Response of pruritic scrotal epidermolytic acanthomas to pimecrolimus 1% cream.

Epidermolytic acanthomas (EA) are rare benign tumors of unclear etiology that present as flat, sometimes slightly keratotic, pale or whitish papules that are usually asymptomatic. Not uncommonly, their clinical appearance in the anogenital area might lead to misdiagnosis as other lesions that commonly develop at this site, such as condylomata acuminata. Though mainly asymptomatic, there are also reports of EA presenting with persistent genital pruritus. We describe the first reported case of pruritic scrotal EA successfully treated with topical pimecrolimus.

Resurgence of Lymphogranuloma Venereum: A Disease Dermatologists Need to Know About. / El resurgir del linfogranuloma venéreo, una enfermedad que el dermatólogo debería conocer.

The incidence of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) -a sexually transmitted infection (STI) produced by the L1, L2, and L3 serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis- is increasing. The 8 patients in this case series were diagnosed with LGV in the STI unit of our dermatology department. Our patients were younger than those in previously published case series, and on presentation they most often complained of tumorous masses (lymphadenopathy) in the groin. Dermatologists should be familiar with this disease. Samples must be taken correctly to ensure an accurate diagnosis and early treatment.

Comparison of Phototherapy in Pediatric and Adult Patients. / Experiencia en el uso de fototerapia en pacientes pediátricos y comparación de esta técnica frente a pacientes adultos.

INTRODUCTION: Phototherapy involves the use of UV radiation to treat different dermatologic diseases. Its efficacy and safety have been thoroughly established in adults and some publications indicate that it is also an effective and safe treatment in pediatric patients with refractory skin diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study that included all patients under 17 years of age and 122 randomly selected adults who received phototherapy in our department between 2002 and 2017. RESULTS: Ninety-eight pediatric patients (61% girls and 39% boys) with a mean age of 10.5 years received phototherapy. The 3 most frequently treated diseases were psoriasis (48% of patients), vitiligo (17%), and atopic dermatitis (16%). Eighty-six percent of the patients received phototherapy with narrowband UV-B, whereas 7% received phototherapy with psoralen and UV-A (PUVA). No statistically significant differences were found in terms of dosage, duration, or number of sessions compared to the adult population treated with narrowband UV-B therapy or PUVA. A complete response was achieved in 35% of the pediatric patients and no differences were found with respect to the adults. Only 16% of the children showed adverse effects, mostly in the form of mild erythema. We found greater adherence to treatment in the pediatric patients than in the adult patients (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Narrowband UV-B therapy and PUVA appear to be safe and effective in children and can be administered using the same treatment protocols as those used in adults. Adherence to treatment is greater in children than in adult patients.

Genital Infection With Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Type 2 in Valencia, Spain: A Retrospective Observational Study. / Infecciones genitales por virus herpes tipo 1 y virus herpes tipo 2 en Valencia, España: estudio observacional retrospectivo.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The epidemiology of genital herpes has changed in recent years with an increase in the incidence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with genital herpes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was designed. All patients diagnosed with genital herpes between January 2016 and January 2019 in a Sexually Transmitted Infections Unit (ITS) in Valencia, Spain, were included. RESULTS: We identified 895 STI diagnoses. Of these, 126 (14%) were genital herpes; 68 (54%) of these cases were in women and 58 (46%) in men. Diagnosis was confirmed by molecular detection of HSV DNA in 110 cases (87.3%). Of these, 52 were cases of HSV-1 infection (47.3%) and 58 were HSV-2 infection (52.7%). HSV-2 was more common in men (69.5%), while HSV-1 was more common in women (59.3%). In the subgroup of women, mean age at diagnosis was 26 years for HSV-1 and 34 years for HSV-2 (P=.015). Recurrent genital herpes rates were 13% for HSV-1 and 40% for HSV-2. CONCLUSIONS: There has been an increase in the number of cases of genital herpes caused by HSV-1 in our setting, with young women in particular being affected. This has important prognostic implications because genital herpes caused by HSV-1 is less likely to recur.

Association Between Bullous Pemphigoid and Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors: A Retrospective Cohort Study. / Asociación entre penfigoide ampolloso e inhibidores de la dipeptidilpeptidasa-4: estudio de cohortes retrospectivo.

