Nailfold Capillaroscopic Changes as a Marker of Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder causing microvascular abnormality leading to Raynaud's phenomenon, skin tightening, and nailfold capillary changes. The patient may have systemic involvement, among them interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension are mainly associated with disease-related mortality. Aims: To find out an association between nailfold capillaroscopic changes with ILD severity. Materials and Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was performed among the patients of SSc above 18 years. Detailed history was taken. Clinical examinations, nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) with a dermatoscope and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan of thorax were done. Data were analyzed in MedCalc statistical software version 20. Results: Out of total 43 patients, 74.4% (n = 32) were female. Mean age was 35.05 ± 7.24 years and mean duration 4.28 ± 2.81 years. Diffuse SSc was found in 88.37% (n = 38). On NFC, early, active, and late patterns were found in 30.2% (n = 13), 25.6% (n = 11), and 44.2% (n = 19) cases, respectively. On HRCT, early, active, and late ILD were present in 18.6% (n = 8), 37.2% (n = 16), and 30.2% (n = 13) cases, respectively. ILD changes were absent in 14% (n = 6) though NFC changes were present in them. Respiratory symptoms were absent in 20.93% (n = 9) patients though all had features of early NFC and among them 9.3% (n = 4) showed early ILD changes on HRCT. Significant associations were found between NFC changes and ILD severity (P = 0.0003), NFC changes and respiratory symptoms (P < 0.0001) and between ILD changes and respiratory symptoms (P < 0.0001). Discussion: NFC, an inexpensive procedure, can be performed in all patients of SSc to detect development of early ILD even before appearance of respiratory symptoms to prevent further progression.

Disseminated violaceous plaques in a HIV-1-positive patient from eastern India: A manifestation of Kaposi's sarcoma.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative disorder primarily of viral etiology, though multiple cofactors are also responsible. Human herpes virus-8, a gamma herpes virus, is considered to be the causative agent. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated KS has different clinical pictures than those seen in other types of KS. As it progresses rapidly, early institution of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) after proper diagnosis is expected. Though HAART has reduced the prevalence of KS in HIV disease, HAART has not eliminated the disease. Here, we report a case who is HIV 1 and hepatitis B surface antigen positive with numerous violaceous plaques over the face, upper extremities, and trunk along with oral mucosal involvement. He had received ten sessions of electron beam radiotherapy on the face, and the facial lesions have healed with residual hyperpigmentation.

Moxifloxacin-induced oral erythema multiforme: An unusual adverse effect hitherto unreported.

Moxifloxacin is a fluoroquinolone with excellent activity in community-acquired respiratory tract infections. Common adverse effects are gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, dizziness, etc., Some serious adverse effects include tendon rupture, rhabdomyolysis, peripheral neuropathy, and interstitial nephritis. Cutaneous adverse effects include allergic reactions, angioedema, Steven-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrosis. Erythema multiforme (EM), an acute self-limiting disease, most commonly occurs due to infection and rarely due to drugs or systemic disease. EM is classified into EM major and minor, both having skin lesions. A third category of EM has also been described with only oral involvement and without any skin lesions. Oral EM itself is an uncommon entity which has been reported due to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Here, we are reporting a case of moxifloxacin-induced oral EM. After extensive search in PubMed-Medline database, we could not find any such co-occurrence of moxifloxacin-induced oral EM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case.

Correlation of Venous Clinical Severity Score and Venous Disability Score with Dermatology Life Quality Index in Chronic Venous Insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is an underestimated public health problem involving the lower limbs. It exerts a significant impact on patient's quality of life (QoL). The severity of the disease was measured by venous clinical severity score (VCSS) and venous disability score (VDS). AIMS: The aim of the study was to evaluate VCSS, VDS, and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) among the patients of CVI and to evaluate the correlation among DLQI with VCSS, VDS, and leg ulcer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this institution-based cross-sectional study, clinically and sonographically confirmed cases of CVI were included. Clinical severity of the disease and disability were assessed by using VCSS and VDS, respectively. QoL was assessed by a validated DLQI questionnaire. Correlation between DLQI with VCSS and VDS was analyzed. The association between DLQI with different characteristics of the ulcer was also evaluated. RESULTS: Mean VCSS, VDS, and DLQI in the study population were 11 ± 4.96, 1.47 ± 0.67, and 6.94 ± 3.87, respectively. Both VCSS and VDS had a strong positive correlation with DLQI. The number of active ulcers, size of the ulcer, and duration of the ulcer had a strong positive correlation, whereas the age of onset of the disease had a negative correlation and duration of the disease had poor correlation with DLQI. Pain (P = 0.03) and edema (P = 0.04) had significant association with VDS. CONCLUSION: VCSS and VDS are important tools for measuring severity and disability in CVI, respectively. CVI had a strong impact on patients QoL more than it was thought hitherto.