Effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of bilastine 20 mg vs levocetirizine 5 mg for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria: A double-blind, parallel group, randomized controlled trial.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a debilitating condition, adversely affecting the patient's quality of life. Bilastine is a recently introduced, non-sedative H1-antihistamine for its treatment. We wanted to compare the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of bilastine 20 mg vs levocetirizine 5 mg in moderate-to-severe CSU. We conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial with two groups: bilastine 20 mg (n = 31) and levocetirizine 5 mg (n = 27), once daily for 42 days. We included patients (18-65 years), with moderate-to-severe CSU. UAS7, VAS, and DLQI were used to assess severity of urticaria, global urticaria-induced discomfort and quality of life, respectively. DLQI was assessed at baseline (D0) and end-of-treatment (D42), while UAS7 and VAS were noted at baseline and all follow-up visits. Assessment of UAS7 alteration was our primary objective, while changes in DLQI and VAS were the secondary outcomes. Safety was assessed by recording drug-related adverse events, biochemical investigations, and electrocardiogram, along with tolerability and compliance. Both drugs significantly improved UAS7, DLQI, and VAS at end-of-treatment (D42) compared with baseline (intra-group). At the end-of-treatment, all parameters showed greater improvement with bilastine, but only UAS7 reduction was significant (bilastine > levocetirizine, P = .03). In both the groups, UAS7 and VAS improved significantly D14 onwards, and was maintained throughout the study. Sedation was significantly less with bilastine (P = .04), while neither drug showed any serious adverse-effect. Tolerability of both drugs was similar. Therefore, bilastine was found to be a more effective and less-sedative novel therapy for CSU compared to levocetirizine, with similar effect on quality of life.

Aquagenic palmar wrinkling in two Indian patients with special reference to its dermoscopic pattern.

Aquagenic palmar wrinkling (APW), synonymously known as aquagenic syringeal acrokeratoderma, transient aquagenic palmar hyperwrinkling, aquagenic palmoplantar keratoderma, or transient reactive papulotranslucent acrokeratoderma, is a distinctive dermatosis characterized by whitish papules, excessive wrinkling, and possible desquamation of the palms and/or soles after immersion into water for a short time. We describe herein two cases of aquagenic palmar wrinkling in Indian patients with special reference to its dermoscopic pattern. Since its initial description, only a few cases of APW have been described in literature. To the best of our knowledge, APW is a hitherto unreported condition in Indian population.

Porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct nevus - revisited.

We hereby report a rare case of a 14-year-old girl presenting with asymptomatic pitted papules over the flexor aspect of her right 4th and 5th digits. This was histopathologically proven to be porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct nevus (PEODDN).

Transverse erythronychia: A unique nail manifestation of COVID-19 infection and brief review of COVID-19 associated nail changes.

Over the past 2 years, a plethora of mucocutaneous manifestations have been described to be associated with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Nail changes attributed to COVID-19 have rarely been documented in the literature. We describe here a unique nail finding 'transverse erythronychia' due to COVID-19 and review the literature on the diverse nail pathology attributed to the disease.

Multiple giant angiokeratoma of Fordyce on the shaft of the penis masquerading as keratoacanthoma.

The term 'angiokeratoma' includes a wide range of dermatological conditions of hyperkeratotic vascular disorders with a similar histologic combination of hyperkeratosis and superficial dermal vascular ectasia. Angiokeratomas can be classified into localized and systemic forms. Angiokeratoma of Fordyce (AKF) is a localized form of angiokeratoma, clinically characterized by 1- to 6-mm, black, blue, or dark red, dome-shaped papules located on the scrotum, shaft of penis, labia majora, clitoris, inner thigh, and lower abdomen. We describe herein a case of giant angiokeratoma of Fordyce on shaft of the penis in an elderly man, clinically masquerading as keratoacanthoma.

Multiple giant angiokeratoma of Fordyce on the shaft of the penis masquerading as keratoacanthoma

The term 'angiokeratoma' includes a wide range of dermatological conditions of hyperkeratotic vascular disorders with a similar histologic combination of hyperkeratosis and superficial dermal vascular ectasia. Angiokeratomas can be classified into localized and systemic forms. Angiokeratoma of Fordyce (AKF) is a localized form of angiokeratoma, clinically characterized by 1- to 6-mm, black, blue, or dark red, dome-shaped papules located on the scrotum, shaft of penis, labia majora, clitoris, inner thigh, and lower abdomen. We describe herein a case of giant angiokeratoma of Fordyce on shaft of the penis in an elderly man, clinically masquerading as keratoacanthoma.