Efficacy and Safety of Methotrexate Combined with Low- to Moderate-Dose Corticosteroids for Severe Alopecia Areata.

BACKGROUND: In severe alopecia areata (AA), spontaneous recovery is unlikely, and treatment is not standardized. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of methotrexate (MTX) used alone or combined with low- to moderate-dose oral corticosteroids (OC) for treating severe AA (totalis, universalis and severe multifocal). METHODS: Retrospective monocentric study of all consecutive patients receiving this treatment between 2006 and 2012. Efficacy was defined as achieving a total regrowth of terminal hair. RESULTS: 26 patients were included (17 with AA universalis or totalis and 9 with severe multifocal AA). Total regrowth was noted in 15/26 patients. After 3 months of treatment, hair regrowth >80% was associated with further complete regrowth, and hair regrowth <30% was associated with later treatment failure (p = 0.0014). When treatment was tapered, 11/15 patients with initial complete efficacy experienced AA relapse. CONCLUSION: MTX combined with low- to moderate-dose OC may be an efficient and well-tolerated treatment for severe AA. However, long-term maintenance treatment is usually required.

[Managing perilesional pressure ulcers]. / Savoir gérer la peau périlésionnelle des escarres.

The skin of elderly patients is very fragile and dry which impairs its function as a barrier and renders it more exposed to external attacks, perilesional complications around pressure ulcers are often linked to several interrelated mechanisms. These complications require, from the teams, in-depth knowledge of the care protocols.

Treatment of calcinosis cutis by extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy.

BACKGROUND: Calcinosis cutis (CC) encompasses debilitating complications of connective tissue disorders and chronic venous insufficiency. Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is an effective treatment for urolithiasis, pancreatolithiasis, and calcified tendinitis. This study prospectively evaluated ESWL efficacy and tolerance for patients with CC. METHODS: This monocentric prospective study included all consecutive patients with CC progressing for at least 3 months, while their underlying causal disease was not. They underwent 3 ESWL sessions at 3-week intervals. The CC area and associated pain (visual analog scale score and analgesic consumption) were recorded before and 6 months after ESWL. RESULTS: Eight patients were included: 4 with chronic venous insufficiency, 3 with systemic scleroderma, and one with dermatomyositis. ESWL was used to treat 10 CC lesions. Seven patients completed 3 ESWL sessions. Six months after ESWL, the median CC area had decreased from 3.1 to 1.9 cm(2). visual analog scale-assessed pain scores declined dramatically, from 7 to 2 of 10, as did analgesia consumption, without any difference according to the causal disease. LIMITATIONS: Only 8 consecutive patients have been included and treated by ESWL during our study. CONCLUSION: This evaluation of ESWL efficacy and tolerance for the treatment of CC found no difference between the different underlying CC causal diseases in terms of efficacy. Based on our observations, ESWL efficacy was better against small, ulcerated, and radiopaque CC, and it had an analgesic effect that might make subsequent surgical excision of CC fragments easier. Ergonomic adaptations are required to facilitate and expand ESWL use in dermatology.

Long-term survivors in stage IV melanoma: a regional population-based study in France.

We aimed to better characterize exceptional cases of long survivors (LSs) among patients with stage IV melanoma. We performed a comprehensive regional investigation in the Champagne-Ardenne region, France. During the period 1994-2003, 316 patients died of melanoma whereas 10 patients diagnosed with distant metastases had a subsequent survival time > 4 years. These 10 LSs were characterized by a long delay (median: 58 months) prior to distant metastases and by frequent subsequent complete remissions (CRs). Eighteen episodes of CRs, lasting 3-139 months (mean: 26.4), were documented in 9 patients, for single or multiple tumors, for metastases of any site and with any treatment, even including spontaneous CRs. Four of 8 evaluable patients had clinical and/or biological features of auto-immunity. At 31 March 2007, 3 patients had died of melanoma and 1 of a chemo-induced leukaemia. The median survival time was 65 months (range: 52-139). These data suggest that long survival in stage IV melanoma might depend less on the site of metastases and specific therapies than on the patients themselves and their spontaneous antitumor control.

[Dressings for superficial wounds]. / Les pansements des plaies superficielles.

The main dressings for superficial wounds are hydrocolloids, interfaces, greasy dressings, hydrocellular dressings, metalloprotease inhibitors and hyaluronic acid dressings. There are pros and cons specific to each type and their use depends on the particularities of the superficial wounds.

