Predictors of perceived stigmatization in patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: The physical appearance of psoriasis can be cosmetically disfiguring, resulting in a substantial social burden for patients. An important aspect of this burden is the experience of stigmatization. While stigmatization is known to be disabling and stressful for patients, little is known about its correlates, and effective interventions are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To examine predictor variables for perceived stigmatization in psoriasis. METHODS: Questionnaires were administered to 514 patients with psoriasis in a cross-sectional study. Zero-order correlation and multiple-regression analyses were conducted including sociodemographic, disease-related, personality, illness cognitions and social support predictor variables. RESULTS: Stigmatization was experienced by 73% of patients to some degree, and correlated with all five categories of predictor variables. In multiple-regression analyses, stigmatization was associated with higher impact on daily life; lower education; higher disease visibility, severity and duration; higher levels of social inhibition; having a type D personality; and not having a partner. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that perceived stigmatization is common in psoriasis, and can be predicted by sociodemographic, disease-related and personality variables. These predictor variables provide indications of which patients are especially vulnerable regarding perceived stigmatization, which might be used in treatment.

Effectiveness, side-effects and period of remission after treatment with methotrexate in localized scleroderma and related sclerotic skin diseases: an inception cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Detailed information is lacking on effectiveness of methotrexate (MTX) in sclerotic skin diseases, side-effects, and duration of remission after discontinuation. OBJECTIVES: To determine effectiveness, side-effects and period of remission gained by use of MTX in sclerotic skin diseases. METHODS: All patients with a sclerotic skin disease who were treated with MTX (group A) or MTX with corticosteroids (CS) (group B) between 1995 and 2007 were evaluated. Detailed information was collected on dosage and duration of MTX treatment, concomitant immunosuppressive medication and CS treatment, effectiveness, side-effects, duration of the remission period, and time until restart. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients (A, n = 47; B, n = 11) were evaluated. Clinical assessment revealed that 38 patients (81%) treated with MTX and 11 patients (100%) treated with MTX + CS showed improvement of sclerotic skin. After one treatment course 51% of the patients treated with MTX and 73% treated with MTX + CS reached remission status with a median follow-up time of 55 and 58 months. Patients showing relapse still responded to a second and even to a third course of MTX. Patients who showed a relapse had received a lower cumulative dose, due to a shorter period of treatment with MTX in the first course. Serious side-effects were seen in six patients (10%). CONCLUSIONS: MTX was an effective treatment for various sclerotic skin diseases with a long period of remission and relatively low toxicity. Patients showing relapse still responded to a second and third course of MTX.

Period of remission after treatment with UVA-1 in sclerodermic skin diseases.

BACKGROUND: Sclerodermic skin diseases can cause severe morbidity and disability. UVA-1 has shown to be an effective therapy for sclerodermic skin diseases. However, the period of remission in these patients is not clear. In this study, the effect and remission period of UVA-1 phototherapy in various sclerotic skin diseases is described using a semiquantitative clinical score combined with the durometer score as an objective apparatus to measure the hardness of the skin. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the effectiveness of UVA-1 phototherapy and the duration of remission in sclerodermic skin diseases. METHODS: In this prospective study, 10 patients with various sclerodermic skin diseases were treated with UVA-1 phototherapy. The durometer was used to observe the hardness of the skin. Hardness of the skin was measured by one investigator at 10 locations, distributed evenly on the representative sclerotic skin. Each spot was measured three times, and the average of each of these measurements was summed to give the total durometer score. Durometer scores were recorded weekly until the final treatment date and 4 weeks after treatment. Clinical scores were carried out at the end date of the treatment using a 6-point scale semiquantitative score. Long-term effects were evaluated up to 29-46 months. RESULTS: The patients were treated with UVA-1 in a cumulative dose of 1286 +/- 58.8 (SEM) J/cm(2) (range, 846-1470 J/cm(2)) divided over five times a week for 4 weeks. In all patients studied, the sclerotic skin lesions were markedly softer after UVA-1 treatment. All durometer scores improved highly significant during the first 3 weeks of treatment and borderline significant during the last week of treatment. There was no significant improvement between the end of UVA-1 phototherapy and 1 month after ending the therapy (P > 0.05). All patients noted improvement of the semiquantitative clinical score during treatment. Clinical improvement was associated with improvement of the durometer score (95% confidence interval). With a follow-up until 46 months, the remission period was stable up to 26 months in six patients. The duration of sclerodermic skin diseases before start of treatment did not influence improvement in the clinical or durometer score. One patient had an acute side effect of minimal erythema. No other side effects, except tanning and fatigue, were noted. LIMITATIONS: This is an open-label uncontrolled study. CONCLUSION: UVA-1 is an effective treatment for sclerodermic skin diseases with a long period of remission and clinical improvement even in patients with a long history of a sclerotic skin disease. UVA-1 should be considered among the first approaches in the management of sclerotic skin diseases.

[A long-standing swelling on the shoulder]. / Een lang bestaande zwelling op de schouder.

We present a 49-year-old woman with a cutaneous horn on the right shoulder since 20 years. Cutaneous horn is a clinical diagnosis referring to a benign or malignant lesion of the skin with a conical projection of cornified material. It is most common on sun-exposed skin.

[A Dutchman from Mali with a perianal ulcer caused by cutaneous amoebiasis]. / Een nederlander uit mali met een perianaal ulcus veroorzaakt door cutane amoebiasis.

A 66-year-old Dutchman, living in Mali, presented with an extensive progressive perianal ulcer despite local and antibiotic treatment. Microscopic examination of the stool revealed Entamoeba histolytica/dispar cysts and phagocytosing trophozoites were seen in fresh scrapings of the ulcer, a diagnostic feature of infection with E. histolytica. The diagnosis was cutaneous amoebiasis and the patient was effectively treated with metronidazole and local debridements. Primary cutaneous amoebiasis is a rare disease. Diagnosis and treatment are relatively simple but lack of familiarity with the disease may lead to misdiagnosis or diagnosis at a late stage ofthe infection.

Tacrolimus ointment for the treatment of severe facial plaque psoriasis.

Recently, tacrolimus ointment has proved to be effective and well tolerated in patients with facial psoriasis. A few months ago we had the opportunity to treat a patient with tacrolimus ointment who had severe and recalcitrant plaque psoriasis of the face. This present case illustrates the impressive improvement of facial plaque psoriasis following 5 months of treatment with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment twice a day. Significant improvement of facial plaque psoriasis was seen after 1 month and complete clearance after 5 months of therapy. Based on the available literature and illustrated by the present case we may conclude that tacrolimus ointment 0.1% can be recommended as a first-line treatment for facial psoriasis.