, ALOXE3, ALOX12B, NIPAL4, CYP4F22 y ABCA12. Clínicamente, la ictiosis se caracteriza principalmente por piel gruesa, escamas laminares adherentes con hendiduras profundas. En este trabajo pretende revisar los conocimientos actuales en el campo de las ICAR, incluyendo aspectos clínicos, histológicos, ultraestructurales, genético-moleculares, tratamiento,y también su manejo clínico.

Abstract The autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) is a rare worldwide condition with an incidence of (1: 300,000 births), characterized by disorders of keratinization, among its variants encompass the non-syndromic forms of ichthyosis, such as laminar ichthyosis (IL) , congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (EIC) and currently include harlequin ichthyosis, self-healing colodion baby, acral self-healing colodion baby and ichthyosis in swimsuits. From a genetic point of view, they're heterogeneous, originated by a mutation in the gene of transglutaminase 1 and associated with TGM1, ALOXE3, ALOX12B, NIPAL4, CYP4F22 and ABCA12. Clinically, ichthyosis is mainly characterized by thick skin, adherent lamellar scales with deep clefts. The aim of this work is to review the current knowledge in the field of ICAR, including clinical, histological, ultrastructural, genetic-molecular and therapeutic aspects as well as its clinical management.

Results of a nationwide epidemiologic survey of autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis and ichthyosis syndromes in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) and ichthyosis syndrome (IS) are rare genetic skin disorders. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the number of patients with ARCI and IS in Japan and clarify the clinicoepidemiologic features of these diseases. METHODS: We performed a nationwide survey of patients treated for ARCI or IS during January 2005-December 2009. We developed diagnostic criteria and conducted a primary survey in a stratified random sample of Japanese hospitals to quantify the number of outpatients and inpatients with ARCI or IS. We performed a secondary survey of clinicoepidemiologic features in positive cases. RESULTS: The estimated number of patients receiving treatment for ARCI and IS during 2005-2009 was 220 (95% confidence interval [CI] 180-260). The estimated disease distribution was as follows: 95 (95% CI 80-110) patients with nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma, 30 (95% CI 20-40) with lamellar ichthyosis, 15 (95% CI 10-20) with harlequin ichthyosis, and 85 (95% CI 50-120) with IS. LIMITATIONS: Patients with a mild case of the disease might not have visited a dermatology department, potentially causing underestimation of affected patients. CONCLUSION: We report the estimated number of patients with ARCI and IS in Japan and sex differences in the age distribution.

Enfermedades acantolíticas: caracterización de pacientes con diagnóstico de enfermedad de Hailey-Hailey, enfermedad de Darier y enfermedad de Grover, entre los años 2007 y 2017 en el Hospital Clínico San Borja Arriaran y revisión de la literatura / Characterization of patients diagnosed with Hailey-Hailey disease: Darier's disease and Grover's disease, between 2007 and 2017 at the San Borja Arriaran Clinical Hospital and review of the literature

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las enfermedades acatólicas son un grupo heterogéneo de enfermedades que presentan como característica central histopatológica la acantosis. Generalmente presentan un curso de evolución crónica y recidivante, con variadas manifestaciones clínicas. OBJETIVO: caracterizar los pacientes con diagnóstico de enfermedad acantolítica, bajo 5 criterios clínicos y realizar una revisión de la literatura. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una revisión de la base de datos del Servicio Anatomía Patológica del Hospital San Borja Arriaran (HSBA) entre los años 2007 y 2017 y se complementaron con los antecedentes clínicos extraídos de las fichas clínicas.RESULTADOS: Se obtuvo un total de 13 casos. el 53,8% correspondieron a enfermedad de Darier, 20,6% a enfermedad de Hailey-Hailey y un 20,6% a enfermedad de Grover, obteniendo un promedio de edad al momento del diagnóstico de 22,5 años, 44,3 años y 47,6 años respectivamente. Los antecedentes familiares estuvieron presentes en el 53,8% del total de pacientes, ninguno de ellos presentaba estudio genético. El 61,5% de la muestra correspondió a pacientes de sexo femenino y el promedio de años de evolución previo al diagnóstico fue de 7,4 años para Darier, 8,6 para Hailey-Hailey y para Grover. El 100% de los pacientes con enfermedad de Darier y Grover estaban con terapia sistémica y el 66,6% de enfermedad de Hailey-Hailey con terapia tópica, todos con adecuada respuesta clínica. DISCUSIÓN y conclusiones: las enfermedades acantolíticas corresponden a genodermatosis poco frecuente cuyo diagnóstico y tratamiento constitu-yen un desafío para el dermatólogo

