[Acral lichen sclerosus et atrophicus]. / Lichen scléreux acral.

BACKGROUND: Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus rarely affects the feet or hands and in this case, it is generally part of widespread cutaneous involvement. We report a case of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus involving only the extremities and the vulvar and perigenital area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 56-year-old woman presented with lesions of the hands and feet, with ivory white papules on the dorsal aspect of the feet and the distal phalanx of the fingers, a few small keratotic papules with central depressions in the hollow of the palms, erythema on soles and thenar and hypothenar eminences. Further examination revealed lichen sclerosus et atrophicus of the vulva and genitocrural skinfolds. Histological study of these various cutaneous lesions yielded similar results and revealed the typical features of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. DISCUSSION: A few cases of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus confined to the hands and/or feet have been reported, involving the palms and soles or nail folds, but none has so far affected the genitalia. To our knowledge, no cases of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus involving both faces of the hands and feet and the genital region have ever been reported.

[Malignant nodular hidradenoma and multiple nodular hidradenomas in a hypogonadic patient]. / Hidradénome nodulaire malin et hidradénomes nodulaires multiples chez un malade hypogonadique.

BACKGROUND: We report a case of multiple benign nodular hidradenomas associated with malignant nodular hidradenoma in a hypogonadic patient. CASE-REPORT: A 49 year-old man presented 11 benign nodular hidradenomas in the pectoral region. A malignant nodular hidradenoma had recently appeared in this region some distance from the pre-existing benign modular hidradenomas. This patient had peripheral hypogonadism associated with congenital bilateral cryptorchidia responsible for gynecomastia due to "relative hyperestrogenism". Large numbers of estrogen receptors were demonstrated in each of the benign nodular hidradenomas. The malignant nodular hidradenoma mass was unavailable and screening for these receptors was not possible. DISCUSSION: Cases of multiple nodular hidradenoma are extremely rare: we have seen only two. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports to date of combined malignant nodular hidradenoma and multiple benign nodular hidradenoma. However, there is histological evidence of transition forms. The coexistence of endocrine anomalies associated with this type of tumour has never been reported. However, the presence of estrogen receptors has occasionally been demonstrated in benign nodular hidradenomas. Our patient's endocrine disease may have played a role in the presentation of multiple hidradenomas, but this cannot be demonstrated.

[Sarcoidosis granuloma on a tattoo induced by interferon alpha]. / Granulome sarcoïdosique sur tatouage induit par l'interféron alpha.

BACKGROUND: The side effects attributed to interferon alpha are numerous, including autoimmune events such as lupus, arthritis or thyroiditis. Emergence of sarcoidosis in patients with interferon alpha therapy is much more rare. We describe a case occurring in a patient treated for melanoma. CASE REPORT: A 54 Year-old woman who had been treated for fifty Months with low dose interferon alpha (Roféron(R), 3 millions units, three times a week) for a melanoma of the scalp (adjuvant therapy), developed labial nodules on a permanent tattoo. The diagnosis of sarcoid granuloma was confirmed by histopathologic analysis. Physical examination revealed dyspnea on exertion with a moderate pulmonary interstitial infiltrate on the CT Scan. The diagnosis of cutaneous and pulmonary sarcoidosis in association with interferon alpha therapy was made. Within 4 weeks, skin nodules began to regress although interferon was pursued at the same dose. Four Months later, at the end of interferon therapy, the nodules had totally disappeared. DISCUSSION: About forty cases of cutaneous or systemic sarcoidosis in patients treated with interferon alpha have been reported, but none of these cases concerned patients treated for melanoma. Interferon alpha might promote the development of sarcoid granuloma by inducing a switch of cytokine secretion from a Th2 to a Th1 cytokine pattern. It is very important to recognize cutaneous sarcoidosis during interferon alpha treatment because pulmonary sarcoidosis can be confused with common general side effects observed with such treatment.

[Congenital adipose plantar nodules persisting in a 28 year-old woman]. / Nodules adipeux plantaires congénitaux persistant chez une femme de 28 ans.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital adipose plantar warts, a recently individualized entity, have an unknown long term evolution. Our patient, seen again aged 28 years represents the longest follow-up of the affection in the literature. OBSERVATION: A young woman presented with congenital plantar nodules. She was seen again at the age of 28: the lesions were still present and made it difficult for her to walk. DISCUSSION: Congenital adipose plantar warts are characterized by a bilateral, asymptomatic, plantar nodule of the heel, present at birth, corresponding histologically to a normal hypodermis, occasionally with interlobular fibrosis. The follow-up of published cases has only covered childhood. Our observation suggests the persistence of the affection into adulthood. It also emphasizes the possible functional problem created when walking.

Clinical relevance of direct quantification of pp65 antigenemia using flow cytometry in solid organ and stem cell transplant recipients.

A total of 1,305 blood samples from 85 solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients and 25 stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients at risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection were prospectively collected and tested using the shell vial assay (SVA) and a leukocytic qualitative PCR (q-PCR). Of these, 462 specimens were further tested by direct quantification of CMV antigenemia by flow cytometry (FC-Ag), 125 were tested with a quantitative competitive PCR, and 200 were tested for pp65 antigenemia using the slide method (S-Ag). Laboratory data were statistically analyzed according to the presence of CMV-related symptoms. In SOT and SCT recipients, active CMV infection occurred in 63.5 and 36%, respectively, and CMV disease occurred in 53 and 24%, respectively. FC-Ag results correlated better with q-PCR and S-Ag than with SVA. The first test found to be positive during follow-up was FC-Ag in 73% of cases. In SOT recipients, FC-Ag showed the highest sensitivity and negative predictive value for the diagnosis of any grade of CMV disease. For FC-Ag, the threshold beyond which CMV disease was highly probable seemed to lie at 0.20% positive polymorphonuclear leukocytes. FC-Ag appears to be a useful test for the early detection of CMV infection and the prediction of CMV disease.

[Cervical spine infection with Streptococcus anginosus. Case report]. / Infection du rachis cervical A streptococcus anginosus.

A case of cervical spine infection due to Streptococcus anginosus is reported. Streptococcus milleri is encountered in the mouth, gastro-intestinal tract, vagina and nasopharynx. It is an uncommon pathogen responsible of suppurative infections such as brain liver or spleen abscesses, intra-abdominal or soft tissue abscesses and pleural empyema. In rare cases it can cause spondylodiscitis and osteomyelitis. Based on the review of eight cases of spondylodiscitis or osteomyelitis, diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

Successful quantification of cytomegalovirus DNA by competitive PCR and detection with capillary electrophoresis.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is responsible for severe infections in immunocompromised patients. Viral load has recently been identified as one of the major risk factors for subsequent development of HCMV disease. In this context, we developed a protocol allowing rapid, sensitive and precise quantification of HCMV DNA using competitive PCR run to saturation. Long primers were used for amplification, and internal DNA standard was constructed by PCR, with a primer inducing formation of a loop on the target sequence. The obtained fragment differed from the wild one (142 bp) by 6 bp. Quantitative analysis of PCR-amplified HCMV DNA was carried out using an original system combining capillary gel electrophoresis and u.v. detection. This procedure was evaluated on renal transplant recipients, and the results of quantitative PCR were compared with those of viraemia, qualitative DNAemia and HCMV-related symptoms. High levels of HCMV DNA were associated with HCMV-related symptoms, and in all cases a significant decrease of viral load was observed following DHPG treatment. Competitive PCR with capillary electrophoresis detection appears to provide a sensitive quantification method for HCMV DNA in leukocytes and is easily adaptable to routine laboratory use.