Elephantiasis Nostras Verrucosa: A Treated Case With Dietary Intervention and Acitretin.

Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa (ENV) is a rare and extreme complication of chronic non-filarial lymphedema. It can lead to severe disfiguration of body parts, especially the lower extremities, and is characterized by non-pitting edema and papulonodules with a verrucose or cobblestone-like appearance. Obesity is a risk factor of ENV. Various treatments have been reported for ENV. A 52-year-old woman presented to our outpatient dermatology clinic with non-pitting edema, cobblestone-like papulonodules, and erythematous plaques on both legs for 2 years. Her medical history included morbid obesity with a body mass index of 44.8 kg/m2, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus. Biopsy specimens obtained from skin lesions showed multiple dilated lymph nodes throughout the papillary and reticular dermis. Doppler ultrasonography and lymphoscintigraphy revealed lymph stasis and lymphedema, respectively. Based on clinical, histopathological, and imaging findings, the final diagnosis was ENV. She was initially treated with conservative approaches such as compression stockings and dietary intervention for a month. She went on a low-calorie diet (1350 kcal/day) consisting protein 50.7 g/day, fat 32.5 g/day, and carbohydrate 202.7 g/day, for a month. Owing to the hyperkeratotic lesions, she was given oral acitretin 0.3 mg/kg/day. The dosage was increased to 0.6 mg/kg/day after one month. The lesions were slightly flattened after 2 months of therapy. Acitretin was ceased. Early identification is crucial for preventing morbidity in patients with ENV. Management of ENV is challenging for physicians because of the lack of definitive treatment and poor prognosis. In the management of ENV, it is crucial to treat underlying causes, such as obesity. Acitretin induces loosening and thinning of the hyperkeratotic stratum corneum. Thus, it can result in improvement of cutaneous ENV lesions.

A Rare Case on Capecitabine Induced Acquired Palmoplantar Keratoderma.

Acquired palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK) is a non-hereditary hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles that is caused by various factors, including chemotherapeutic agents. The purpose of this case report is to present a rare case of acquired PPK caused by the chemotherapeutic agent capecitabine. A 54-year-old female complained of painful erythematous plaques on her palms and soles with history of consuming capecitabine. Physical examination revealed scaly erythematous plaques on the palmoplantar surface and knuckle pads on both hands. Histopathological features showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, vasodilatation, and perivascular lymphocytic infiltration. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with acquired PPK due to capecitabine. The dose of capecitabine was reduced and the patient was administered topical corticosteroid and emollient. Improvement of skin lesions was strongly observed after discontinuation of capecitabine. The underlying cause of PPK should be identified to determine the appropriate treatment. Dose reduction or drug discontinuation is the mainstay therapy for patients with acquired PPK caused by chemotherapeutic agents.

Characteristics of Xerosis, Pruritus, and Pallor in Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung.

Purpose: This study aims to delineate the demographic and clinical characteristics of xerosis, pruritus, and pallor among patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study involved the analysis of 139 selected medical records of patients with stage 5 CKD who underwent hemodialysis between July and August 2022. A comprehensive examination was conducted by a dermatovenereologist, and the findings were duly recorded in the patients' medical records. The documentation encompassed gender, age, employment status, as well as the clinical characteristics of xerosis, pruritus, and pallor. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Results: Out of the 139 patients, 70 (50.4%) were male, while 69 (49.6%) were female. The mean (SD) age was 47.6 (11.8) years. The majority of the patients were unemployed (n=96, 69.1%). The median (IQR) duration of hemodialysis was 48 (96.0-24.0) months. The predominant findings were xerosis (n=84, 60.4%) and pallor (n=83, 59.7%), followed by pruritus (n=56, 40.3%). Instances of xerosis were more frequently observed in males, whereas pallor was more prevalent in females. Xerosis and pruritus exhibited higher prevalence in the ≥65 years age group, whereas pallor was more common in the 18-44 years age group. In contrast to xerosis, pruritus and pallor were more frequently noted in the unemployed group. Xerosis was predominantly mild with overall dry skin (ODS) score of one, and it was mainly observed on the patients' legs. Among those experiencing pruritus, over half displayed a moderate severity with visual analogue scale (VAS) scores ranging from ≥3 to <7. Patients with pallor mostly exhibited hemoglobin levels below 10 g/dL. Conclusion: Xerosis, pruritus, and pallor were prevalent among patients with stage 5 CKD undergoing hemodialysis. These disorders presented with distinct demographic and clinical characteristics. Timely diagnosis and intervention have the potential to enhance the quality of life for these patients.

A Retrospective Study on the Clinical, Laboratory, and Nutritional Status of Pediatric Epidermolysis Bullosa in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in West Java, Indonesia.

Background: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a genodermatosis disease with bullae and erosions of the skin and mucous membrane that can last for a lifetime and decrease quality of life. Oral and gastrointestinal disorders inhibit the patients' ability to achieve optimal nutrition, making the patients prone to infection, leading to prolonged wound healing, and delayed growth and developmental process. However, there has been no research on the clinical, laboratory, and nutritional status of pediatric EB patients in Indonesia. Purpose: This study aims to describe the clinical, laboratory, and nutritional characteristics of pediatric EB patients treated in Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung, Indonesia. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study of pediatric EB patient records in Dermatology and Venereology Outpatient of Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung, Indonesia, from April 2018-March 2020. Results: Study results showed 12 pediatric EB patients consisting of 7 dystrophic EB (DEB) (4 recessive dystrophic EB [RDEB] patients and 3 dominant dystrophic EB [DDEB]), 3 junctional EB (JEB), and 2 EB simplex (EBS). The most extensive EB wounds was found affecting 10-20% of the body surface area with a <10% infected wound area. Pain was found in all patients. The most frequent abnormalities in laboratory examination were anemia and low zinc levels. Severe malnutrition was found in almost half of the patients. Conclusion: RDEB is the most commonly found type of pediatric EB. Wounds on the skin, tooth decay, hand deformity, pain when changing dressings, low zinc levels, and low hemoglobin levels are the clinical features and laboratory findings that contribute to the development of moderate and severe malnutrition in RDEB patients.

