Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms and graft-versus-host disease developing sequentially in a patient.

We describe a case of drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) developing sequentially in a patient displaying reactivation of CMV. We discuss the possibility that similar pathogenic mechanisms may be involved in the development of DRESS and GvHD.

Complete response of deep neutrophilic dermatosis associated with myelodysplastic syndrome to 5-azacytidine.

Cutaneous manifestations of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) may predict disease progression and a poorer prognosis. We describe a patient in whom a deep neutrophilic dermatosis preceded evolution of disease from refractory anaemia to RAEB (refractory anaemia with excess blasts) and resolved completely on treating the disease with 5-azacytidine. The dermatological response was accompanied by complete bone marrow remission and trilineage haematological improvement. We suggest that 5-azacytidine should be considered in the treatment of immune mediated cutaneous manifestations of MDS.

Sclerodermatous graft-versus-host disease: clinical spectrum and therapeutic challenges.

Sclerodermatous graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a rare complication of bone marrow transplantation. While GVHD is often associated with the beneficial graft vs. tumour effect, it also contributes towards significant morbidity and mortality. No reliably effective treatment has yet been established. We present 10 patients with haematological malignancies who underwent an allogeneic stem cell transplant and developed sclerodermatous GVHD. Donor lymphocyte infusion administered for relapse or reducing donor T-cell chimerism was a known trigger for sclerodermatous GVHD in four of the patients. Treatment with immunosuppressants, psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) and extracorporeal photopheresis has been largely unsuccessful in their management. Intensive immunosuppression including the use of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody may have contributed to relapse of leukaemia in one patient 10 years after her transplant. Sclerodermatous GVHD may occur without a preceding lichenoid stage. Clinical heterogeneity is common, although sclerodermatous GVHD has a predilection for the limbs. Treatment options are largely unsatisfactory if conventional immunosuppression fails. PUVA may give some symptomatic benefit and extracorporeal photopheresis seems to be less efficacious than previously published work suggests.

Novel treatment of Sézary-like syndrome due to adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma with daclizumab (humanized anti-interleukin-2 receptor alpha antibody).

We describe a patient with erythrodermic adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma resistant to multiple systemic therapies who, on the commencement of daclizumab, a humanized anti-interleukin-2 receptor antibody, developed a rapid and sustained complete response with resolution of previously debilitating erythroderma, suggesting significant activity of this agent in this disease process.

Koebnerizing sclerodermatous graft-versus-host disease caused by donor lymphocyte infusion and interferon-alpha.

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a common sequel to allogeneic bone marrow transplants, which may be accompanied by desirable graft-versus-tumour effects. Sclerodermatous GvHD is a rare subtype that is very difficult to treat. We report the first case of sclerodermatous GvHD as part of the Koebner phenomenon. We propose that donor lymphocyte infusion and interferon-alpha were involved in the pathogenesis of this case.

Cutaneous manifestations of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) is a recombinant human growth factor widely used in haematology. It is known to cause cutaneous vasculitis and neutrophilic dermatoses. We present three cases of Sweet's syndrome (SS) associated with GCSF use. Raised GCSF levels have been demonstrated in patients with SS. GCSF is the best understood mechanism by which neutrophil accumulation occurs and shows a dose-dependent effect in provoking SS.

Spectrum of clinical presentation, treatment and prognosis in a series of eight patients with leukaemia cutis.

All types of leukaemia can disseminate to the skin, producing cutaneous deposits known as leukaemia cutis (LC). We undertook a retrospective study to review the clinical presentations, treatment and outcome of eight patients with LC managed in our department over a period of 12 years. The clinical phenotype varied, with erythematous papules and nodules occurring with greatest frequency. Infiltrated haemorrhagic plaques and perifollicular acneiform papules were also seen. Although patients were treated aggressively for their underlying leukaemia, and received therapy directed towards LC, they tended to be refractory to treatment and the diagnosis was generally associated with a poor prognosis. The exception was a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, who survived 3 years after developing LC.

Hospital-wide prospective mandatory surveillance of invasive aspergillosis in a French teaching hospital (2000-2002).

