Profile of Nonvenereal Female Genital Dermatoses: A Cross-Sectional Study From Eastern India.

OBJECTIVE: Nonvenereal genital dermatoses may be a reason for considerable concern to the patient and often pose diagnostic dilemma to the treating physicians. The objective of the present study was to find out the demographical and clinical profile of nonvenereal genital dermatoses including systemic comorbidities in a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational study, carried out at the outpatient department of dermatology of a tertiary care hospital of Eastern India over a period of 12 months. Female patients with genital lesions were included in the study after excluding venereal disease. Results were tabulated and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 189 female patients were evaluated having 39 different dermatoses. The age ranged from 2 months to 72 years with most patients belonged to the fourth decade and 70.4% patients were from reproductive age group. Most of the patients were literate (81%) and hailing from rural areas. Most of them were homemakers and belonged to lower socioeconomic status (42.3%). Itching (77.3%) was the most common presenting complaint followed by burning sensation (9.5%). Common dermatoses encountered were vulval candidiasis (40.7%), lichen sclerosus (15.3%), tinea cruris (13.8%), lichen planus (4.2%), vitiligo (3.2%), irritant contact dermatitis (2.6%), psoriasis (2.6%), lichen simplex chronicus (2.1%), among others. Most common associated comorbidity was diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides important data on the spectrum of vulvar diseases in Eastern Indian patients and emphasizes the importance of proper and timely diagnosing nonvenereal vulvar dermatoses.

COVID-19 associated symmetrical peripheral gangrene: A case series.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has turned the world topsy-turvy since its onset in 2019. The thromboinflammatory complications of this disease are common in critically ill patients and associated with poor prognosis. Symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) is characterized by symmetrical distal gangrene in absence of any large vessel occlusion or vasculitis and it is usually associated with critical illness. Our aim was to report the clinical profile and outcome of patients diagnosed with SPG associated with COVID-19. To the best of our knowledge, no such similar cases have been reported till date. METHODS: In this case series, we have discussed the clinical presentation, laboratory parameters and outcome in a series of two patients of SPG associated with COVID-19 and also compared those findings. Due to paucity of data, we also reviewed the literature on this under-diagnosed and rarely reported condition and association. RESULTS: Two consecutive patients (both males, age range: 37-42 years, mean: 39.5 years) were admitted with the diagnosis of COVID-19 associated SPG. Both patients had clinical and laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Leucopenia was noted in both patients. Despite vigorous therapy, both patients succumbed to their illness within a fortnight of admission. CONCLUSION: SPG in the background of COVID-19 portends a fatal outcome. Physicians should be aware of its grim prognosis.

Recurrent Genital Ulcers.

Papulonecrotic tuberculid represents a hypersensitivity reaction to Mycobacterium tuberculosis or its products that disseminate through hematogenous route to the skin from an internal tuberculous focus. It is characterized by recurrent eruptions of asymptomatic, dusky red papules, which undergo ulceration and crusting, and eventually heal after a few weeks with varioliform scarring. Although it most commonly involves extragenital sites, isolated glans penis involvement has been reported very rarely.

A Profile of 23 Indian Patients with Purpura Fulminans: A Retrospective, Descriptive Study.

BACKGROUND: Purpura fulminans (PF) is a potentially fatal uncommon disorder of intravascular thrombosis and is clinically characterized by rapidly progressive hemorrhagic infarction of the skin. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical feature and outcome of a series of patients with PF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive study based on review of case records was carried out at a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata. RESULTS: Twenty three consecutive cases seen over a period of 8 years were studied. The age range was 4 days to 78 years (mean 35.6 years) with a male to female ratio of 1:2.8. Hemorrhagic rash was the universal presenting symptom. Other major presenting features included pneumonia (26.1%), sudden-onset shock syndrome (21.7%), and urinary tract infection (17.4%). All patients presented with retiform purpura and lesional necrosis and 8 (34.8%) patients had associated peripheral gangrene. Nineteen (82.6%) patients had sepsis and 60.9% patients had vesiculo-bullous lesion. Pneumococcus was the most common (26.1%) pathogenic organism detected. The precise cause of PF could not be detected in two (8.7%) patients. One patient (4.3%) with neonatal PF had protein C deficiency. All patients had evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). One patient had to undergo a below knee surgical amputation and one patient had autoamputation of the digits. Ten (43.5%) patients succumbed to their illness. Seven of the 8 patients who had peripheral gangrene had a fatal outcome. LIMITATIONS: Relatively small sample size and a referral bias were a few limitations of the present study. CONCLUSION: The present study emphasizes that PF is a cutaneous marker of DIC. Association of peripheral gangrene, leukopenia and neutropenia may be the reason for the high mortality rate.

