Analysis of the Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Psoriasis: The Relevance of Psychiatric Assessment in Dermatology.

BACKGROUND: The boundary between Dermatology and Psychiatry has increasing recognition. Psoriasis is a common psychophysiological skin disease with a major impact on patient's quality of life and a paradigmatic example of a pathology in that boundary. Studies are needed to exactly point out the prevalence of specific psychopathology and mental disorders associated with psoriasis. This work intends to analyse the prevalence of psychopathology and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the "5S" model proposed by Haynes. From all the papers retrieved by this search, a total of 34 papers met the inclusion criteria and were then deeply analysed. RESULTS: The most prevalent mental disorders in these patients are sleep disorders (average prevalence: 62.0%), sexual dysfunction (45.6%), personality (35.0%), anxiety (30.4%), adjustment (29.0%), depressive (27.6%) and substance-related and addictive disorders (24.8%). Other mental disorders have been less described, namely somatic symptoms and related disorders, schizophrenia and other psychoses, bipolar disorder and eating disorders. CONCLUSIONS: This updated research shows that the prevalence of psychiatric conditions in psoriasis may range from 24% to 90%. The study of the mind-skin connection in psoriasis may improve the knowledge about psoriasis and its psychiatric comorbidities. The link between psoriasis and associated mental disorders is frequently forgotten or not considered in the clinical practice. Psychiatric disorders in patients with psoriasis may be underdiagnosed. These patients would really benefit from psychiatric assessment, with therapeutic relevance.

Infundibulomatosis: a case report with immunohistochemical study and literature review.

Tumor of the follicular infundibulum was first described in 1961 by Mehregan and Butler in a patient presenting with multiple papules. It is more frequent, however, as an isolated lesion affecting mainly the face, neck, and upper trunk. Clinical presentation is variable, requiring histology for the diagnosis, which reveals typically a plate-like proliferation of keratinocytes in continuity with the epidermis and hair follicles; some morphological features are reminiscent of the outer root sheath of the hair follicle. A well defined network of elastic fibers surrounding the tumor is usually present using the appropriate staining and this finding is specific because it is not found in other benign follicular tumors. Multiple infundibulomas are usually sporadic and there is no apparent association with internal malignancy. The authors report the case of a 30-year-old female patient with a 5-year history of multiple small discrete hypopigmented macules and papules, scattered over the submental and submaxillary regions and anterior neck. Histopathological findings were consistent with the diagnosis of tumor of the follicular infundibulum. Immunohistochemical study was performed to further characterize the proliferation.

Cutaneous pseudallescheria boydii infection in a renal transplant patient: A case report.

We describe the case of a 59-year-old male renal transplant recipient who presented with a 1 month history of nodular, erythematous, and crusted lesions on the anterior surface of the left leg. There was no history of trauma. The patient had no systemic signs or symptoms. A skin biopsy revealed evidence of a deep fungal infection, with septate and branching hyphae amongst the dermal inflammatory infiltrate, but the culture was negative. Initial treatment with itraconazole proved ineffective and new lesions appeared. New tissue samples were obtained for culture, allowing the isolation of Pseudallescheria boydii. The patient underwent surgical excision of the lesions combined with voriconazole 400 mg/day for 2 months. After this period no new lesions appeared and the patient has remained without recurrence after 2 years of follow-up. Pseudallescheria boydii is an opportunistic fungus that can cause systemic infection mainly in immunocompromised patients that manifests as pulmonary, osteoarticular, ocular, vascular, cutaneous or central nervous system disease. Resistance to therapy can occur with infection progression and high mortality. Treatment with the combination of an antifungal agent, mainly voriconazole, and surgery, when feasible, probably provide the best results in cutaneous infections.

Neutrophilic dermatosis of the dorsal hands associated with hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Neutrophilic dermatosis of the dorsal hands (NDDH) is a rare and recently described disorder regarded as a subset of neutrophilic dermatosis, similar to superficial pyoderma gangrenosum and pustular vasculitis. Many currently consider it to be a localized variant of Sweet Syndrome. We describe the case of a 63-year-old male patient with NDDH associated with hypopharyngeal carcinoma. A biopsy demonstrated changes consistent with those seen in Sweet Syndrome, with leukocytoclasia but no signs of true vasculitis. Treatment with oral prednisolone resulted in complete resolution of the lesions in 1 month, with no recurrences. The clinical presentation, the histological features, and the excellent response to oral corticosteroid therapy allowed us to classify this case as NDDH. We emphasize the rare association of this entity with a solid tumor.

UVA1 for diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis in a Fitzpatrick skin type VI patient: outcomes in the modified Rodnan skin score.

