[Cutaneous pseudolymphoma caused by carbamazepine]. / Pseudolymphome cutané induit par la carbamazépine.

INTRODUCTION: Drug-induced cutaneous pseudolymphomas are poorly reported. They clinically and pathologically mimic malignant lymphomas but their evolution is benign after drug withdrawal. CASE REPORT: We herein reported a case of carbamazepine++-induced pseudolymphoma in a 30 year-old woman of particular interest because of the paucity of clinical symptoms (only six papules of less than one centimetre each). COMMENTS: Phenytoins, carbamazepine++, barbiturates and ACE inhibitors are the main drugs inducing cutaneous pseudolymphomas. These usually mimic T-cell lymphomas. The clinical spectrum of cutaneous pseudolymphomas is broad including severe aspects, such as erythroderma or tumoral eruption and benign appearing one as in our case. Drug investigation is mandatory for each patient with lymphoma appearing cutaneous infiltrates because dramatic and definitive healing of the lesion is always expected in case of pseudolymphoma.

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita in a 3 1/2-year-old girl.

A 3 1/2-year-old girl had a subepidermal bullous eruption with immunopathologic features that were consistent with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita or bullous systemic lupus erythematosus. This report highlights the difficulty encountered in distinguishing between epidermolysis bullosa acquisita and other bullous disorders that involve the dermoepidermal junction and the need for modern immunologic investigations in the diagnosis of bullous diseases in children.

[Aging and the cutaneous immune system]. / Vieillissement et système immunitaire cutané.

The changes in the immune system during the ageing process have been described in numerous publications, which are sometimes contradictory. The study of cell mediated immunity and of hormonal immunity provide only a partial reflection of the smooth working of the cutaneous immune system, which is dependent on fragile cell interactions between T lymphocytes, cells of Langerhans and keratinocytes, which involves numerous soluble mediators. Three possible mechanisms leading to or contributing to the decline in immune function with age should be considered: a modification of the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations (the T helper lymphocytes and T-suppressing lymphocytes are affected by age in particular), changes in the mechanisms of suppression and changes in the maturation of B and T lymphocytes.

Eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syndrome): ultrastructural study of a case with circulating immune complexes.

A 42-year-old woman was observed during 3 bouts of eosinophilic cellulitis over a 6-year-period. Skin biopsies were taken at each relapse and processed for histological, immunofluorescent and ultrastructural studies. Histologically the eosinophilic infiltrate extended to the deep dermis and the subcutaneous fat. High levels of circulating immune complexes, and complement and IgG deposits around the vessels were detected for as long as the cutaneous lesions lasted. Under the electron microscope eosinophils were numerous, half of them degranulated and some granules had a double cristal core. No injury to the vessel walls was observed. The 3 recurrences occurred respectively after lincomycin, nesdonal, acetyl salicylic acid and pholcodin ingestion and responded to sulfone and steroid therapy.

[Actinomyces meyeri actinomycosis: a case with thoracic and tibial localization]. / Actinomycose à Actinomyces meyeri: un cas avec localisation thoracique et tibiale.

Apart from the rarity of the causal agent, this case is of interest because of the absence of cervico-facial involvement and the presence of multiple cutaneous nodules at a distance from the visceral localisation.