Skin Manifestations in Pediatric Patients Treated With a TNF-Alpha Inhibitor for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Study [Formula: see text].

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitors (anti-TNF) are effective in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well as psoriasis. Their increasing use has raised the identification of cutaneous side effects (CSEs). Evidence in children is limited. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to describe CSEs of anti-TNF treatment in a pediatric population with IBD. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-center study of children with IBD under anti-TNF treatment between 2013 and 2016. A total of 40 patients with CSEs related to anti-TNF were referred to our pediatric dermatology clinic. A control group was randomly selected from patients receiving anti-TNF for IBD, who were referred to the dermatology clinic for other conditions unrelated to anti-TNF. RESULTS: Of 343 patients with IBD, 40 (11.3%) presented CSEs potentially related to the treatment. No differences in sex, age, and underlying disease were found between those with and without CSEs. The most frequent CSEs were psoriasiform eruptions (41%) which were more exudative than usual, located especially in skin folds and on the scalp; skin infections (20%); and eczematous eruptions (10%). Only 5% of patients changed or discontinued the current anti-TNF because of CSEs. CONCLUSION: This is one of the largest pediatric cohorts of IBD patients with CSEs. Psoriasiform eruptions were the most common CSEs, with predilection for skin folds and scalp, and frequent superimposed bacterial infection. Topical and/or systemic antibiotics were required in addition to topical corticosteroids in 25% of patients. The rate of discontinuation of anti-TNF therapy due to CSEs was low.

Exaggerated Arthropod Bite Reaction During Pregnancy: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of exaggerated bite reactions is based on the clinical and pathological characteristics of the lesions. These reactions can be an indicator of impending immune suppression. METHODS: The authors report the case of a 35-year-old pregnant woman who presented with a pruriginous vesicular and pustular eruption over her thighs and buttocks. The clinical and pathological findings were compatible with an exaggerated bite reaction. The patient did not report any severe or exaggerated reaction to insect bites in the past. It was her first episode. CONCLUSION: Exaggerated bite reactions have been described with hematological malignancies, mostly chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In our literature review, we did not find any reports of severe local bite reactions occurring during pregnancy. We hypothesize that the changes in the immune system during pregnancy might explain the development of exaggerated bite reactions in our patient.

Case report of atopic dermatitis with refractory pruritus markedly improved with the novel use of clonidine and trimeprazine.

We report a 6-year-old boy with severe atopic dermatitis and refractory pruritus. The novel use of clonidine, an adrenergic agonist, along with trimeprazine, led to dramatic improvement. This represents the first case report of clonidine's effect in relieving pruritus in atopic dermatitis.

Statin-associated anti-HMGCR immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy with dermatomyositis-like features: A case report.

Anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy is a subtype of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy which may be associated with statin exposure. It presents with severe proximal muscle weakness, high creatine kinase levels and muscle fiber necrosis. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins and immunosuppressants is often necessary. This entity is not commonly known among dermatologists as there are usually no extramuscular manifestations. We report a rare case of statin-associated anti-HMGCR immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy with dermatomyositis-like cutaneous features. The possibility of anti-HMGCR immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy should be considered in patients with cutaneous dermatomyositis-like features associated with severe proximal muscle weakness, highly elevated creatine kinase levels and possible statin exposure. This indicates the importance of muscle biopsy and specific autoantibody testing for accurate diagnosis, as well as significant therapeutic implications.

Atypical presentation of adenosquamous carcinoma: A case report.

Cutaneous adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare malignant neoplasm that is more aggressive than conventional squamous cell carcinoma. The typical clinical presentation is an indurated papule or plaque on the head and neck of elderly patients. The authors report the case of a 52-year-old man with a right scrotal and inguinal tumour measuring 10 cm × 15 cm that had progressed over the past 2 years. The histological examination was compatible with adenosquamous carcinoma. Metastatic inguinal and pelvic lymph nodes were identified. This case demonstrates an atypical presentation of a rare tumour. Adenosquamous carcinoma is more aggressive than conventional squamous cell carcinoma, and prompt diagnosis is important.