Risk of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer in Connective Tissue Disease and The Impact of Immunosuppressive Therapy.

The risk of skin cancer in connective tissue disease and the impact of immunosuppressive therapy on this risk has not been well studied. The objective of this study is to investigate the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in patients with connective tissue disease and to assess the impact of immunosuppressive therapy on this risk. This is a retrospective case control cohort study of 8281 patients with connective tissue disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s disease and scleroderma) and 8281 age, race, and gender matched controls followed for a 5-year period between 2002-2012, who obtained their care from a large integrated multispecialty group practice in Northern California. The odds ratio for developing squamous cell skin cancer among patients with connective tissue disease was 1.47 (95% CI, 1.14-1.90) (P=0.003) while the odds ratio for developing all non-melanoma skin cancer was 1.26 (95% CI, 1.08-1.49) (P=0.005). Patients on immunosuppressive medication for at least one year had an OR of 1.69 (95% CI, 1.16-2.45) of developing non-melanoma skin cancer (P=0.006) when controlled for age, race, gender, type of connective tissue disease, smoking status, and health care utilization. Our study shows an increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer among patients with connective tissue disease. We also note that patients on immunosuppressive therapy for at least one year had an increased incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(5):  doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.4781.

The impact of RSV, adenovirus, influenza, and parainfluenza infection in pediatric patients receiving stem cell transplant, solid organ transplant, or cancer chemotherapy.

RVIs are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised children. We analyzed the characteristics and outcomes of infection by four respiratory viruses (RSV, adenovirus, influenza, and parainfluenza) treated at a pediatric tertiary care hospital in a retrospective cohort of patients who had received cancer chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell, or SOT. A total of 208 infections were studied among 166 unique patients over a time period of 1993-2006 for transplant recipients, and 2000-2005 for patients with cancer. RSV was the most common respiratory virus identified. There were 17 (10% of all patients) deaths overall, of which 12 were at least partly attributed to the presence of a RVI. In multivariate models, LRT symptoms in the absence of upper respiratory symptoms on presentation (OR 10.2 [2.3, 45.7], p = 0.002) and adenoviral infection (OR 3.7 [1.1, 12.6], p = 0.034) were significantly associated with poor outcome, defined as death or disability related to RVI. All of the deaths occurred in patients who had received either solid organ or HSCT. There were no infections resulting in death or disability in the cancer chemotherapy group.

Capecitabine-induced hand-foot syndrome complicated by pseudomonal superinfection resulting in bacterial sepsis and death: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a relatively common dermatologic toxic reaction to certain anticancer therapies. Although not life-threatening, this complication can reduce patient quality of life. Dose modification of the inciting agent serves as the most effective management of HFS, although a variety of anecdotal reports suggest that other agents may also be efficacious. We present the first reported case of fatal HFS (to our knowledge) and provide a comprehensive review of this condition. OBSERVATIONS: A 61-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer who was undergoing treatment with capecitabine developed erythema, fissuring, and erosions over both hands and feet, consistent with HFS. Pseudomonal superinfection leading to bacterial sepsis and death rapidly ensued. CONCLUSIONS: Although HFS is widely regarded as a non-life-threatening toxic reaction to cancer treatment, our case demonstrates that infectious complications of this condition can prove fatal. Prevention, early recognition, and implementation of various management strategies for HFS and its infectious complications are important in optimizing patient quality of life and minimizing unfavorable outcomes.

Terbinafine-induced acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) responsive to high dose intravenous corticosteroid.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a febrile pustular drug eruption. Terbinafine, an allylamine fungicidial agent, is the most common anti-mycotic associated with AGEP. Here, we report a case of terbinafine-induced AGEP that was recalcitrant to oral corticosteroid but responsive to high-dose intravenous corticosteroid.