Efficacy of omalizumab for the treatment of bullous pemphigoid: Spanish multicentre real-world experience.

BACKGROUND: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune blistering disease. Most patients are older and have associated multiple comorbidities. Topical and systemic corticosteroids are considered the first-line treatment for BP, and immunosuppressants are used as steroid-sparing treatments. However, both have side-effects and contraindications, which are even more common in this older population. New treatments targeting interleukins and receptors related to BP pathogenesis have been proposed to decrease these side-effects while achieving equal or better effectiveness and response rates. Omalizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets IgE and has been proposed for the treatment of BP due to the evidence that IgE autoantibodies play an essential role in BP pathogenesis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of omalizumab for the treatment of BP. METHODS: We carried out a multicentre, retrospective, observational study including patients diagnosed with BP who received omalizumab for ≥ 3 months from 15 tertiary hospitals in Spain. IgE levels prior to treatment were measured, and we evaluated the possible correlation with clinical response. We excluded patients treated with omalizumab for < 3 months, as we consider this duration to be insufficient for a comprehensive assessment of its efficacy. To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, we used the percentage of body surface area improvement. RESULTS: We included 36 patients. The vast majority had associated multiple comorbidities, and all patients had used other systemic therapies apart from corticosteroids before omalizumab. In total, 83% experienced some kind of treatment response and 42% of all patients treated achieved complete response. We did not find any correlation between higher IgE levels and a better response (P = 0.2). All patients tolerated omalizumab without reported side-effects. CONCLUSIONS: Omalizumab is a good therapeutic alternative for BP as it provided clinical response in most patients, and nearly one-half of the cases achieved complete response. It showed no side-effects, which is crucial in older patients with BP.

Hydrocolloid dressing for the treatment of severe diaper dermatitis.

Diaper dermatitis is a common dermatosis that usually responds to adequate hygiene and topical treatment, but can be a therapeutic challenge. Continuous exposure to feces and urine can cause extensive erosions and pain. The use of hydrocolloid dressings may be helpful in keeping the skin isolated from stool and urine, reducing pain, and enabling skin lesions to heal. We explain an easy technique, utilizing stoma powder and a hydrocolloid dressing, for parents to apply at home.

Expanding the phenotypes of congenital hemangiomas.

Congenital hemangiomas (CH) are benign vascular tumors that are present at birth and do not stain for the marker Glut-1. Herein, we describe five cases of CH with atypical presentations: 3 with late growth, 1 with slow involution, and 1 that partially involuted rapidly then manifested late growth.

Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides in a pediatric patient with response to psoralen-ultraviolet A phototherapy.

Mycosis Fungoides is the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma however, it is rare in children. We present the case of a Folliculotropic Mycosis Fungoides in a 13-year-old boy which initially presented as a plaque on his face and was treated with local PUVA therapy. Afterwards the lesions spread so the treatment was changed to systemic PUVA with good response. Although the experience in the treatment of Mycosis Fungoides in pediatric patients is limited, PUVA therapy seems to be an effective and safe option.