An interleukin-1 polymorphism additionally intensified by atopy as prognostic factor for aseptic non-mechanical complications in metal knee and hip arthroplasty.

Background: In contrast to infection or mechanical issues joint replacement failure following inflammatory adverse reactions is poorly understood. Objective: To assess the association of IL-1ß polymorphisms and history of allergy with aseptic non-mechanical complications following arthroplasty. Methods: In 102 patients with aseptic non-mechanically caused symptomatic knee or hip arthroplasty (SA) and 93 patients with asymptomatic arthroplasty (AA) questionnaire-based history, patch test with at least standard series, lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) with nickel, cobalt and chromium and interleukin-1 polymorphism analysis were done. Three polymorphisms of the IL1B gene [IL-1b -3954 (rs1143634), IL-1b -511 (rs16944) and IL-1b -31 (rs1143627)] and one polymorphism of the IL1RN gene [IL1RN intron 2, variable number of tandem repeats, VNTR (rs2234663)] were assessed by PCR and gel electrophoresis. Results: We found no significant difference in smoking history and atopy but 25% versus 10% of self-reported metal allergy in SA versus AA; the patch test (respective, LTT) for metal sensitivity was more often positive in SA patients. The allele 498 bp of the IL1RN polymorphism occurred significantly more often in the SA group (37% versus 11%; p < 0.0001). Upon additional presence of atopy, the difference was even greater (60% vs 10%) (p < 0.000001). There was no association of IL-1 polymorphisms with metal allergy. Conclusion: The IL1RN VNTR allele 498 bp was strongly associated with SA. In patients with a history of atopy, presence of the IL1RN VNTR allele 498 bp led to a four-fold higher SA prevalence compared to patients without this allele.

[Staphylodermia superficialis circinata. The 5th obligatory cutaneous paraneoplasia]. / Staphylodermia superficialis circinata. Die 5. obligate kutane Paraneoplasie

Clinical observations on two cases of staphylodermia superficialis circinata are reported. This rare variation of superificial staphylococcal skin infection is identical with the "erythema necroticans migrans". As this cutaneous manifestation is highly associated with malignant internal diseases it must be regarded as a "cutaneous paraneoplasia". Out of 14 cases of erythema necroticans migrans, so far published this dermatosis occured in 13 patients suffering from pancreatic cancer. Association with pancreatitis was demonstrated in one case. In both cases herein reported the cutaneous manifestations were associated with a carcinoma of the pancreas and with cervix cancer. Extreme loss of weight, atrophic glossitis, therapy-resistant anemia and a slight diabetes are extra-cutaneous symptoms of this paraneoplastic syndrom.

Antibodies to basal epidermal cells in patients with basal or squamous cell carcinoma.

Circulating antibodies directed against cytoplasmic antigens of basal cells of normal human epidermis have been reported in association with various skin diseases. Since they have been found in patients with malignant melanoma it was proposed to investigate whether these antibodies are associated with other epidermal tumors such as basal or squamous cell carcinoma. With indirect immunofluorescence it was shown that sera from patients with basal (20%) and squamous cell carcinoma (16%) contained these antibodies. They could be demonstrated by cytoplasmic fluorescence of the basal epidermal cell layer. These antibodies occured almost as frequent as in malignant melanoma sera. However they do not seem to be tumorassociated as they were found in sera from patients with various benign dermatoses, with tumors of extraepidermal origin and even sporadically in sera from natural antibodies which were identified by cytoplasmic fluorescence of the outer epidermal cells, suggesting two antigenically different epidermal cell populations.