Eosinophilic fasciitis secondary to intravenous iron infusions.

A 43-year-old African-American female with anemia secondary to uterine leiomyomas and menorrhagia presented with induration and stiffness of the right arm and hand four weeks after receiving intravenous iron infusions at multiple infusion sites along the right proximal forearm. Multiple intravenous sites between her right antecubital fossa and wrist had to be used because developing pain necessitated the site changes. The iron infusions were performed because the patient had refused blood transfusions and her symptoms failed to resolve on oral iron supplementation. The skin induration persisted and progressed for several months at which time a skin biopsy was performed. The skin histology was consistent with eosinophilic fasciitis and her complete blood count was notable for a peripheral eosinophilia. Because of the location of the fibrosis and the time proximity in relation to her infusions, a relationship between the iron infusions and eosinophilic fasciitis was made. Cutaneous fibrosis has been linked to immunologic dysfunction, autoantibody production, tissue hypoxia, and vascular damage, which may have been contributing factors in this patient. Eosinophilic fasciitis has been linked to certain drugs and chemicals, notably L-tryptophan ingestion and the statin family of drugs.

Local anesthesia using buffered 0.5% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine for tumors of the digits treated with Mohs micrographic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Several specialties and textbooks continue to advocate that local anesthesia using epinephrine should not be used during surgery involving the digits. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the association between local anesthesia (buffered 0.5% lidocaine and 1:200,000 epinephrine) injected into digits, comorbid patient conditions, and postoperative complications including ischemia or necrosis. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients presenting for Mohs micrographic surgery in a private practice ambulatory surgery center was performed between October 2002 and January 2009. Patient factors including amount of anesthesia injected; preoperative vitals; history of hypertension, stroke, or circulatory disorders; and presence of anticoagulation were assessed. RESULTS: Three Mohs surgeons' patients were included in the study. No digital blocks were performed; local anesthesia was infiltrated directly into the tumor site. Patients received buffered 0.5% lidocaine plus epinephrine 1:200,000. Of 63 patients presenting for surgery (59 fingers and 4 toes), there were no cases of digital ischemia or necrosis. Approximately one-third had a circulatory disorder or diabetes, and more than half had a diagnosis of hypertension or were taking anticoagulation. The average amount of anesthesia injected was 6.92 mL, with the greatest amount being 25 mL. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective review with possible overestimation of adverse effects as a result of referral bias of complicated patients to an ambulatory surgery center for treatment. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence that buffered 0.5% lidocaine with epinephrine 1:200,000 causes ischemia or necrosis when injected into digits. This is true despite a history of circulatory disorders, thrombosis, diabetes, smoking, anticoagulation, or significant preoperative hypertension.

Mycosis fungoides with depigmentation secondary to treatment.

A 51-year-old man presented with itchy, erythematous patches and plaques on his trunk, arms, and legs. A skin biopsy specimen showed mycosis fungoides. Initially the patient did not respond to PUVA photochemotherapy but later improved on NB-UVB phototherapy combined with bexarotene and interferon-alpha. The lesions progressed from erythematous patches and plaques to hyperpigmented patches with central depigmentation and localized areas of follicular repigmentation. The development of depigmentation after PUVA photochemotherapy for mycosis fungoides has been described in the literature and does not have associated prognostic implications. It is important to be cognizant of phototoxicity associated with PUVA photochemotherapy or NB-UVB phototherapy in patients with mycosis fungoides, who may be taking photosensitizing medications or have depigmented patches which renders them more sensitive to lower doses of ultraviolet light.