Phakomatosis Pigmentovascularis: A Clinical Profile of 11 Indian Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Phakomatosis pigmentovascularis (PPV) is a rare congenital syndrome characterized by the simultaneous presence of capillary malformation and pigmentary nevi. The objective of our study was to describe the clinical characteristics of a series of Indian patients presenting with this rare entity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a record-based descriptive case series. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients with PPV (9 females, 2 males, age range: 7 days to 45 years; mean 11.6 years) were studied. Port wine stain was present in 10 (91%) patients and one patient (9%) had cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita. Isolated nevi of Ota and Mongolian spots were seen in 4 (36%) patients each. Simultaneous presence of both Mongolian spots and nevus of Ota was present in 1 (9%) patient. The combination of Mongolian spots and bilateral palatal hyper-melanosis was noticed in 2 (18%) patients. Café au lait macule was present in one patient. Bilateral ocular melanosis was found in 3 (27%) patients. Unilateral ocular melanosis was noticed in 4 (36%) patients. Two patients (18%) had history of seizure disorder and intracranial vascular anomalies on MRI imaging. Two patients (18%) had features of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. According to the traditional classification, three patients had PPV type 2b, one patient had PPV type 5b, and seven patients had PPV type 2a. According to the Happle's classification, 10 patients had PPV of cesio flammea type, and one patient had PPV of cesio marmorata type. LIMITATIONS: We could not perform genetic study of the patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize the importance of detailed systemic evaluation including ocular examination and brain imaging in every patient of PPV.

Focal Dermal Hypoplasia (Goltz Syndrome): A Cross-sectional Study from Eastern India.

INTRODUCTION: Focal dermal hypoplasia (Goltz syndrome), is an extremely rare genetic disorder characterized by distinct skin manifestations and a wide range of abnormalities involving the ocular, dental, skeletal, urinary, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. The objective of the present series is to emphasize the different typical as well as unusual features of this rare syndrome. METHOLOGY: This cross-sectional observational study was performed over a period of 8 years in a tertiary care hospital of Eastern India. Consecutive patients with the clinical diagnosis of Goltz syndrome were studied. RESULTS: A total of 8 patients with Goltz syndrome were evaluated. Out of them, one patient was a boy and the rest were girl. The age ranged from 3 days to 9 years. There was no family history. A characteristic Blaschkoid hypo- and hyper-pigmented skin lesions, congenital nodular fat herniation, and skin atrophy were present in all patients. Congenital cutaneous aplasia was present in 50% of the patients. Facial asymmetry and ear deformity (megalopinna and low-set ears) were seen in 37.5% and 12.5% of patients, respectively. Cutaneous telangiectasia was noticed in 37.5% of patients. Freckle- and lentigines-like pigmentation within the hypopigmented macules was found in 25% of patients. Raspberry-like papillomas around mouth were documented in 6 (75%) patients. Dysplastic nail changes with ridging were seen in 7 (87.5%) patients. Genital abnormality in the form of bilateral undescended testes and microphthalmia with aniridia were found in one patient each. Limb defects were present in all patients. Left-sided renal agenesis was found in one patient. The patient also had multiple cortical cysts of the right kidney. LIMITATIONS: Genetic testing could not be performed in the present series. CONCLUSIONS: Our case series showed a few unusual or extremely rare manifestations such as undescended testes, dermal sinus, kyphoscoliosis, aniridia, unilateral kidney agenesis, and renal cortical cysts among others.

Mucocutaneous Manifestations in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-sectional Study from Eastern India.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous manifestations are fairly common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and they can help in early diagnosis, prompt treatment, and hence reduced morbidity from the disease. AIMS: The objective of the present study was to find out the different patterns of dermatoses in a group of patients with RA from Eastern India. METHODOLOGY: Consecutive patients fulfilling the American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for the classification of RA and who had different dermatoses were included in this cross-sectional study done over a period of 8 years in a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India. Thorough clinical examination and appropriate laboratory investigations were performed as needed. Data were recorded in a predesigned schedule, and appropriate statistical analysis was done. RESULTS: We studied 111 evaluable patients with an age range of 19-71 years and a female to male ratio of 7:1. The mean disease duration of RA was 6.5 years. Cutaneous infections as a group was the most common mucocutaneous manifestation (34.2%) followed by xerosis including ichthyotic skin changes (27%), pigmented purpuric dermatoses (14.4%), leg ulcer (9.9%), periungual telangiectasia (9.9%), rheumatoid nodules (RNs) (8.1%), purpura and ecchymoses (7.2%), small vessel vasculitis in (7.2%), corn and callosities (6.3%), palmar erythema (4.5%), and neutrophilic dermatosis (4.5%). Raynaud's phenomenon was found in 3.6% patients and panniculitis in (3.6%) patients. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibody were positive in 74.8% and 88.3% patients, respectively. No statistically significant difference of incidence of leg ulcer, small vessel vasculitis, RN, or Raynaud's phenomenon could be noted between RF positive and negative groups. LIMITATIONS: Being an institution-based study, the study findings may not reflect the true situation in the community which remained a limitation of this study. CONCLUSION: While some of the features of this study were analogous to Western data, other features showed discordance which may be due to ethnic variations among the patients with RA.