Combination therapy with clindamycin and rifampicin for hidradenitis suppurativa: a series of 116 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are frequently used to treat hidradenitis suppurativa (HS); however, few data on their efficacy are available. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a combination of systemic clindamycin (300 mg twice daily) and rifampicin (600 mg daily) in the treatment of patients with severe HS. METHODS: Patients (n = 116) who received this combination were studied retrospectively. The main outcome measure was the severity of the disease, assessed by the Sartorius score, before and after 10 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: The Sartorius score dramatically improved at the end of treatment (median = 29, interquartile range = 14.5, vs. median = 14.5, interquartile range = 11; p < 0.001), as did other parameters of severity as well as the quality of life score. Eight patients (6.9%) stopped the treatment because of side effects. CONCLUSION: The combination of clindamycin and rifampicin is effective in the treatment of severe HS.

Absence of efficacy of oral isotretinoin in hidradenitis suppurativa: a retrospective study based on patients' outcome assessment.

BACKGROUND: In analogy to acne, oral isotretinoin has been considered in the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of oral isotretinoin according to patients. METHODS: From 1999 to 2006, 358 consecutive HS patients were interviewed and examined. A standardized record of the data was performed for each patient during the first consultation. Patients were questioned regarding the effect of previous treatment with oral isotretinoin: patients had to grade the effect as either 'improved', 'no effect' or 'worse'. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (16.1%) declared an improvement, 67 patients (77%) no effect and 6 patients (6.9%) worsening of HS. CONCLUSION: According to our patients, oral isotretinoin is not effective in the treatment of HS.

[Lymphedema as a complication of hidradenitis suppurativa in three patients]. / Lymphoedème compliquant une hidradénite suppurée: trois observations.

BACKGROUND: We report three patients (respectively 36, 52 and 52 years old) with a long history of hidradenitis suppurativa associated with pubic lymph oedema. CASE REPORT: Dramatic pubic oedema was noted, with "rugby-ball and bag-like" tumefaction associated with nodules and fistula. There was no evidence of lymph node involvement or abdominal lymphatic blockade. One patient underwent surgical excision combined with split-thickness graft and complete healing ensued. Pathological examination of the excised tissue showed telangiectasia and fibrosis. DISCUSSION: Chronic lymphedema affects patients with severe and long-lasting disease. The complication is caused by chronic and recurrent inflammation due to HS with subsequent blockade or destruction of local lymph drainage routes. Once this complication appears, no medical treatment is effective.

Famciclovir vs. aciclovir in immunocompetent patients with recurrent genital herpes infections: a parallel-groups, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Twice-daily therapy with famciclovir (FCV) was shown to be effective for episodic therapy for recurrent genital herpes in a large placebo-controlled trial. However, no study has been published to date comparing FCV and aciclovir (ACV). OBJECTIVES: We have evaluated the effectiveness of FCV vs. ACV in the treatment of recurrent genital herpes infection. METHODS: A multicentre, double-blind, double-placebo, randomized, parallel-design study, assessed for equivalence, was conducted. As the analysis was based on confidence intervals, a difference of lesion healing time between ACV and FCV (Delta) of 1.05 days with a standard deviation of 2.30 days was chosen. Two hundred and four outpatients were included. Patients self-initiated oral therapy with 125 mg of FCV twice daily or ACV 200 mg five times daily for 5 days. The principal end-point of the study was the complete healing of lesions. Duration of the complete resolution of all symptoms, and safety were also considered. RESULTS: The mean healing time was 5.1 days and 5.4 days for FCV and ACV, respectively, with a crude value of Delta = 0.25 days (CI 95%: -0.32; 0.82) in the intent-to-treat population. Therefore, the confidence interval for the difference between the two treatments lies entirely within the equivalence range (-1.05-1.05). The value of Delta in the per-protocol population [0.35 day (CI 95%: -0.24; 0.93)] was comparable between the two groups. No differences were detected in the proportion of patients having complete healing at the different days of evaluation as well as in the duration until the complete resolution of all the symptoms. The frequency, nature and severity of adverse events did not differ among the two treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Twice-daily FCV was as effective and safe in the treatment of recurrent genital herpes simplex virus infection as five times daily ACV.