A multidisciplinary working group devoted to epidemiological surveillance of invasive aspergillosis (IA) was created in January 2000 in Grenoble University Hospital. This article presents the results of a three-year IA surveillance. The multidisciplinary working group surveyed all hospitalized patients, and the mycology laboratory detected most suspected IA cases. Cases were reviewed monthly by the Aspergillosis Committee, and were classified according to international consensus criteria. Possible nosocomial acquisition was determined. Among the 490 alerts, 74 IA cases were observed: six proven cases (8%), 36 (49%) probable cases and 32 (43%) possible cases. The incidence was 4.4 (95% CI 3.4-5.4) IA/100 000 patient-days. Among the proven and probable IA cases, we observed 10 nosocomial cases and six cases of undetermined origin. No cases were noted in the protected rooms in the haematology unit. Only one cluster of cases (three nosocomial cases) was detected in the haematology unit. Forty-three percent of cases (N=32) were hospitalized in the haematology unit, and all other cases were hospitalized elsewhere. This three-year survey found a high rate of non-nosocomial IA cases and a high frequency of IA cases hospitalized in units other than haematology. Thus, this study shows the importance of IA surveillance in haematology units and all high-risk units.

Trends in the presentation of cutaneous malignant melanoma over three decades at King's College Hospital, London.

The aim of this study was to examine trends in the presentation of cutaneous malignant melanoma at King's College Hospital (KCH) over the last three decades (1970-2000). KCH was one of seven centres that participated in the 1987 Cancer Research Campaign (CRC) publicity campaign aimed at promoting earlier self-recognition of melanoma. Data included patient age at presentation, sex, tumour site, Breslow thickness and histological subtype. The late 1980s saw a threefold increase in the annual number of melanomas and an eightfold increase in thin melanomas compared to the 1970s. The increase occurred in both sexes and was particularly marked after the CRC campaign but numbers had already begun to increase prior to this. The increase has predominantly been thin (Breslow < 1.5 mm) tumours of the superficial spreading variety with a resultant fall in mean Breslow thickness. There has been a decline in the annual number of melanomas since the peak in 1992 which is not explained by increased proportion of in situ tumours. The CRC campaign may have contributed to the documented increase in thin tumours but this trend had begun prior to 1987 suggesting factors other than public awareness and earlier presentation are important. It is encouraging that the number of melanomas has declined over the last 5 years at KCH but it is yet to be seen whether this reflects a real decrease in the incidence of melanoma.

[Single-use laryngoscope blade assessment]. / Evaluation des lames de laryngoscopes à usage unique.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility of switching disposable laryngoscope blades and to compare the disposable blades available on the market to reusable blades within the context of a new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. STUDY DESIGN: Comparative prospective study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study conducted on patients intubated for surgical procedures in all operating theatres of a university hospital. The anaesthetic practitioner filled in an assessment form giving a score on nine criteria for each blade used. Data were recorded on Epi Info software. Satisfaction scores of each criterion were compared for both disposable blades and reusable blades. RESULTS: Six brands of blades were tested with 225 blades. Disposable blades were evaluated as inferior to the reusable blades in 62% of cases. Two blades were reported as more satisfactory: the 670166 Rusch-Pilling and Vital View blades. CONCLUSION: The disposable blades were not easily accepted by the anaesthetists particularly for difficult intubations, which is why reusable blades should not be totally removed from practice. Single-use blades proposed by different manufacturers are not identical. We chose 670166 Rusch-Pilling blades, the best adapted to our institution. The switch to disposable blades would require that blade manufacturers improve the quality of the blades.

[Resources and organization of 124 health-care institutions in South-East France for standard precautions and isolation]. / Ressources et organisation de 124 etablissements de l'interrégion Sud-Est pour la mise en oeuvre des précautions standard et d'isolement septique.

OBJECTIVES: The authors had aimed to evaluate resources and organization necessary for applying guidelines issued 5 years earlier in various institutions: standard precautions, septic isolation, prevention against spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Volunteer institutions were surveyed for hygiene product consumption, architectural requirements, inventory of protocols, description septic patients'management, and available personnel. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-four institutions (40,784 beds) were included in the study. Eleven percent had no hygiene physician or nurse; the rates of personnel specialized in hygiene practice were 0.4 physicians per 800 beds and 0.8 registered nurses per 400 beds. Eighty-eight percent of the studied institutions had a protocol for standard precautionary measures, 77% had a septic isolation protocol. A multidrug-resistant bacteria identification sheet was attached to examination reports in 87% of cases. Multidrug-resistant bacteria screening was practiced by 18.1% of the institutions. Hygiene product consumption for 1000 days of hospitalization was 7861 disposable gloves, 2.3 1 of hydroalcoholic solution, and 63 disposable gowns. 28.9% of the wards lacked water hand washing points, 32.2% had no sinks, and 48.5% had no local equipment maintenance. In addition, 40.7% of the beds were in single rooms, 4.8% of the institutions had no single rooms. Differences were observed depending on specialties and institutions. CONCLUSION: Analysis of consumption shows insufficient application of standard precautions, notably for hydroalcoholic solutions. The number of single rooms is acceptable, architectural requirements were not adequate in too many wards. These results can explain some problems encountered in applying the guidelines.