BACKGROUND: The association between dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) has been demonstrated in several studies. The main aim of this study was to estimate the use of DPP-4i treatment in patients diagnosed with BP in our setting. METHODS: We selected patients histologically diagnosed with BP in our department between October 2015 and October 2018 and performed a retrospective chart review to assess clinical and epidemiological data and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) patterns. RESULTS: Of the 70 patients diagnosed with BP during the study period, 50% were diabetic and 88.57% of these were being treated with a DPP-4i when diagnosed with BP. The most common DPP-4i was linagliptin (used in 18.6% of patients), followed by vildagliptin (17.1%). The median latency period between initiation of DPP-4i treatment and diagnosis of BP was 27.5 months for all treatments, 16 months for linagliptin, and 39 months for vildagliptin (log rank < 0.01). A negative DIF result was significantly more common in patients not being treated with a DPP-4i. The DIF pattern most strongly (and significantly) associated with DPP-4i treatment was linear immunoglobulin G deposits along the dermal-epidermal junction. DPP-4i treatment was withdrawn in 87% of patients and 96% of these achieved a complete response. CONCLUSIONS: DPP-4i treatment is very common in patients with BP in our setting. The latency period between start of treatment and onset of BP seems to be shorter with linagliptin than with other types of gliptins. Patients receiving DPP-4i treatment may show different DIF patterns to those not receiving treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of Ixekizumab in a Real-Life Practice: A Retrospective Bicentric Study. / Eficacia y seguridad de ixekizumab en la práctica clínica habitual: estudio retrospectivo bicéntrico.

BACKGROUND: Ixekizumab has proven efficacy and safety for the treatment of psoriasis in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to evaluate its effectiveness and safety in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Retrospective study of all patients treated with ixekizumab in 2 dermatology departments in the city of Valencia, Spain. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients (53.3% men and 46.7% women) with a mean age of 48.61 years were studied; 77.3% (n = 58) had plaque psoriasis and 22.7% (n = 17) had psoriasis predominantly affecting a specific area. The most common comorbidity was obesity (present in 48% of patients) and 40% of the overall group had not been previously treated with a biologic drug. Mean psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) fell from 9.99 at baseline to 1.5 at week 16. PASI-75 and PASI-90 (improvements of at least 75% and 90% in PASI) were independent of sex, age, baseline PASI, and the comorbidities analyzed. Responses at week 16 and 52 were significantly better in biologic-naïve patients for the overall group and the subgroup of patients with localized psoriasis. Adverse effects were reported for 25.7% of patients and the most common effect was injection-site reaction. There were no serious adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that ixekizumab is both effective and safe in the treatment of psoriasis in routine clinical practice.

Haemophilus Species Isolated in Urethral Exudates as a Possible Causative Agent in Acute Urethritis: A Study of 38 Cases. / Aislamiento de Haemophilus spp. en exudados uretrales como posible agente etiológico de uretritis aguda: estudio de 38 casos.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of urethritis due to Haemophilus species is increasing. The main aim of this study was to describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients with this form of urethritis. A secondary aim was to discuss the adequacy of treatments in patients with different types of antibiotic resistance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied patients with a microbiologically confirmed diagnosis of urethritis seen at the Sexually Transmitted Infections Unit of our hospital between July 2015 and July 2018. We selected all patients in whom Haemophilus species were isolated on chocolate agar. Antibiotic resistance was tested using the disk-diffusion method. Cross-sectional data were collected prospectively during outpatient visits. RESULTS: Haemophilus species were isolated in 33.6% of cases. The most common clinical manifestation was urethral discharge (57.6%); 60% of the patients were men who have sex with men and in this subgroup Haemophilus species were significantly more common than either Neisseria or Chlamydia species. Haemophilus species were found in isolation in 39.5% of patients and the most common one was Haemophilus parainfluenzae (isolated in 84.2% of cases). In total, 34.2% of patients were resistant to azithromycin and 26.3% were resistant to both azithromycin and tetracycline. Empirical treatment achieved clinical and microbiologic cure in 11 of the patients who were not lost to follow-up (n=17; 44.7%). The remaining 6 patients required treatment with a new antibiotic. CONCLUSIONS: Haemophilus species are a new cause of nongonococcal urethritis, whose incidence is rising, particularly in men who have sex with men who engage in unprotected oral sex. The clinical manifestations are similar to those seen in gonococcal urethritis. Eradication of infection must be confirmed due to the high rate of antibiotic resistance associated with Haemophilus species.

El resurgir del linfogranuloma venéreo, una enfermedad que el dermatólogo debería conocer / Resurgence of Lymphogranuloma Venereum: A Disease Dermatologists Need to Know About

El linfogranuloma venéreo (LGV) es una infección de transmisión sexual (ITS) producida por los serovares L1, L2 y L3 de la bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis y cuya incidencia está en aumento. Presentamos una serie de 8 pacientes diagnosticados en nuestra unidad de ITS del servicio de dermatología. La edad de nuestros pacientes es menor que en otras series publicadas y el síntoma más frecuente de presentación es la tumoración adenopática inguinal. El dermatólogo debe conocer esta enfermedad y realizar una correcta toma de muestras para un diagnóstico preciso y un tratamiento precoz (AU)

The incidence of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) —a sexually transmitted infection (STI) produced by the L1, L2, and L3 serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis— is increasing. The 8 patients in this case series were diagnosed with LGV in the STI unit of our dermatology department. Our patients were younger than those in previously published case series, and on presentation they most often complained of tumorous masses (lymphadenopathy) in the groin. Dermatologists should be familiar with this disease. Samples must be taken correctly to ensure an accurate diagnosis and early treatment (AU)