Treatment of mycosis fungoides with bexarotene results in remission of diffuse plane xanthomas.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous xanthomas develop as a result of intracellular and dermal deposition of lipids in either hyper- or normolipidemic patients. Plane xanthomas may signal the presence of an underlying monoclonal gammopathy, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, or cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Investigators have suggested that xanthomatized T cells may result in induction of plane xanthomas. METHODS: We report the case of a patient with mycosis fungoides (MF) and plane xanthomas who was treated with bexarotene for his MF. RESULTS: Significant improvement in the clinical signs of MF was observed within 3 months. We also observed a substantial regression of the xanthomas after 5 months of treatment. Complete clinical remission of both the MF and xanthomas was obtained after 6 months. The patient was still free of xanthomas after 3 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Bexarotene led to the clearing of the cutaneous lesions of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and plane xanthomas. This may be due to an effect of bexarotene on the aberrant T cells that may cause xanthomatization.

Characteristics of psoriasis in Greece: an epidemiological study of a population in a sunny Mediterranean climate.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with important socioeconomic consequences. Data on psoriasis prevalence in Greece is scarce and circumstantially reported. The aim of this study was the recording of psoriatic patients' demographic data, clinical characteristics of the disease, and exacerbating factors. Seven hundred and eighty four patients were enrolled in 6 centres (4 in Athens and 2 in Thessaloniki) in a multicenter epidemiologic prospective study. The mean age of patients was 43.2 (standard deviation, SD 17.44) years (median 42 years), while the men: women ratio was 1.8:1. Additionally, 35% of patients reported a positive family history of psoriasis. The mean age of patients at the first episode of psoriasis was 31.3 (SD 16.39) years (median 28 years). Psoriasis vulgaris was the most common form of psoriasis in the population participating in this study. Flares of psoriasis occurred 2.6 times per year on average. The patients considered stress as the main cause for psoriasis exacerbation. Most frequent target points of psoriasis included elbows, legs, scalp and knees. The most common symptoms reported were scaling, and itching. On average, patients visited dermatologists 2.4 times per year for issues related to psoriasis. This study provides epidemiological information regarding psoriasis in Greece. Results of this survey could assist in delineation of patient profiles, and improve communication between doctors and patients.