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous sclerosis can lead to important mobility impairment. Ultraviolet (UV) A1 phototherapy may improve skin sclerosis, although most of the studies have been with Caucasian patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 44-year-old patient, Fitzpatrick skin type VI, was being followed up with the diagnosis of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. He had significant mobility impairment, especially of the right hand and arm. In 2015 he started UVA1 phototherapy daily, Monday until Friday (Waldmann® 7001 UVA cabin equipped with 40 Philips TL/10R lamps - spectral irradiation between 340 and 400 nm). The initial dose was 10 J/cm2, rapidly increased up to a steady dose of 35 J/cm2. RESULTS: After 40 sessions of UVA1, active fingers flexion and abduction of the right arm significantly improved and the modified Rodnan skin score changed from 26 to 11. CONCLUSION: The modified Rodnan skin score is a practical and useful tool during the follow-up of patients with systemic sclerosis. UVA1 phototherapy improves cutaneous sclerosis, and the related mobility impairment, and a dose of 35 J/cm2 is effective, even in higher phototypes, having a good safety profile.

Transient zinc deficiency in a breast fed, premature infant.

A 5-month-old-male was observed for an acrodermatitis enteropathica-like skin eruption evolving since the second month. He was born prematurely at 27 weeks and his neonatal course was complicated by respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis and subependimary haemorrhage. He was fed with breast milk from the second day of life, fortified initially by a protein mineral supplement containing zinc. Serum zinc concentration was low and the mother's serum and milk had normal zinc values. Oral zinc supplementation was introduced with total clearing after three weeks. Treatment lasted 22 months and no relapse was observed after discontinuation. Premature infants have a negative zinc balance mainly secondary to inadequate stores and high requirements. The relevance of these factors is illustrated by the present case where symptomatic zinc deficiency developed despite maternal milk with normal zinc content and a milk fortifier containing zinc.

Psoriasis and Associated Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review on Etiopathogenesis and Clinical Correlation.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease with a high impact on self-esteem and patients' health-related quality of life. In the last decades some studies have pointed out mental disorders associated with psoriasis and the etiopathogenic mechanisms behind that co-existence. This work compiles psychopathology associated with psoriasis and further analyzes the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis and mental disorders. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and using the "5S" levels of organization of evidence from healthcare research, as previously described. RESULTS: Psoriasis is linked with many mental disorders, both in the psychotic and neurotic sprectrum. Chronic stress diminishes hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and upregulates sympathetic-adrenal-medullary responses, stimulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Then, it maintains and exacerbates psoriasis and some of its mental disorders. High levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines connect psoriasis, psychiatric conditions, and other comorbidities of psoriasis (such as atherosclerosis) within a vicious cycle. Furthermore, the etiopathogenesis of the link between each psychiatric comorbidity and psoriasis has its own subtleties, including the cooccurrence of other comorbidities, the parts of the body affected by psoriasis, treatments, and biological and psychosocial factors. CONCLUSION: The study of psychopathology can amplify our understanding about the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis and associated mental disorders. Patients would benefit from a psychodermatologic approach. The adequate treatment should take into account the mental disorders associated with psoriasis as well as the circumstances under which they occur.

Median raphe cyst of the penis.

Cysts of the median raphe are uncommon. We describe a 43-year-old man with an asymptomatic nodule on the glans penis. Excision of the lesion was performed followed by histological and immunohistochemical studies. Histopathological examination revealed a solitary unilocular cystic cavity in the corium, lined by a pseudostratified columnar epithelium, among which mucinous cells where identified. Hints of decapitation secretion occurred at the apex of the luminal layer. An immunohistochemical study using a standard avidin-biotin peroxidase method disclosed CK7 and CK13 reactivity in the columnar cells. Epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and carcinoembryonic (CEA) antigen immunoreactivity occurred at the apical border of the luminal cells. No staining was obtained with anti-CK20, human milk fat globulin 1 (HMFG1) and anti- S100 protein. The study supports its histogenetic relationship with the urothelium.

Benign follicular tumors.

Benign follicular tumors comprise a large and heterogeneous group of neoplasms that share a common histogenesis and display morphological features resembling one or several portions of the normal hair follicle, or recapitulate part of its embryological development. Most cases present it as clinically nondescript single lesions and essentially of dermatological relevance. Occasionally, however, these lesions be multiple and represent a cutaneous marker of complex syndromes associated with an increased risk of visceral neoplasms. In this article, the authors present the microscopic structure of the normal hair follicle as a basis to understand the type and level of differentiation of the various follicular tumors. The main clinicopathological features and differential diagnosis of benign follicular tumors are then discussed, including dilated pore of Winer, pilar sheath acanthoma, trichoadenoma, trichilemmoma, infundibuloma, proliferating trichilemmal cyst/tumor, trichoblastoma and its variants, pilomatricoma, trichodiscoma/fibrofolliculoma, neurofollicular hamartoma and trichofolliculoma. In addition, the main syndromes presenting with multiple follicular tumors are also discussed, namely Cowden, Birt-Hogg-Dubé, Rombo and Bazex-Dupré-Christol syndromes, as well as multiple tumors of follicular infundibulum (infundibulomatosis) and multiple trichoepitheliomas. Although the diagnosis of follicular tumors relies on histological examination, we highlight the importance of their knowledge for the clinician, especially when in presence of patients with multiple lesions that may be the cutaneous marker of a cancer-prone syndrome. The dermatologist is therefore in a privileged position to recognize these lesions, which is extremely important to provide further propedeutic, appropriate referral and genetic counseling for these patients.