Vulvovaginal sequelae in toxic epidermal necrolysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of vulvar lesions during the acute and healing periods in toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), to describe the clinical aspects and functional consequences, and to evaluate surgical treatment. STUDY DESIGN: During the acute period in 40 patients, cutaneous and mucous lesions were described on the day of hospitalization and daily thereafter. To evaluate the healing period, a questionnaire was sent to the same 40 patients to obtain information on symptomatology after the acute period, anatomic modifications, and the quality of sexual and other genital activity. RESULTS: During the acute period, genital lesions were present in 28 of the 40 patients studied (70%). In 24/28 (89%) the lesions were vulvar only, and in 3/28 (11%) they were vulvovaginal. In one case vaginal involvement could not be proven because the patient was a virgin. During the healing period, sequelae occurred in 5 of the 40 patients (12.5%): four cases were known since the patients had visited the Department of Gynecology because of secondary effects, and one case was detected by the questionnaire. The symptoms occurred during hospitalization in 1 case, at the end of the second month in 2, at the 12th month in 1 and unknown in 1. The site was the vulva in all five cases and was the vulva and vagina in three. Again, the virgin could not be examined. The average interval between secondary effects and the original gynecologic visit was 7 months (3-12). The sequelae were treated surgically in two of the five affected patients: on the vulva, nymphoplasty, posthectomy and median perineotomy; in the vagina, sharp and blunt dissection, with use of a soft mold. The first patient had a recurrence six months after surgery, and the second had no recurrence but has been unable to engage in intercourse. CONCLUSION: From our study of the involvement of the vulva and vagina during TEN and the sequelae, it is clear that detection from the questionnaire was insufficient. Some women can have synechiae without functional sequelae, and others can have minor involvement with important psychological repercussions. A prospective study with systematic examination of the vulvovaginal area and systematic follow-up for at least one year is needed. For therapy, a lubricant gel (perhaps topical steroids) could be useful. Placing a soft mold in the vagina as soon as possible, though difficult, and keeping it there until complete healing occurs can lead to infection. It is not clear that use of a mold would promote healing or be tolerated. Intercourse immediately after the acute period would be helpful but probably would not be welcome to the patients. However useful, a prospective survey would be difficult because it would entail many years of study.

Lichen planus and hepatitis C virus--related chronic active hepatitis.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: An increased prevalence of chronic liver disease has been reported in patients with lichen planus (LP). We report six cases of LP associated with chronic active hepatitis and actively replicating hepatitis C virus (HCV). RESULTS: We studied six patients (three men and three women; mean age, 61 years; age range, 47 to 70 years) with various forms (cutaneous and/or mucosal) of LP and abnormal liver test results. Four patients had severe mucosal lesions. Cutaneous and mucosal lesions had a long-term evolution. Liver disease was discovered 2 to 6 years before LP in three cases and was diagnosed at the same time as LP in the three other cases. Liver biopsy performed in five patients showed chronic active hepatitis without cirrhosis in all five cases. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in all cases by second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed by second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay. Hepatitis C virus RNA was evidenced by means of polymerase chain reaction in the serum samples from the six patients, proving active viral replication. CONCLUSIONS: Lichen planus may be associated with HCV-related chronic active hepatitis. As interferon treatment may induce viral inactivation in some patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease, a search for HCV infection should be systematically performed in patients with chronic LP.

[Treatment of genital Papillomavirus lesions]. / Traitement des lésions génitales à Papillomavirus.

Genital Papillomavirus infection has now reached epidemic size. Several techniques may be used to treat genital condylomas, but none of them is 100 percent effective. At the first consultation for external genital condylomas, the choice of treatment is determined by the size, location, number and histology of the lesions. Typical condyloma acuminata that are present in small number and have a less than 5 mm base of implantation are treated by cryotherapy or trichloracetic acid. Podophyllin should be reserved for patients with diffuse lesions. When one or several lesions do not regress after 3 to 4 weeks of treatment, surgical procedures (electrocautery, CO2 laser) must preferably be used. Condylomas that have a base of implantation wider than 5 mm are directly destroyed by surgical excision, as are dysplastic lesions. Post-treatment cure of external genital lesions must be confirmed by a negative acetic acid test. Patients should be advised to utilize condoms throughout the duration of treatment.

["Pagetoid reticulosis" (Woringer and Kolopp disease). A disease of the Merkel cell (author's transl)]. / La "réticulose pagétoïde" de Woringer et Kolopp. Une maladie de la cellule de Merkel.

A case of Woringer and Kolopp disease "Pagetoid reticulosis" is described. Clinical features include a ring of a target pattern of erythemato-squamous infiltrated skin lesion. The characteristic histological aspect of dense epidermal infiltrate by abnormal cells with a spared dermis has been observed. Ultrastructural findings include cytoplasmic granules with a found electron dense core and close relationship to neurites, two features of the Merkel cell of human normal epidermis. By comparing our patients with the already reported cases of Woringer and Kolopp disease it seems likely that this is a unique disease with no relationship with cutaneous lymphoma but which is defined by a Merkel cell proliferation.

[Woringer-Kolopp syndrome. Histological and ultrastructural study of a case]. / Syndrome de Woringer-Kolopp. Etude histologique et ultrastructurale d'une observation.

The authors report a case of Woringer-Kolopp syndrome. This was a rare form with multiple cutaneous features with a typical clinical and histological appearance. Ultrastructural study revealed the presence of granules with an opaque centre in the cytoplasm of the abnormal cells, and the close relationship of the latter with neurites. On the basis of these characteristics, they may be likened to the Merkel cells of the epidermis. Thus Woringer-Kolopp disease could be related to the proliferation of Merkel cells.