Coexistent Lichen Amyloidosis and Acquired Reactive Perforating Collagenosis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Post-Thyroidectomy Hypothyroidism Due to Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Rare Case.

An abundance of endocrine receptors is expressed on the skin and becomes the target of many hormones. This was associated with various skin diseases that might occur in some endocrine diseases eg, lichen amyloidosis (LA) and acquired reactive perforating collagenosis (ARPC). Here, we report a coexistent LA and ARPC in a 55-year-old woman, characterized with multiple pruritic hyperkeratotic papules and plaques on both arms accompanied by pruritic hyperkeratotic papules and nodules on both legs. She had a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and post-thyroidectomy hypothyroidism due to papillary thyroid carcinoma. Histopathological examination revealed amyloid deposition in the papillary dermis corresponding with LA and cup-shaped epidermal depression filled with collagen corresponding with ARPC. The hyperkeratotic papules and nodules flattened in one month after application of 0.05% clobetasol propionate ointment with occlusion on both arms and 0.05% retinoic acid gel on both legs. Hyperkeratotic papules, nodules, and plaques in a patient with a history of endocrine diseases, such as type 2 DM and thyroid disorders should undergo histopathological examination to confirm the diagnosis of skin diseases eg, LA or ARPC.

Intermammary Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Case Report.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease clinically characterized by recurrent, deep-seated, painful, subcutaneous nodules, sinus tracts, and hypertrophic scarring. This disease affects hair follicles in the apocrine gland-bearing areas such as the axillae, buttocks, as well as the genital and perineal areas. In women, the predilection sites of HS include the anterior part of the body, most commonly on the breasts, inframammary area, and groin. Intermammary location possibly represents a rare phenotype presentation. A case of intermammary HS in a 24-year-old woman was reported. The patient is overweight and is a smoker. Frequent friction and excessive sweating between big breasts were admitted. Chronic painful nodules accompanied by sinuses and scars between the breasts were found. Histopathological examination from a skin lesion on the intermammary area showed follicular occlusion, follicular hyperkeratosis, and destroyed hair follicles. There were also apocrine glands and hair follicles surrounded by massive neutrophils, lymphocytes, and histiocytes, suggestive of HS. The patient was given rifampicin and clindamycin. Clinical improvements were observed on the third week of observation. Typical lesion distribution is one of the criteria for establishing a definite diagnosis of HS. If the lesion is on an atypical site, it must be accompanied by at least one on the typical site. However, the predilection sites of HS often varied. The intermammary area is an intertriginous area, and mechanical friction, follicular occlusion, and rupture of the dilated follicles may contribute to the development of HS in the area. The existence of a typical lesion in an atypical distribution, without any lesion present in typical predilection sites, cannot rule out diagnostic consideration of HS. Therefore, clinicians should be aware and consider the diagnosis of HS even when the required criteria of HS are not fulfilled.

Generalized Lesions of Kyrle's Disease: A Rare Case.

Kyrle's disease (KD) is a rare type of acquired perforating dermatosis (APD) associated with various systemic diseases, particularly chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus (DM). It most commonly occurs at the lower extremities. Generalized lesions of KD are rare. We report a case of generalized KD in a 29-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease and DM. Physical examination revealed multiple hyperkeratotic and hyperpigmented papules, plaques, and nodules with central umbilication and keratotic plugs on almost all parts of the body. Histopathological examination showed keratinized epithelial layer with acanthosis and hyperkeratosis, invagination with the formation of keratin plugs, and basophilic cell debris accompanied by parakeratosis and abnormal keratinization of epithelial cells. These histopathological findings fulfilled the Constantine and Carter criteria for KD. This condition is characterized clinically by umbilicated, round, erythematous or hyperpigmented papules and nodules with central crusts or keratotic plug, predominantly involving the extensor surfaces of the extremities and the trunk. Although uncommon, it may also involve the face or the scalp. Nevertheless, generalized lesions involving faces are rarely found in KD.

An Unusual and Rare Case of Generalized Multiple Epidermoid Cysts with a Giant Epidermoid Cyst.

Epidermoid cyst (EC) is a cyst containing keratin and its breakdown products, that is surrounded by an epidermoid wall. EC can occur in both men and women, especially in young- and middle-aged adults. The clinical features of EC include asymptomatic, well-demarcated, and skin-colored to yellowish subcutaneous or dermal nodules with a punctum on the middle of the lesion which can occur anywhere on the body. This type of cyst is usually solitary with diameter up to 5 cm, or rarely, there are multiple with diameters of more than 5 cm, which is classified as a giant EC. Here, we report a case of generalized multiple ECs with a giant EC on the left gluteal region of a 19-year-old male with complaints of asymptomatic skin-colored nodules with central punctum on the right temple, chest, back, and gluteal regions for five years. Correlation between the clinical and histopathological findings in the form of cysts containing keratin and lined by wall composed of stratified squamous epithelia established the diagnosis of EC. The patient underwent surgical procedures for the skin-colored nodules on the chest, back, and gluteal regions. He also received triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injection for the skin-colored nodule on the right temple. After four months of follow-up, there was no recurrence, and all the skin-colored nodules were completely removed. EC should always be considered when diagnosing a skin-colored nodule even if the manifestations are generalized multiple and giant nodules, as in our case, demonstrating a rare and unusual case of EC, to the best of our knowledge.