Dermatology in black skin.

The vast majority of publications in dermatology refer to lightly pigmented skin, with few addressing the peculiarities of black skin. In addition there is no consensus on what it means to be black in different regions of the world. The lack of knowledge on the subject makes it difficult to recognize and manage dermatoses in this type of skin. This article aims to review the literature on intrinsic characteristics, as well as epidemiological and clinical aspects of the cutaneous manifestations of different dermatoses in black skin. It was found that there are sometimes striking differences, in the structural, biological, and functional aspects when comparing lightly pigmented and black skin. There are also physiological changes that need to be recognized to avoid unnecessary interventions. Some dermatoses have a higher incidence in black skin, such as acne, eczema, dyschromia and dermatophytosis. On the other hand, several dermatoses are more specific to black skin, such as pseudofolliculitis barbae, keloid, dermatosis papulosa nigra, ulcers caused by sickle-cell anemia, dactylolysis spontanea, confluent and reticulated papillomatosis of Gougerot and Carteaud, and some diseases of the hair and scalp (including fragile and brittle hair, traction alopecia, folliculitis keloidalis nuchae, folliculitis dissecans and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia). A spectrum of peculiar aspects of specific dermatoses, including sarcoidosis, lichen planus (with emphasis on the pigmentosus variant), psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, vitiligo, syphilis, pityriasis versicolor, and neoplasms are highlighted. In the latter, characteristics of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are compared, in addition to highlighting unusual aspects of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, endemic Kaposi sarcoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

Impact of Treatment with Ustekinumab on Severe Infections in a Patient with Uncontrolled Psoriasis and Late-Onset Combined Primary Immunodeficiency: Case Report.

A 35-year-old man with a late-onset combined immunodeficiency (LOCID) variant of common variable immunodeficiency, severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn's disease was attended in the Regional Hospital of Presidente Prudente and HC-FMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil. Anti-IL-12/IL-23 (ustekinumab) monoclonal antibody was prescribed due to the failure of other treatments (phototherapy, oral acitretin) for psoriasis and a Psoriasis Area Severity Index >10. We evaluated the impact of treatment with ustekinumab on severe infectious diseases in a patient with uncontrolled psoriasis and LOCID followed for 8 years. Four quarterly doses of ustekinumab 90 mg and human immunoglobulin replacement (10,000 mg at 28-day intervals) were administered. Immunophenotyping, cultures of lymphocytes, genetic sequencing, and whole exome sequencing were performed to investigate the primary immunodeficiency. Normal lymphocyte proliferation; pathogenic variants in genetic sequencing, and clinically significant variants in the whole exome for primary immunodeficiencies were not detected. The main infections before and after treatment with ustekinumab were chronic sinusitis and gastroenteritis. The patient was infected with COVID-19, dengue (twice) and influenza and was hospitalized three times for intravenous antibiotic therapy. Ustekinumab did not influence the susceptibility of the patient with LOCID to severe infections and significantly improved psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn's disease.

Nevo azul agminado sobre cicatrizes de acne: coincidência ou relação fisiopatológica? / Agminated blue nevus over acne scars: coincidence or pathophysiological relationship?

Nevo azul é uma lesão benigna originada de melanócitos dérmicos contendo grande quantidade de melanina. A variante agminada apresenta-se como um agrupamento de lesões de nevo azul com distribuição linear ou blaschkoide. Relatamos dois casos de pacientes com nevo azul agminado que surgiu sobre cicatrizes prévias de acne, sendo a dermatoscopia de grande auxílio para diagnóstico diferencial. Esta é a primeira ocorrência relatada de nevo azul agminado sobre cicatrizes prévias, o que pode ter ocorrido ao acaso ou em decorrência do processo de remodelamento do colágeno, próprio do processo cicatricial.

Blue nevus is a benign lesion arising from dermal melanocytes containing large amounts of melanin. The agminated variant presents a cluster of blue nevus lesions with linear or blaschkoid distribution. We report two cases of patients with agminated blue nevus that developed on previous acne scars, and dermoscopy helped a lot in the differential diagnosis. This is the first occurrence found in the literature of agminated blue nevus that appeared on a previous scar,

Atopic Dermatitis as a Paradoxical Effect of Secukinumab for the Treatment of Psoriasis.

In the therapeutic arsenal to treat moderate to severe psoriasis, the new agents are secukinumab and ustekinumab, which are fully human monoclonal antibodies, directed against IL-17A and IL-12/23, respectively, which have been shown to be effective and safe in several studies. Their side effects are rare, and the most frequently reported side effects were infection, especially nasopharyngitis, headache, pruritus, high blood pressure, and low back pain. Unlike the side effects, the paradoxical reaction can be defined by the appearance or exacerbation of a pathological condition that usually responds to a certain class of drug. The appearance of this reaction in patients using anti-interleukins is poorly described; however, as they are new drugs, they may be more common than the literature reports. We describe a case of a paradoxical reaction, with the appearance of atopic dermatitis, after using secukinumab to treat psoriasis.

