Graft reduction surgery is associated with poorer outcome after lung transplantation: a single-centre propensity score-matched analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Implanted lung volume-reduction surgery due to donor/recipient size mismatch could affect both lung function and survival. We examined the outcomes of lung volume-reduction procedures post-lung transplant. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 366 consecutive adult lung transplants carried out between January 2014 and December 2018 at one single centre. Patients were divided into either a non-reduced-size lung transplant or a reduced-size lung transplant (RT) group. To adjust for covariates, a propensity score analysis was performed. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Differences were considered significant with P-values <0.05. RESULTS: In the RT group, 45 patients (12.3%) had some type of graft reduction surgery: 31 (68.9%) patients had pulmonary lobectomies and 14 (31.1%) wedge resections. Of the total cohort, 30 patients (8.2%) were prioritized, 23% of whom required graft reduction surgery. The propensity score analysis matched 41 patients in each group. In the RT group, there was an increased need for cardiopulmonary bypass (P = 0.017) during surgery and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (P = 0.025) after lung transplant. Furthermore, the median length of mechanical ventilation was higher (P = 0.008), and lung function at discharge, 3 and 6 months post-lung transplant was significantly lower in the RT group (P < 0.05). Survival analysis demonstrated a significantly poorer overall outcome at 1, 3 and 5 years post-lung transplantation in patients with a reduced graft (P = 0.007), while the 1-year conditional survival was also worse in this group (P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Graft reduction surgery in lung transplant recipients is associated with lower pulmonary function and poorer overall survival. However, it does allow transplantation in prioritized recipients for whom it might otherwise be impossible to find an organ of suitable size.

Nail unit tumors: a study of 234 patients in the dermatology department of the "Dr Manuel Gea González" General Hospital in Mexico City.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of nail unit tumors is not well known because they are often misdiagnosed, and the clinical appearance of benign and malignant tumors is not characteristic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 234 patients from the dermatology department of a general hospital in Mexico City were included in this study, from January 1982 to November 2006. RESULTS: The tumors most frequently diagnosed were fibrous tumors (29.05%), osteocartilaginous tumors (21.79%), and myxoid pseudocysts (11.96%). Malignant melanoma occupied the fourth place (9.82%), and the second most frequent malignant tumor was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 4.70%). Among other tumors were glomus, neurofibromas, giant cell tumors of tendon sheath, and pyogenic granulomas. The nail plate was affected in 46.5% of the cases studied. CONCLUSION: This study in a Mexican population sheds light on the frequency and the alterations produced by nail unit tumors, which we must keep in mind for a more accurate diagnosis.

Chronic granulomatous disease: two members of a single family with different dermatologic manifestations.

Case 1: A 33-year-old man with a 14-year history of localized skin disease on the face and scalp was evaluated at the department of dermatology. The physical examination revealed plaques with papules, pustules, and a golden yellow crusting on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip, and chin (Figure 1). The scalp presented fine, whitish scales. At the beginning of his disease, the patient presented large red and painful purulent boils. The 14-year clinical course of these lesions was characterized by partial remissions and recurrences, but he did not specify any treatment related to improvement. The clinical diagnosis given for the scalp lesions was seborrheic dermatitis. For the facial lesions, many differential diagnoses were considered, among them: seborrheic dermatitis, acneiform dermatitis, impetigo, folliculitis, seborrheic pemphigus, and demodicidosis. The histopathologic study of a biopsy taken from the cheek (Figure 2) showed superficial spongiform dermatitis with neutrophils and folliculitis that are compatible with the diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis. Both Gram and periodic acid-Schiff stains were negative. Follow-up of the patient was not possible since he did not come back. The disease in this patient initially manifested at age five by the presence of recurrent ganglionic abscesses. At age 15, he presented a pulmonary abscess of a left lobule that was surgically removed; at this point the diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease was established. At age 28, an exploratory laparotomy was performed due to peritonitis and multiple hepatic abscesses. At that time, he was treated with antibiotics (mainly trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) and interferon-g. The patient had two brothers who died due to complications of chronic granulomatous disease. In addition, both his mother and sister presented a history of discoid lupus-like lesions. Case 2: Coincidentally, his 27-year-old sister was seen in our department of dermatology 5 years before, presenting infiltrated and erythematous plaques with fine scales (Figure 3) on the right side of the nose and the left annular finger. No other cutaneous or mucous lesions were seen. She referred onset in childhood with similar lesions on sun-exposed areas that disappeared without scarring. A biopsy was performed and the results were compatible with the diagnosis of discoid lupus erythematosus (Figure 4). Direct immunofluorescence was not available. At that time, she did not mention the family history of chronic granulomatous disease. Clinical follow-up was not possible, but his brother referred that she afforded complete remission only with sun protection.

Liquen plano e infección por virus de hepatitis C: ¿Existe una asociación? / Lichen planus and hepatitis C virus: Is there an association?

Antecedentes: la causa de liquen plano (LP) es desconocida. Se ha estudiado el posible papel del virus de hepatitis C (VHC) con resultados controvertidos. Material y métodos: el objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de infección por virus de hepatitis C en 36 pacientes con LP confirmado por histopatología, 12 en forma retrospectiva, y 24 en forma prospectiva. El grupo control constó de 60 donadores de sangre consecutivos del Banco de sangre del hospital. La prueba de inmunoensayo ligado a enzima de tercera generación fue utilizada para la determinación de anticuerpos contra VHC. Resultados:una prevalencia de infección por VHC de 2.77% en pacientes con LP, y 0% en el grupo control (Prueba exacta de Fisher - p=0.375). Conclusiones: en nuestro grupo de pacientes con LP se encontró prevalencia de serología positiva para VHC menor a la reportada en la literatura. Como en todos los estudios se han encontrado pacientes con LP sin infección por VHC, consideramos que existen otros factores en la patogénesis de esta dermatosis que deben ser estudiados.

Introduction: The etiology of lichen planus (LP) is unknown. The possible role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been studied with controversial results. Materials and Methods: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV infection in 36 patients with lichen planus (LP) confirmed by histopathology, 12 in a retrospective way, and 24 in a prospective one. The controls were 60 consecutive blood donors from the Blood Bank of the hospital. Third generation enzyme immunoassay screening test was employed for determination of antibodies against HCV. Results: A prevalence of HCV infection of 2.77% in LP patients, and 0% in control group (Fisher's exact test -p=0.375). Conclusions: We found in our patients with LP a lower prevalence of positive serology for HCV than that reported in the literature. Since all studies have found patients with LP without infection by HC V, we think that other factors in the pathogenesis of this dermatosis need to be studied.