INTRODUCTION: Atytolic diseases are a heterogeneous group of diseases that present acanthosis as a histopathological central characteristic. They usually present a course of chronic and recurrent evolution, with varied clinical manifestations. OBJECTIVE: to characterize the patients diagnosed with acantholytic disease, with 5 clinical criteria and to carry out a review of the literature. METHODS: A review of the database of the Pathological Anatomy Service of the San Bor-ja Arriaran Hospital (HSBA) between 2007 and 2017 was carried out and complemented with the clinical records extracted from the clinical files. RESULTS: A total of 13 cases were obtained. 53.8% corresponded to Darier's disease, 20.6% to Hailey-Hailey's disease and 20.6% to Grover's disease, obtaining an average age at diagnosis of 22.5 years, 44.3 years and 47.6 years respectively. Family history was present in 53.8% of the to-tal patients, none of them had a genetic study. 61.5% of the sample corresponded to female patients and the average of years of evolution prior to diagnosis was 7.4 years for Darier, 8.6 for Hailey-Hailey and for Grover. 100% of the pa-tients with Darier and Grover's disease were on systemic therapy and 66.6% of Hailey-Hailey's disease with topical therapy, all with adequate clinical response. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: acantholytic diseases correspond to rare genodermatosis whose diagnosis and treatment constitute a challenge for the dermatologist.

Dermatological aspects of the S2k guidelines on Down syndrome in childhood and adolescence.

With an incidence of 1 in 700 births, Down syndrome (DS) is not an uncommon condition. It is associated with various disorders of different organ systems. Serious disorders include cardiac defects and leukemia. With an onset during the newborn period, the latter does not always progress to classic myeloid leukemia (transient myeloproliferative disorder). Skin manifestations in newborns include pustules/vesiculopustules. In individuals with DS, such lesions should not only prompt suspicion for typical neonatal rashes and infections but also for transient myeloproliferative disorder. However, most dermatoses are benign. They essentially comprise disorders of keratinization that present as xerosis, keratosis pilaris, lichenification, and ichthyosis vulgaris. Also typical but not specific is the four-finger palmar crease (simian crease). Patients frequently develop folliculitides, which - due to elastolysis - subsequently progress to anetoderma. The known immune disturbance in DS patients explains the occurrence of autoimmune diseases such as alopecia areata and vitiligo. Typical skin conditions associated with DS include elastosis perforans serpiginosa, syringomas, milia-like calcinosis cutis, and multiple eruptive dermatofibromas.

Atypical features and systemic associations in extensive cases of Grover disease: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Grover disease is an acantholytic disorder that typically occurs on the trunk of older individuals, primarily white men, in association with heat and xerosis. Cases with extensive and/or atypical distributions have been reported. OBJECTIVE: To review the literature characterizing the population, morphology, associations, and disease course of extensive or atypical eruptions of Grover disease. METHODS: A systematic literature review identified 50 articles with 69 cases. RESULTS: Patient age ranged from 14 to 83 years (mean age, 56 ± 15), with 71% of patients being male and 29% female. Areas of involvement included the trunk (90%), upper and lower extremities (63% and 61%, respectively), face/scalp (28%), neck (21%), groin (11%), buttocks (8%), and axillae (6%). The most common associations included a history of malignancy (61%), recent chemotherapy (38%), and recent transplant (20%). LIMITATIONS: Extensive cases with typical clinical morphology may not have been examined by biopsy or reported; thus, this review may have publication bias toward more severe or atypical presentations. CONCLUSIONS: Greater variability exists among patients affected by extensive or atypical Grover disease than among those with typical disease. Malignancy is a common association, and there may be a role for immunosuppression in the pathogenesis of extensive or atypical Grover disease.

Dry skin and pressure ulcer risk: A multi-center cross-sectional prevalence study in German hospitals and nursing homes.

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers are a serious health problem in medical and nursing care. Therefore, effective prevention is crucial. Major pressure ulcer risk factors have been identified but the particular role of dry skin (xerosis cutis) is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate possible associations between dry skin and pressure ulcers focusing on the sacrum/trochanter and at heel/ankle skin areas. DESIGN: Two multicenter cross-sectional studies. SETTINGS/PARTICIPANTS: In 2014 and 2015 thirty nursing homes and thirteen hospitals in Germany participated. In total 3837 participants were included. Mean age was 76.1 (SD 15.5) years. METHODS: Skin assessments and data collection were performed by trained nurses based on a standardized data collection form. Descriptive comparisons and multilevel logistic regressions predicting pressure ulcers at sacrum/trochanter and ankle/heel were conducted. RESULTS: The prevalence of skin dryness at the trunk was significantly higher for subjects with pressure ulcers category 2+ at the sacral area compared to without (39.0% vs. 24.4%, p=0.010). Adjusted to demographic variables, mobility and type of institution dry skin at the trunk was no longer associated with pressure ulceration (OR 1.11 (95% CI 0.62-2.00)). 71.9% of patients with heel/ankle pressure ulcers category 2+ were affected by dry skin at legs or feet, compared to 42.8% of subjects without pressure ulcers (p<0.001). In the adjusted analysis the OR was 1.85 (95% CI 0.83-4.14). CONCLUSIONS: Study results indicate that dry skin at the feet may be considered as a risk factor for heel pressure ulcer development. Skin dryness may be less important for sacral pressure ulcers. Therefore, the variable skin status should be better defined in future studies and pressure ulcer risk models. Results further support differences in pressure ulcer aetiologies between anatomical locations.

Seasonal variations in dermatologic and dermatopathologic diagnoses: a retrospective 15-year analysis of dermatopathologic data.

