Clinical and dermoscopic characteristics of congenital melanocytic naevi.

BACKGROUND: Prompted by the limited data, we conducted this study to gather more information on dermoscopic features of CN in children, in order to optimize clinical care and management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All children with congenital nevi (CN) attending our Pediatric Pigmented Skin Lesion Unit during a 2-year period were included in the study. Clinical data were collected, and all children underwent clinical and dermoscopic examination. Dermoscopic patterns and specific features were recorded. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty CN were examined in a population of 276 children, aged from 6 months to 14 years. The majority (85.14%) had only one congenital naevus, and 43.12% had a family history of congenital nevi. Children with multiple congenital nevi were more likely to have a positive family history of a CN (P = 0.012). Only, in 23 children, neurological/developmental abnormalities were reported. Small CN were the commonest in our cohort (167) followed by the medium-sized (160), whereas large CN (>20 cm) were only three. Thirty-eight CN were located on the volar skin. The globular was the commonest dermoscopic pattern, followed by the reticular, whereas the parallel furrow pattern was the commonest pattern on palms and soles. CN on the trunk were more likely to be globular on the limbs, and reticular and homogeneous on the head and neck (P < 0.001). The commonest dermoscopic findings were haloed and target globules, blotches and perifollicular hypopigmentation, whereas globules and dots around cristae on volar skin. CN located on the limbs were more likely to demonstrate an atypical network (P = 0.001) and a target network with globules (P = 0.020), whereas haloed and target globules (P < 0.001), blotches (P = 0.023) and dots (P = 0.004) were found with an increased frequency in CN on the trunk. CONCLUSIONS: Given that there is much controversy on the management and accurate classification of CN, our findings may provide useful information.

The Greek experience with efalizumab in psoriasis from a University Dermatologic Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Efalizumab (anti-CD11a antibody) targets T cell-mediated steps important in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis. As efalizumab is intended to be administered on a continuous long-term basis in psoriasis, it is important to share experience concerning issues commonly occurring during its use in real daily practice. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of efalizumab treatment in Greek patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, and to investigate whether there are specific characteristics that predict the clinical outcome of therapy. PATIENTS: Seventy-two patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, who had failed to respond to, or had a contraindication to, or were intolerant to other systemic therapies, received efalizumab (1 mg kg(-1) per week) for 12 weeks or more. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of efalizumab treatment, 65% of patients achieved 50% or more improvement from baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and 39% achieved at least 75% reduction in PASI score. The mean percentage PASI improvement from baseline was 62%. The most common side effects were a flu-like syndrome, a transient localized papular eruption, leucocytosis and lymphocytosis. There was no correlation between the occurrence of these side effects and the clinical response. Patients with a past history of unstable types of psoriasis were likely poor responders to efalizumab, and at an increased risk of developing generalized inflammatory flare. CONCLUSION: These results confirm previous reports suggesting that treatment with efalizumab is an efficacious and safe option for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. A detailed previous history of psoriasis is important in order to select possible candidates for efalizumab therapy.

Gingival lesions of HIV infection in 178 Greek patients.

One hundred seventy-eight HIV-infected Greek patients were examined and the gingival lesions were recorded. At the time of oral examination, 77 patients were HIV positive, 53 had ARC, and 48 had AIDS. The mean age of the patients was 36.6 years; 158 were men and 20 were women. Fifteen different gingival lesions were recorded. Necrotizing gingivitis (10.1%), gingivitis (5.0%), periodontitis (18.5%), candidiasis (5.8%), and Kaposi's sarcoma (5.0%) were the most common lesions observed. Oral lymphomas and other lesions were recorded in low numbers. Our findings show that dentists should be aware of gingival lesions of HIV disease because some of them are common and diagnostically important.

Effects of isotretinoin therapy on lipoprotein (a) serum levels.

BACKGROUND: Increases in plasma concentrations of lipids, triglycerides, and liver enzymes have been reported in patients on isotretinoin therapy. Lipoprotein (a). (Lp (a)), a cholesterol-rich plasma lipoprotein, influences the clotting system and is related to premature coronary heart disease and stroke. METHODS: Blood (7 mL) was obtained from 30 patients with cystic acne before and 30 days after the initiation of oral isotretinoin (0.5 mg/kg/day). RESULTS: An increase in liver enzymes and lipids, except high density lipoprotein, was found in our patients at the end of the study. The mean Lp (a) levels (initial value, 25.91 +/- 3.17 mg/dL) were statistically reduced (p < 0.0001) at the end of treatment (14.80 +/- 2.35 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that isotretinoin could be used as an Lp (a) lowering agent in the future.

Darier's disease complicated by Kaposi's varicelliform eruption due to herpes simplex virus.

Darier's disease is an autosomal dominant dermatosis. It may rarely be complicated by localized or widespread cutaneous viral infections. We describe a case of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption due to herpes simplex virus type 1 presenting in a patient with Darier's disease.

Classic Kaposi's sarcoma in two young heterosexual men.

