Livedoid vasculopathy in 75 Brazilian patients in a single-center institution: Clinical, histopathological and therapy evaluation.

This study presents a single center experience with livedoid vasculopathy (LV). A rare disease that can lead to severe quality of life impairment. Characterize clinical data of LV patients at the Dermatology Division at the University of São Paulo. A retrospective and transversal study was conducted, from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2019. About 75 patients diagnosed as LV and confirmed by skin biopsy were included. Epidemiology, clinical appearance, histopathology data, and treatment history were observed. There were 78.66% Caucasian women, with a mean age of 39.9 years. Frequent cutaneous manifestations were ulcers, atrophic blanche-like scars, hyperpigmentation, purpuras, telangiectasias, and livedo racemosa. Pain, pruritus, and hypoesthesia were the main symptoms. After treatment, almost 40% of cases relapsed during spring and summer months. About 66% of cases had thrombophilia factors associated, such as high levels of lipoprotein(a). Frequent treatments included acetylsalicylic acid, pentoxifylline, and diosmin with hesperidin. Not being a prospective study. This research provides useful data on Latin American LV patients, indicating multifactorial conditions involved in LV pathogenesis. An extensive work-up including autoimmune laboratory tests, thrombophilia factors, and other conditions associated with venous stasis should be part of LV investigation and controlled to improve treatment response.

Sporotrichosis: hyperendemic by zoonotic transmission, with atypical presentations, hypersensitivity reactions and greater severity.

In recent decades, an alarming increase in the number of sporotrichosis cases has been reported in southern and southeastern Brazil, especially in the state of Rio de Janeiro, has been considered a long-term hyperendemic condition associated with feline transmission. According to phenotypic classifications, the Sporothrix species recovered from cats were classified as S. brasiliensis in 96.5% of the studied cases. This finding has also been demonstrated in humans, which confirms the zoonotic transmission associated with this predominant species in Brazil. The zoonotic transmission of the fungus and its important virulence in the context of the hyperendemic situation in Rio de Janeiro have changed the approach to the disease, which in its classic form was restricted to certain professional groups and very specific regions in the Brazilian territory, into a public health challenge of scientific interest. Its atypical manifestations and hypersensitivity reactions are increasingly frequent, constituting a new sporotrichosis aspect, which deserves attention from the medical community, as well as from other health professionals.

Panniculitides of particular interest to the rheumatologist.

The panniculitides remain as one of the most challenging areas for clinicians, as they comprise a heterogeneous group of inflammatory diseases involving the subcutaneous fat with potentially-shared clinical and histopathological features. Clinically, most panniculitides present as red edematous nodules or plaques. Therefore, in addition to a detailed clinical history, a large scalpel biopsy of a recent-stage lesion with adequate representation of the subcutaneous tissue is essential to specific diagnosis and appropriate clinical management. Herein we review the panniculitides of particular interest to the rheumatologist.

Sporotrichosis: hyperendemic by zoonotic transmission, with atypical presentations, hypersensitivity reactions and greater severity

Abstract In recent decades, an alarming increase in the number of sporotrichosis cases has been reported in southern and southeastern Brazil, especially in the state of Rio de Janeiro, has been considered a long-term hyperendemic condition associated with feline transmission. According to phenotypic classifications, the Sporothrix species recovered from cats were classified as S. brasiliensis in 96.5% of the studied cases. This finding has also been demonstrated in humans, which confirms the zoonotic transmission associated with this predominant species in Brazil. The zoonotic transmission of the fungus and its important virulence in the context of the hyperendemic situation in Rio de Janeiro have changed the approach to the disease, which in its classic form was restricted to certain professional groups and very specific regions in the Brazilian territory, into a public health challenge of scientific interest. Its atypical manifestations and hypersensitivity reactions are increasingly frequent, constituting a new sporotrichosis aspect, which deserves attention from the medical community, as well as from other health professionals.

Panniculitides of particular interest to the rheumatologist

Abstract The panniculitides remain as one of the most challenging areas for clinicians, as they comprise a heterogeneous group of inflammatory diseases involving the subcutaneous fat with potentially-shared clinical and histopathological features. Clinically, most panniculitides present as red edematous nodules or plaques. Therefore, in addition to a detailed clinical history, a large scalpel biopsy of a recent-stage lesion with adequate representation of the subcutaneous tissue is essential to specific diagnosis and appropriate clinical management. Herein we review the panniculitides of particular interest to the rheumatologist.