Assessment of melanocytic skin lesions with a high-definition laser Doppler imaging system.

BACKGROUND: Early detection is a major goal in the management of malignant melanoma. Besides clinical assessment many noninvasive technologies such as dermoscopy, digital dermoscopy and in vivo laser scanner microscopy are used as additional methods. Herein we tested a system to assess lesional perfusion as a tool for early melanoma detection. METHODS: Laser Doppler flow (FluxExplorer) and mole analyser (MA) score (FotoFinder) were applied to histologically verified melanocytic nevi (33) and malignant melanomas (12). RESULTS: Mean perfusion and MA scores were significantly increased in melanoma compared to nevi. However, applying an empirically determined threshold of 16% perfusion increase only 42% of the melanomas fulfilled the criterion of malignancy, whereas with the mole analyzer score 82% of the melanomas fulfilled the criterion of malignancy. CONCLUSION: Laser Doppler imaging is a highly sensitive technology to assess skin and skin tumor perfusion in vivo. Although mean perfusion is higher in melanomas compared to nevi the high numbers of false negative results hamper the use of this technology for early melanoma detection.

Large International Validation of ABSIS and PDAI Pemphigus Severity Scores.

The Pemphigus Disease Area Index (PDAI) and Autoimmune Bullous Skin Disorder Intensity-Score (ABSIS) scores have been proposed to provide an objective measure of pemphigus activity. These scores have been evaluated only on already treated patients mainly with mild to moderate activity. The objective was to assess the interrater reliability of ABSIS and PDAI scores and their correlation with other severity markers in a large international study. Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed pemphigus were enrolled in 31 centers. Severity scores were recorded during a 24-month period by the same two blinded investigators. Serum was collected at each visit for ELISA measurement of anti-desmoglein antibodies. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman rank correlation coefficient were calculated. A total of 116 patients with pemphigus vulgaris (n = 84) or pemphigus foliaceus (n = 32) were included. At baseline, the ABSIS and PDAI ICCs were 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.85-0.93), and 0.91(95% CI = 0.87-0.94), respectively. The ICCs for PDAI were higher in moderate and extensive pemphigus (ICC = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.63-0.92 and ICC = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.62-0.90, respectively) than in patients with intermediate (significant) extent (ICC = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.27-0.68). Conversely, the ICCs for ABSIS were lower in patients with moderate extent (ICC = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.004-0.74) than in those with intermediate or extensive forms, (ICC = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.51-0.81 and ICC = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.51-0.88, respectively). During patients' follow-up, the ICCs of both ABSIS and PDAI scores remained higher than 0.70. ABSIS and PDAI skin (r = 0.71 and r = 0.75) but not mucosal (r = 0.32 and r = 0.37) subscores were correlated with the evolution of anti-DSG1 and anti-DSG3 ELISA values, respectively. ABSIS and PDAI scores are robust tools to accurately assess pemphigus activity.

Clinical features and practical diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) represents the most common autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease. BP typically affects the elderly and is associated with significant morbidity. It has usually a chronic course with spontaneous exacerbations. The cutaneous manifestations of BP can be extremely protean. While diagnosis of BP in the bullous stage is straightforward, in the non-bullous stage or in atypical variants of BP signs and symptoms are frequently non-specific with eg, only itchy excoriated, eczematous, papular and/or urticarial lesions that may persist for several weeks or months. Diagnosis of BP critically relies on immunopathologic examinations including direct immunofluorescence microscopy and detection of serum autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy or BP180-ELISA.

Bullous pemphigoid: from the clinic to the bench.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) constitutes the most frequent autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease. It is associated with autoantibodies directed against the BP antigens 180 (BP180, BPAG2) and BP230 (BPAG1-e). The pathogenicity of anti-BP180 antibodies has been convincingly demonstrated in animal models. The clinical features of BP are extremely polymorphous. The diagnosis of BP critically relies on immunopathologic findings. The recent development of novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays has allowed the detection of circulating autoantibodies with relatively high sensitivity and specificity. Although potent topical steroids have emerged in the past decade as first-line treatment of BP, management of the disease may be challenging.

Clinical features and practical diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) represents the most common autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease. BP typically affects the elderly and is associated with significant morbidity. It has usually a chronic course with spontaneous exacerbations. The cutaneous manifestations of BP can be extremely protean. While diagnosis of BP in the bullous stage is straightforward, in the non-bullous stage or in atypical variants of BP signs and symptoms are frequently non-specific with eg, only itchy excoriated, eczematous, papular and/or urticarial lesions that may persist for several weeks or months. Diagnosis of BP critically relies on immunopathologic examinations including direct immunofluorescence microscopy and detection of serum autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy or BP180-ELISA.