BACKGROUND: Certain dermatologic conditions are known to show seasonal variations in frequency, the reasons for which are unclear but in some cases may be attributable to changes in ambient weather conditions. OBJECTIVES: The current study was conducted to determine whether seasonal trends might exist for dermatologic conditions including erythema multiforme, guttate psoriasis, erythema dyschromicum perstans (ashy dermatosis), pityriasis lichenoides, and pityriasis rosea. METHODS: Data were derived from a 15-year retrospective review of electronic records from a large dermatopathology laboratory located in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA. Numbers of diagnoses per month and "per season" were determined. Pairwise comparisons of seasonal data were made using two-sample t-tests with significance set at P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Perniosis (chilblains) was significantly more common in winter and spring (P = 0.001). Hand, foot, and mouth disease was statistically more prevalent in summer and autumn (P = 0.028). Erythema multiforme was most common in spring and summer (P = 0.004). Grover's disease was most common in winter and spring (P = 0.000039). Guttate psoriasis was non-significantly more common in winter and spring (P = 0.076). No statistically significant seasonal variation was found for erythema dyschromicum perstans (P = 0.899), pityriasis rosea (P = 0.727), or pityriasis lichenoides (P = 0.366). CONCLUSIONS: This study found statistically significant seasonal trends for several dermatologic conditions. The study was primarily epidemiologic and was not intended to address histopathologic differences that might underlie the seasonal variations observed. However, further investigation of seasonal differences in the histopathology of erythema multiforme may prove interesting.

Dry skin in nursing care receivers: A multi-centre cross-sectional prevalence study in hospitals and nursing homes.

BACKGROUND: Maintaining and improving skin health of patients and long-term care receivers is a widely agreed upon goal in health and nursing care. Care dependent and aged persons have a high predisposition to develop dry skin conditions. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and severity of skin dryness in hospitals and nursing homes and to identify person- and health-related variables associated with this skin condition. DESIGN: The study was part of a bigger annual multicentre descriptive cross-sectional prevalence study of health problems. SETTINGS/PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen nursing homes and six hospitals in Germany participated in this study in 2014. A total of 1710 subjects (n=1091 long-term care residents and n=619 in-patients) were included. METHODS: Skin assessments were conducted and skin dryness was measured using the Overall Dry Skin Score. Mobility was measured using the respective item of the Care Dependency Scale. Demographic, functional and physiological parameters were compared between subjects with and without dry skin. A logistic regression model predicting skin dryness was created. RESULTS: The prevalence of skin dryness was 48.8% (95% CI 46.5-51.2). Nursing home residents were most often affected (52.6%; 95% CI 49.6-55.6) compared to in-patients (42.2%; 95% CI 38.3-46.1). The skin of feet and legs were most often affected by skin dryness (42.9%) compared to other skin areas. Being older (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.01-1.02), having pruritus (OR 14.21; 95% CI 8.00-22.95), oncological (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.30-2.91), musculoskeletal diseases (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.04-1.64), being skin care independent (OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.32-0.70) were the strongest covariates for the presence of dry skin in the multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a large sample results indicate that approximately every second nursing home resident and hospital in-patient are affected by dry skin. Severe forms occur more often in hospital in-patients compared to nursing home residents. Skin care interventions to tackle dry skin are recommended particularly for hospital patients and nursing home residents who are affected by pruritus or oncological diseases, who are in need of washing/bathing assistance, and who have musculoskeletal diseases.

Spectrum of mucocutaneous manifestations in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients and its correlation with CD4 lymphocyte count.

In this study, 100 HIV-positive cases (63 men, 37 women) with skin findings were included. The mean CD4 T cell count was 253 cells/mm(3). A total of 235 dermatological manifestations were seen. The common infectious dermatoses were candidiasis (21%), Staphylococcal skin infections (20%), dermatophytoses (14%) and herpes zoster (6%). Among the non-infectious dermatoses were papular pruritic eruptions (20%), xerosis/ichthyosis (20%) and seborrhoeic dermatitis (16%). Statistically significant association (p < 0.05) with CD4 T cell count was seen in pyodermas, dermatophytoses and papular pruritic eruptions. Adverse drug reactions, diffuse hair loss, straightening of hairs and pigmentary changes were also noted. Although there was an absence of Kaposi's sarcoma in our study, a case of verrucous carcinoma of penis was noted.

Burden of inherited ichthyosis: a French national survey.

Moderate to severe ichthyosis is known to have a significant impact on quality of life. A French national survey was performed to describe in more detail how ichthyosis impacts the patients' lives. A questionnaire specifically dedicated to ichthyosis was distributed to patients followed in hospital expert centres or members of the French association of patients. A total of 241 questionnaires were completed and returned (response ratio: 29% for children and 71% for adults). A negative impact of ichthyosis was obvious in terms of domestic life (skin care, housework, clothing, etc.), educational/professional lives (rejections by other children, workplace discrimination, absenteeism, etc) and for leisures/sports activities. The patient's economical resources were also heavily impacted by ichthyosis with important out-of-pocket expenses.