ABSTRACT
Atrophie blanche (livedo vasculitis) is a superficial thrombotic condition characterized by grouped and reticulated erythematous and purpuric macules, painful ulcers, and atrophic scars, and is usually found in middle-aged women. We describe an 8-year-old boy with atrophie blanche. Therapy with antiplatelet medications seemed to alleviate pain and decrease the ulceration.
Subject(s)
Skin Diseases, Vascular/diagnosis , Vasculitis/diagnosis , Aspirin/therapeutic use , Child , Dipyridamole/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , Humans , Male , Skin Diseases, Vascular/drug therapy , Skin Diseases, Vascular/pathology , Vasculitis/drug therapy , Vasculitis/pathologyABSTRACT
Cutaneous hemangiomas are common benign tumors of infancy that only rarely are associated with malformations in other tissues or organs. We report nine infants with large facial hemangiomas who also had Dandy-Walker malformations or similar posterior fossa abnormalities. On the basis of the experience with our patients and with those previously reported, we recommend radiographic imaging studies of the brain of infants with large, aggressive facial hemangiomas to rule out posterior fossa defects.
Subject(s)
Abnormalities, Multiple , Cranial Fossa, Posterior/abnormalities , Dandy-Walker Syndrome/complications , Facial Neoplasms/complications , Hemangioma/complications , Cerebellum/abnormalities , Female , Heart Defects, Congenital/complications , Humans , Infant , MaleABSTRACT
Pseudoporphyria cutanea tarda occurred in two children undergoing peritoneal dialysis and receiving erythropoietin therapy. The mechanism whereby erythropoietin might lead to photosensitization is unknown, but physicians should be aware of this possible association.
Subject(s)
Erythropoietin/adverse effects , Peritoneal Dialysis/adverse effects , Porphyria Cutanea Tarda/etiology , Child , Erythropoietin/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Male , Photosensitivity Disorders/etiology , Photosensitivity Disorders/pathology , Porphyria Cutanea Tarda/pathologyABSTRACT
Thirty-three cutaneous capillary and mixed hemangiomas in 24 patients were treated prospectively with the flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser. Patients ranged in age from 2 weeks to 7 months; the follow-up period was up to 22 months. Some patients received therapy until the lesion was almost clear or until the lesion failed to respond; others received treatment only until active capillary lesional proliferation abated. In the first group of patients, 18 of 25 lesions that were 3 mm or less in elevation lightened with therapy (93.9% +/- 4.6% in 4.1 +/- 1.6 treatment sessions) and flattened to 0.3 +/- 0.4 mm in thickness. The seven lesions that were 4 mm or more in thickness lightened 85.7% +/- 7.3% in 7.0 +/- 2.0 treatment sessions but showed less diminution in thickness (to 3.4 +/- 3.6 mm; p less than 0.01). The second group of patients, who received therapy until proliferation ceased, required just one to three therapeutic sessions. Three of the four lesions that showed residual atrophy were 4 mm or greater in thickness; the fourth lesion was ulcerated on presentation. None of the lesions had residual induration or scarring. We conclude that the flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser may successfully prevent enlargement and promote involution of capillary hemangiomas with minimal adverse effects. Therapy is most appropriate for patients with hemangiomas at sites of potential functional impairment, of maceration or ulceration, and of significant cosmetic disfigurement. Therapy should be initiated as early as possible, when lesions are relatively flat, for optimal results.
Subject(s)
Hemangioma/surgery , Laser Therapy/methods , Skin Neoplasms/surgery , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Prospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Ataxia-telangiectasia is a genetic syndrome with progressive cerebellar ataxia, oculocutaneous telangiectasias and other skin manifestations, variable immune system defects, chronic progressive sinopulmonary disease, and a high incidence of cancer. Cutaneous granulomas developed and persisted in eight patients with ataxia-telangiectasia, despite treatment with intravenously administered immune globulin, topical antibiotic therapy, and potent topical corticosteroid therapy. We were unable to identify an infectious agent; the granulomas may develop in an attempt to localize antigen in the presence of a dysfunctional immune system.
Subject(s)
Ataxia Telangiectasia/complications , Granuloma/etiology , Skin Diseases/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Granuloma/pathology , Humans , Infant , Male , Skin Diseases/pathologyABSTRACT
We describe two children with human immunodeficiency virus infection in whom pyoderma gangrenosum developed. Although pyoderma gangrenosum most commonly occurs in children with inflammatory bowel disease, it has also been described in patients with a variety of immunodeficiencies. In such patients a vigorous search to exclude a treatable infection should be made before the lesions are treated as pyoderma gangrenosum.