Multiple cutaneous reticulohistiocytomas in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

A 64-year-old woman with a long-standing peripheral symmetric polyarthritis with positive rheumatoid serology was evaluated for multiple asymptotic papulonodules of fingers, mentum, lower lip, ears, and eyelids. Histopathologic examination showed a dermal infiltrate composed of histiocytes, multinucleate giant cells with ground-glass cytoplasm, and lymphocytes, suggestive of reticulohistiocytoma. The possibilities of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis with positive rheumatoid serology or coexistence of multiple cutaneous reticulohistiocytomas and rheumatoid arthritis are discussed.

Case for diagnosis. Pemphigoid gestationis.

Pemphigoid gestationis is a rare, autoimmune blistering dermatosis of pregnancy. No increase in fetal or maternal mortality has been demonstrated, but a greater prevalence of premature and small-for-gestational age babies has been reported. Topical and systemic corticosteroids and antihistamines are the manstay of treatment. The authors report a case of a 27-year-old woman at 28-weeks gestation with sudden onset of pruriginous vesicles and blisters in the abdomen and limbs. Systemic corticosteroids were introduced and maintained throughout gestation to prevent flares and tapered after the birth of a healthy child.

[Cutaneous loxoscelism in Portugal: a rare cause of dermonecrosis]. / Loxoscelismo Cutâneo em Portugal: Causa Rara de Dermonecrose.

Cutaneous loxoscelism is an exceptional diagnosis in Portugal, regardless of the documented presence of Loxosceles rufescens.We report a 33-year old female patient presenting to our clinic after having visualized a bite from a spider in the inner aspect of the right thigh. Afterwards, she developed a warm, painful erythematous plaque, progressing to skin necrosis and torpid ulcer formation. Considering the failure of conservative measures, surgical debridement of the ulcer followed by repair using an O-Z plasty achieved good functional outcome. Definite diagnosis of cutaneous loxoscelism may be difficult since it relies on the visualization of the bite, capture of the spider for identification and typical clinical features. This case meets several criteria that allow the establishment of a causative link between spider bite and dermonecrosis. It is, to the best of our knowledge, the first diagnosis of loxoscelism reported in Portugal.

O loxoscelismo cutâneo é um diagnóstico excecional em Portugal, apesar da presença reconhecida da espécie Loxosceles rufescens. Apresentamos uma doente de 33 anos que desenvolveu placa eritematosa quente, dolorosa, com progressão para necrose cutânea e ulceração tórpida na face interna da coxa direita, em relação com mordedura visualizada de aranha. Em virtude da ausência de cicatrização adequada após tratamento conservador, recorreu-se ao desbridamento cirúrgico da úlcera, tendo-se realizado plastia em O-Z para a sua reconstrução, com bom resultado funcional. O diagnóstico de loxoscelismo cutâneo é difícil e obriga idealmente à observação da mordedura, verificação de sinais clínicos compatíveis e captura da aranha para identificação por taxonomista. Estecaso clínico reúne critérios que relacionam uma mordedura de aranha com a necrose cutânea resultante, sendo este, no nossoconhecimento, o primeiro caso relatado em Portugal.

Case for diagnosis.

Human scabies is an intensely pruritic skin infestation caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Crusted scabies (previously known as Norwegian scabies) is a rare form, very contagious and transmitted by direct contact with the skin. Despite being readily treatable, a delayed diagnosis often leads to widespread infestation of contacts, and therefore difficult to restrain. This case concerns a patient where dermoscopy (with scabetic burrows and a visible hand-glider structure), together with direct microscopic examination, allowed a prompt diagnosis, thereby reinforcing the increasing importance of this technique in daily practice.

Unilateral punctate porokeratosis -- case report.

This case report involves a 20-year-old man with unilateral punctate porokeratosis. The patient presented an 8-year history of numerous asymptomatic keratotic papules and pits with linear distribution on his left pal-mar surface and fifth finger of the left hand. Histopathological examination of the keratotic plug revealed findings of distinct epidermal depressions containing cornoid lamellae. This report review draws attention to differential diagnoses of punctate porokeratosis.