Anetoderma after disseminated Mpox.

Anetoderma or macular atrophy is a rare skin condition of unclear pathogenesis, often associated with autoimmune diseases and skin damage from various infections. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, and poxviruses have been implicated in the development of anetoderma. A 37-year-old male patient with HIV and recent unprotected sexual encounters presented with more than 400 skin lesions, consistent with Mpox. Symptomatic treatment for Mpox resulted in acute symptom resolution. However, 8 months later he developed papular anetoderma lesions in areas previously affected by Mpox. Biopsy confirmed the loss of elastic fibers in the affected skin areas, leading to the diagnosis of Mpox-induced anetoderma. This report presents a unique case of anetoderma following Mpox in an HIV-positive patient.

Monkeypox whitlow: a novel presentation.

Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease with a progressive increase in cases among men who have sex with men (MSM) worldwide in recent months. New complications of this infection have been described. The aim of the study was to describe this new pattern of presentation of monkeypox at the level of the finger. We present the cases of three patients with monkeypox whitlow, a new clinical presentation of monkeypox. The patients were three MSM with ages ranging from 32 to 49 years. All three had involvement of the third finger of the dominant hand as well as skin lesions at other sites. Two of the three patients had severe inflammation in the digit and proximal arm and were treated with systemic corticosteroids with significant improvement. In two of the three cases we observed onychodystrophy as a complication. All patients reported sexual intercourse with previous digital-anal penetration with the affected finger, which may be the mode of transmission. Distinguishing features that need to be considered are discussed.

Diagnostic value of Treponema pallidum PCR test in real practice.

BACKGROUND: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the pathogen Treponema pallidum. Its incidence is increasing in our country, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). Serological tests are still the most widely used technique for diagnosis. The need for an early diagnosis has prompted the introduction of fast techniques, such as Treponema pallidum detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on mucocutaneous samples. The objective of this work is to analyse the sensitivity of this technique in a series of patients diagnosed with syphilis at our centre. METHODS: Retrospective review of all cases diagnosed with syphilis at our centre between May 2017 and May 2021. RESULTS: A total of 203 cases of syphilis were diagnosed with serologic tests: 33% were primary syphilis and 53.1% secondary syphilis. PCR for Treponema pallidum was performed in 117 (57,6%) cases. The sensitivity was highest (95,2%) when performed on samples from mucocutaneous ulcers in primary syphilis. This value decreased to 69,4% in secondary syphilis, although there were variations between the types of samples. CONCLUSIONS: The PCR test has a high diagnostic value when performed on ulcer exudates in patients with primary syphilis. Its most relevant advantages in clinical practice are the possibility of an early diagnosis before serological tests during the window period, the ability to confirm reinfections in patients with persistent positivity of reaginic antibodies and a history of treated syphilis. Nevertheless, given that a negative PCR test may not rule out infection by Treponema pallidum, serologic tests are still necessary for everyday practice.

Genital Herpes Zoster: A Rare Location That Can Mimic Genital Herpes.

ABSTRACT: Herpes zoster is an acute, cutaneous viral infection caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus. Genital dermatomes are involved in only up to 2% of cases and are probably underrecognized. We present a series of 7 genital herpes zoster cases diagnosed in our Unit of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. None of our patients were positive for HIV test, and only one was taking immunosuppressive medication. We recommend the use of molecular testings to confirm the diagnosis of varicella-zoster virus or herpes simplex virus infection in all cases of genital herpes-like lesions.

Dory Flop Sign in Monkeypox: 2 Cases.

ABSTRACT: We describe 2 monkeypox cases in human immunodeficiency virus-positive men who have sex with men with undetectable viral loads. Both patients presented with the dory flop sign.

Follicle and Sebaceous Gland Multinucleated Cells in Measles.

We report the case of a 32-year-old man with measles in which skin biopsy helped to establish a definitive diagnosis. Follicular involvement is a common histopathologic feature of measles. Multinucleated epidermal and follicular cells are distinctive findings.

Cytoimmunofluorescence Diagnosis in Surgically Induced Pemphigus Foliaceus.

Pemphigus foliaceus is an autoimmune bullous disease with autoantibodies against desmoglein 1. Case reports of pemphigus after surgery have also been described, which may simulate an infection of the surgical wound, a contact dermatitis, or even a tumor recurrence. Cytoimmunofluorescence can help to establish a rapid diagnosis.