Classic Kaposi's sarcoma is primarily a skin disease of the lower extremities affecting predominantly elderly men of Mediterranean origin. We report classic Kaposi's sarcoma first presenting in the third decade in two heterosexual, HIV-negative, males of Greek origin from Albania. Ten years after onset, the disease became aggressive with unusual clinical features that included exophytic tumors, extensive lesions on the hands as well as the legs, and prominent leg edema. One of the patients also presented lesions on the face, trunk and palate, and bubonic lymphadenopathy. In both cases, CD4 counts were normal and HLA-DR5 was positive. Treatment included radiation therapy, subcutaneous interferon (alpha-2b) and combined chemotherapy (ABV). At follow up 1 and 2 years later, both patients remain in partial remission with significant improvement in clinical disease, on maintenance interferon.

The epidemiologic profile of Kaposi's sarcoma in Greece prior to and during the AIDS era.

To determine the incidence rates and to describe the epidemiological patterns of non-AIDS Kaposi's sarcoma in the central southern area of Greece during the period 1974-1989, all 473 incidence cases reported to Pathology Departments were studied. The mean age (SD) was 67.6 (12.9) years among 297 males and 66.1 (15.9) years among 176 females. The mean age-standardized (Greek population 1981) incidence rate was 0.47 cases per 100,000 total population per year (males 0.62, females 0.32). The standardized incidence rates increased over time for males, with the incidence-rate ratios relative to the earliest period, 1974-1978, being 1.44 (95% CI, 1.02-2.04) for the 1979-1983 interval and 2.12 (95% CI, 1.55-2.90) for the 1984-1989 interval. However, the rates for females did not show a similar pattern. The age-adjusted male:female ratio was 1.6 in 1974-1983 and 2.6 in 1984-1989. Poisson-regression modelling suggested a shift in the age-specific incidence rate in men, towards younger ages during the last period, 1984-1989.

Classic Kaposi's sarcoma in Greece: a clinico-epidemiological profile.

BACKGROUND: Classic Kaposi's sarcoma (CKS) is not uncommon in Greece with a reported incidence of 0.20 per 100,000 per year. METHODS: Epidemiological, clinical and histological features of all CKS cases, diagnosed in 'A. Sygros' hospital, Athens, Greece during the years 1989-1994, have been recorded and studied prospectively. RESULTS: During the five-year period studied, 66 CKS patients have been diagnosed in our hospital. Incidence among dermatologic patients was 2.11 per 10,000 patients examined, representing 1.35% of total skin malignancies. Patients' age at diagnosis ranged from 53 to 94 years (mean 72 +/- 8.8). The male to female ratio was 2.47:1. A high proportion of the patients were born in Peloponnesos (42.42%) and were residing in Athens (51.51%) or in Peloponnesos (24.24%). Nodules and/or plaques were the most frequent type of lesion, most commonly located on the feet (43.93%) or the hands (28.78%). Accompanying edema was seen in 51.51% of the patients. There were 16 stage I patients (24.24%), 40 stage II (60.60%), 0 stage III and 10 stage IV (15.15%). Involvement of visceral organs was detected in seven patients (10.60%), while 10 had lymph node involvement (15.15%) and three, involvement of the underlying bones (4.54%). Second primary malignancy was diagnosed in 6 cases (9.09%), most often of the reticuloendothelial system (83.33%). CONCLUSIONS: CKS in Greece exhibits some special characteristics, including older age of onset; lower male to female ratio; endemic clustering; disseminated skin disease at diagnosis, often accompanied by lymphedema; not unusual visceral or lymph node involvement and association with second malignancies. We suggest that CKS in Greece possibly represents a distinct endemic subtype of CKS.

The role of immunosuppression and immune-activation in classic Kaposi's sarcoma.

Immunodeficiency and elevated levels of cytokines have been associated with the development of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesions in patients with AIDS and iatrogenic immunodeficiency. However, their role in classic KS (CKS) is unclear. We measured peripheral blood cell levels, including T-cell subsets, as well as neopterin and beta(2)-microglobulin in 91 HIV-negative Greek patients with histologically confirmed CKS and in 107 controls matched for age and sex. CKS cases had slightly lower leukocyte counts (p = 0.08) and lymphocyte counts (p = 0.02). Although the percentage of CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocytes were not significantly different from controls (p = 0.10 and p = 0.45, respectively), CD4 T-lymphocytes were lower in cases than controls (812 cells/microliter and 1,009 cells/microliter, respectively; p = 0.01); part of this difference resulted from the lower lymphocyte counts (p = 0.07 after adjusting for lymphocyte counts). However, neopterin and beta(2)-microglobulin were both considerably elevated [geometric mean (95% CI): 8.35 (7.27-9.73) nmol/L and 2,904 (2,479-3,401) microgram/L in cases and 5.86 (5.40-6. 35) nmol/L and 2,042 (1,880-2,218) microgram/L in controls, respectively]. We conclude that CKS patients are predominantly characterised by immune activation, although an element of minor immunosupression may also be present.