[Characteristics of chronic wounds in substance abuse: A retrospective study of 58 patients]. / Caractéristiques des plaies chroniques chez les toxicomanes : étude rétrospective de 58 patients.

BACKGROUND: Drug addiction causes chronic wounds (CW) responsible for severe complications. Very few studies are available on this topic. The aim of our study was to describe the demographic, clinical and etiological characteristics as well as the course of CW in drug addicts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective and prospective multicenter study including all drug addicts with CW. RESULTS: We included 58 patients (17 prospectively), 84.5% of whom were male, of median age 43 years, presenting multiple CW as a result of intravenous (78.2%), inhaled (41.1%) and/or snorted (20%) drug abuse. Addiction to opioids (68.4%), cocaine (47.4%) and/or cannabis (40.4%) was ended and/or treated through substitution in 79.3% of patients. CW were fibrinous and necrotic (42.9 to 53.6%), recurrent (54.2%), and in some cases had been present for more than 1 year (61.5%). Intravenous drug addiction was associated with large, fibrinous, ulcers in a setting of venous and lymphatic insufficiency (74%). Only 23% of these wounds involved the upper limbs. Necrotic ulcers associated with clinical arteriopathy were described mainly with inhaled addiction. Abscesses (50%) and erysipelas (29.3%) were the most common cutaneous complications. After 3 months, 50% of CW were improved and 29.2% of patients were lost to follow-up. DISCUSSION: Drug abuse-related CW occurred preferentially in young men with history of intravenous abuse. For the most part, CW were seen on the legs and were associated with venous and lymphatic insufficiency, and the resulting major risk for cutaneous infection increased morbidity and mortality in this population in whom medical follow-up is inherently complicated.

[Changes in mortality in the Reims University Hospital Dermatology Department (1996-2009)]. / Évolution de la mortalité dans le service de dermatologie du CHU de Reims (1996-2009).

BACKGROUND: End-of-life care is becoming a daily concern of French dermatology departments. The aim of this single-centre retrospective study was to assess changes in mortality and end-of-life care in a university dermatology department over a 14-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of all patients dying in our dermatology department from 1996 to 2009 were studied retrospectively. A descriptive analysis was performed together with a comparison between the two periods demarcated by the institution of the French National Cancer Plan at the end of 2002. RESULTS: The number of patients dying in the department rose by 33% from 108 for period 1 (1996-2002) to 144 for period 2 (2003-2009). The majority of patients presented metastatic melanoma, with doubling of numbers between the two periods. During period 2, 40 % of patients were managed in collaboration with the mobile palliative care team. CONCLUSION: This study shows an increase in the number of deaths in a French university hospital dermatology department over the 14-year period in question, ascribable mainly to an increase in the number of patients receiving end-of-life care for metastatic melanoma. Significant changes were noted in the management of these patients with an increase in palliative care procedures.

[Post-traumatic acral melanoma: an underestimated reality?]. / Mélanome acral post-traumatique : une réalité sous-estimée ?

BACKGROUND: The role of trauma in the physiopathology of malignant melanoma remains controversial. We report a case of acral melanoma in which a characterized trauma seems implicated in tumour progression; we performed a review of the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 73-year-old male consulted for a lesion of his right big toe. Physical examination revealed a dystrophic and hyperkeratotic nail destroyed by a growing lesion. Histological study showed an ulcerated superficial spreading melanoma with a Breslow thickness of 4mm. He had previously had this same toe broken, leaving gradually worsening dystrophy of the nail; the toe was injured again spontaneously and by partial removal of the nail tablet. DISCUSSION: A number of cases of "post-traumatic" melanomas have been reported. This hypothesis, though widely admitted for other tumours, remains debated for melanomas mainly because of possible recall bias. In this patient, there was a clear continuum of the lesion as well as topographic correspondence between the initial trauma, the remaining dystrophy and the appearance of the melanoma. Case-control studies have identified trauma as an independent risk factor for acral melanoma with a high relative risk; such risk is multiplied for repeated trauma, suggesting a "dose-effect" relationship. Trauma could act as the promotional stage of melanoma mediated by cytokines released during wound healing or it could cause direct activation of micro-vascular tumour cell transport. CONCLUSION: Our observation and literature research provide convincing arguments for a role of trauma in the development of acral melanomas. Dermatologists must pay attention to any unusual changes in an old scar.

[Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy and acquired hemophilia A]. / Éruption polymorphe de la grossesse associée à une hémophilie acquise A.

BACKGROUND: Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is a rare and serious disease, and instances of association with skin diseases have been described. We report a case of postpartum AHA associated with atypical polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Following delivery of her second child, a 27-year-old woman developed a generalised pruritic erythematous papular and vesicular rash in plaques. The diagnosis of pemphigoid gestationis was ruled out on the basis of negative immunopathology results and a diagnosis of PEP was made. Lengthening of activated cephalin time was observed, without correction by addition of control plasma, and prothrombin time was normal. AHA was confirmed by the very low levels of factor VIII and the presence of antifactor VIII antibody. The patient was given intravenous activated recombinant factor VII for epistaxis and gingival bleeding, followed by an infusion of polyvalent immunoglobulins and systemic corticosteroids. Both diseases regressed within a few weeks. DISCUSSION: This case is original in terms of the atypical presentation of AHA associated with severe PEP. AHA was associated with the presence of antifactor VIII Ab. Although the disease generally occurs alone, it has already been reported during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and in association with various forms of dermatosis, including bullous pemphigoid, although to our knowledge, never in association with PEP or pemphigoid gestationis. However, neither the underlying mechanisms of this association of PEP and AHA, which was probably not a chance occurrence, nor the risks of relapse of these conditions during subsequent pregnancies have been elucidated.