Paradoxical reversed plantar involvement during ixekizumab therapy for psoriasis.

Palmoplantar psoriasis is a particularly challenging variant of psoriasis. Psoriasis at this location has a significant impact on health-related quality of life and is often recalcitrant. However, difficult cases may respond to biologic therapies. Paradoxical reactions during treatment with biological agents have been described, mostly during anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. These typically present as a change in morphology or distribution of lesions. We present a patient with palmoplantar psoriasis treated with ixekizumab who achieved a favorable response that was coupled with a rare paradoxical reaction, reversed plantar involvement. The reason for this phenomenon and its clinical course are uncertain, but these new lesions are proving recalcitrant to complementary therapies. Provided the increasingly widespread use of biologic therapies, the incidence and diversity of paradoxical reactions are expected to increase.

Clinical and Demographic Features of 49 Patients With Human Monkeypox Virus-Confirmed Infection in a Tertiary Care Center in Valencia, Spain: A Descriptive Study.

Monkeypox is a previously rare viral zoonosis affecting predominantly the African continent. Since May 2022, an increasing number of cases with no known epidemiologic link to Africa have been reported for the first time in the rest of the world. We described the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of all patients attended at our center until August 9 with a confirmed diagnosis of monkeypox. Forty-nine patients were included. The mean age was 37.6 years. Ninety-eight percent of patients were male, 96% were men who have sex with men, and 4% were heterosexual. Thirty-one percent of patients had a history of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Ninety-six percent of patients declared a unprotected sexual relationship before the onset of symptoms, and 41% had a history of recent travel. Ninety-eight percent of patients presented with cutaneous involvement affecting the genital (59%), perianal (41%), and perioral (35%) regions. Systemic symptoms were present in 80% of the patients and included lymphadenopathies (71%), asthenia (65%), fever (65%), headache (37%), arthromyalgias (45%), pharyngitis (35%), proctitis (29%), and dysuria (6%). Coinfection by other sexually transmitted infections was detected in 20% of patients. The sensitivity values of polymerase chain reaction test for monkeypox in urethral, anal, and oropharyngeal exudates analyzed were 88%, 79%, and 68%, respectively. Complications included a myopericarditis that represented the only hospitalized patient, edema (8%) and bacterial superinfection (4%). No deaths were reported. The findings of this case series support the sexual contact as the main route of transmission of the disease and highlight some atypical clinical presentations not described in endemic cases.

Ectopic intestinal mucosa implanted on the perianal skin of a patient with Crohn disease.

Intestinal mucosa implanted in skin is an exceedingly rare occurrence. Implantations are thought to occur during the creation of ostomy sites or other surgical procedures in which suture goes through bowel mucosa and then skin. Current ostomy literature reports this as a very uncommon complication. We present a 54-year-old man diagnosed with Crohn disease with severe perianal involvement who was referred to our outpatient clinic because of two persistent perianal cutaneous ulcerations. He previously underwent several interventions to drain complex perianal fistulas and abscesses, the last of them involved placing seton stitches to ensure continuous draining during the healing process. Physical examination revealed two painful ulcerations with bleeding on contact. A skin biopsy was performed, revealing ectopic intestinal mucosa with crypts, villi, and goblet cells. Perianal ulcerations characteristic of Crohn disease might be difficult to differentiate from ectopic implant of bowel mucosa secondary to a surgical procedure in the perianal area. Therefore, we believe a high degree of suspicion and skin biopsy are key to the diagnosis.

Effective treatment of nail psoriasis with apremilast: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Nail psoriasis can cause great morbidity and a negative impact on the personal and work-related life of the patients. However, it responds more poorly to most drug therapies. Classically, the first line of treatment for nail psoriasis has been topical medication, but the new biological drugs seem to be the most effective treatment. Apremilast is another systemic oral drug that has shown a significant reduction of the severity in moderate-severe plaque psoriasis, as well as nail and scalp psoriasis. We present two cases of patients who exhibited a rapid response to treatment with apremilast.

Whitish vulvar tumors associated with macular symmetrical rash.

We present a woman with an unusual case of secondary syphilis after an unnoticed primary infection. She initially presented with multiple grayish plaques and nodules on the vulva associated with an erythematous macular symmetrical rash affecting the trunk and extremities. Despite the increasing incidence of sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, presentation with unusual manifestations can lead to a delayed diagnosis.