[Negative pressure therapy in the treatment of leg ulcers]. / La thérapie par pression négative dans la prise en charge des ulcères de jambe.

Leg ulcers are a common pathology. Negative pressure therapy is a second-line treatment which favours granulation and which must be followed by a graft.The main pitfall is the recurrence of ulcers.Whatever the cicatriasation technique, it is essential to consider the indications.

[Oxygen therapy in wound treatment]. / L'oxygénothérapie dans le traitement des plaies.

The observation of a device delivering oxygen locally on twelve patients with chronic wounds for which conventional treatments have had little or no effect, aims to assess the benefit of the local use of oxygen on complex wounds. The main benefits observed are the obtaining of high quality tissue formation and a notable reduction in pain. These encouraging initial results merit being backed up by a comparative clinical study.

[Diagnosing venous and venous/arterial ulcers]. / Le diagnostic de l'ulcère de jambe d'origine veineuse et mixte.

A venous ulcer can be diagnosed on the basis of elements arising from the questioning and the clinical examination of the patient. A venous Doppler ultrasound can specify the type of reverse flow (superficial and/or deep). Measuring the ankle brachial pressure index helps to eliminate or confirm any arterial involvement. Depending on the systolic pressure index, the ulcer will be considered as purely venous, mixed (arterial-venous) or predominantly arterial.

[Compression material]. / Le matériel de compression.

The compression of a venous ulcer is carried out with the use of bandages, and for less exudative ulcers, with socks, stockings or tights. The system of bandages is complex. Different forms of extension and therefore different types of models exist.

Efficacy and tolerance of prolonged infliximab treatment of moderate-to-severe forms of hidradenitis suppurativa.

UNLABELLED: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic suppurative disease impairing patients' quality of life (QOL). The standard treatment remains extensive surgery; medical treatment is often disappointing. OBJECTIVES: Prolonged infliximab efficacy and tolerance in moderate-to-severe forms of HS were evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, monocentric, open, interventional study concerned patients with progressive, moderate-to-severe HS ineligible for surgery, or who relapsed after surgery. Infliximab (5 mg/kg) was infused at weeks 0, 2 and 6, and then every 4 weeks. When the response was satisfactory, infusion spacing was attempted. RESULTS: Ten patients were included, 8 treated for 1 year, with a mean of 5 affected sites and 18 years of evolution. The mean initial DLQI was 20/30 (range 9-30). At 1 year, the number of involved sites (P<0.001) and flares (P<0.05) had decreased significantly under infliximab, as did HS severity. QOL improved clearly and rapidly for all patients, with mean DLQI at 6/30 (P<0.001). Tolerance was satisfactory with only 4 minor infections, 1 keratoacanthoma and one rapidly resolving hepatitis. CONCLUSION: This evaluation of prolonged infliximab use in HS after surgical failure showed good efficacy and satisfactory tolerance without therapeutic escape during the first year of treatment.

Osteoarticular complications of erysipelas.

BACKGROUND: Rare osteoarticular complications occurring after erysipelas have been reported. We describe 9 patients in whom various osteoarticular complications developed during erysipelas. OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze osteoarticular complications during erysipelas, paying special attention to clinical, bacteriologic, and radiologic data. METHODS: Data were retrospectively recorded from the files of patients seen in 3 dermatologic centers between 1998 and 2000. They included laboratory tests, bacteriologic cultures, radiologic investigations, and treatment modalities and outcome of both erysipelas and osteoarticular complications. RESULTS: We observed 9 patients (7 men and 2 women; mean age 49.6 years) who first presented with typical erysipelas of the lower limb and then osteoarticular complications developed during the course of their disease, always localized to a joint contiguous to the erysipelas plaque. These complications included: relatively benign complications, ie, bursitis (n = 5) or algodystrophy (n = 1), occurring after erysipelas with favorable course; and more severe complications, ie, osteitis (n = 1), arthritis (n = 1), and septic tendinitis (n = 1), occurring after erysipelas characterized by local cutaneous complications (abscess, necrosis). CONCLUSIONS: Osteoarticular complications of erysipelas can be divided into the 2 groups of nonseptic complications (mainly bursitis), which are characterized by a favorable outcome, and septic complications (osteitis, arthritis, tendinitis), which require specific, often prolonged treatment and, sometimes, operation. Their diagnosis is on the basis of clinical and radiologic findings rather than joint aspirations, which are usually not possible through infected skin tissue.