Mycobacterium leprae on Palatine Tonsils and Adenoids of Asymptomatic Patients, Brazil.

We investigated palatine tonsil and adenoid specimens excised from otorhinolaryngological patients in a leprosy-endemic region of Brazil. Fite-Faraco staining identified Mycobacterium spp. in 9 of 397 specimen blocks. Immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium leprae, indicating that these organs can house M. leprae in persons inhabiting a leprosy-endemic region.

Infliximabe associado a ciclosporina e acitretina como terapia de resgate alternativa em paciente com psoríase grave refratária. Um relato de caso / Infliximab associated with cyclosporine and acitretin as alternative rescue therapy in a patient with severe psoriasis refractory. A case report

Contexto: O infliximabe é um anticorpo monoclonal quimérico que atua neutralizando a atividade biológica do fator de necrose tumoral alfa e impedindo a ligação da molécula aos receptores da célula-alvo. A melhora da psoríase ocorre logo nas primeiras semanas do seu uso, e está indicado, especialmente, em quadros graves, tanto cutâneos quanto articulares, nos quais necessitam pronta ação terapêutica. Descrição do caso: Relata-se caso de uma paciente com psoríase grave refratária a terapias sistêmicas prévias, incluindo metotrexate, ustequinumabe, secuquinumabe, acitretina e ciclosporina, com melhora de 70% em relação a avaliação inicial no índice de gravidade da psoríase por área, após início de fase de indução com infliximabe. Discussão: A paciente apresentou resposta satisfatória à terapia combinada de infliximabe com ciclosporina e acitretina, sem qualquer manifestação de eventos adversos, mas com melhoria das lesões e dos escores de avaliação. Poucos relatos de caso e estudos randomizados estão presentes na literatura sobre a associação de ciclosporina e imunobiológicos, devido ao risco de imunossupressão grave, porém no caso relatado não houve aumento desse risco. Entretanto, reconhecemos que é impossível avaliar adequadamente a efetividade e a segurança de qualquer tratamento com anticorpo monoclonal para doenças crônicas com apenas 14 dias de seguimento. Conclusão: O antifator de necrose tumoral alfa associado a ciclosporina mostrou ser uma combinação efetiva durante a fase de indução e e de grande valia neste caso, em que a paciente apresentava psoríase refratária a outras terapêuticas e necessidade de rápida resposta clínica.

Onicomicose simulando melanoma acral ungueal: relato de caso / Onychomycosis simulating melanoma nail acral: case report

Contexto: Onicomicose (tinha ungueal) pode ser causada por fungos dermatófitos, não dermatófitos ou leveduras. Raramente, pode se manifestar como melanoquínia longitudinal (mancha acastanhada, longitudinalmente, na lâmina ungueal), sendo diagnóstico diferencial do melanoma acral ungueal (MAU), uma neoplasia maligna do aparelho ungueal. Descrição do caso: Paciente do sexo feminino, 63 anos de idade, com surgimento recente de melanoníquia longitudinal na unha do primeiro quirodáctilo direito. Tendo em vista a suspeita clínica de MAU, foi realizada biópsia da matriz ungueal. Laudo histopatológico evidenciou tratar-se de onicomicose. Paciente apresentou resolução completa do quadro após seis meses de tratamento com antifúngico oral. Discussão: Apesar da semelhança clínica entre a melanoníquia longitudinal do MAU e a de uma forma clínica incomum de onicomicose, tais doenças apresentam prognósticos díspares. Exames complementares, como o exame anatomopatológico da matriz ungueal, podem ser de fundamental importância na elucidação diagnóstica. Conclusões: O exame físico completo envolve a avaliação das unhas. A melanoníquia longitudinal não ocorre exclusivamente no MAU; doenças benignas, como a onicomicose, também podem ter a mesma manifestação clínica.

Psoríase pustulosa palmoplantar como efeito paradoxal do uso de adalimumabe: relato de caso / Palmoplantar pustular psoriasis as a paradoxical effect of adalimumab use: case report

Contexto: A psoríase é uma doença crônica com taxa de prevalência variável no mundo, e com uma infinidade de opções terapêuticas para o seu tratamento. Para as formas mais graves ou associadas a outras comorbidades, vem se destacando o uso dos imunobiológicos. Dentre estes, os antagonistas do fator de necrose tumoral alfa apresentam grande espectro de uso em todo o território nacional. Descrição do caso: Homem de 36 anos de idade, tabagista, fez uso de infliximabe por dois anos devido a espondilite anquilosante, com insucesso terapêutico, mas sem efeitos adversos. Devido à má resposta clínica, a medicação foi substituída por adalimumabe e, após quatro anos de uso deste imunobiológico, o paciente evoluiu com lesões eritematosas-descamativas encimadas por pústulas estéreis na região palmoplantar. Não tinha história pessoal ou familiar de psoríase, sendo realizado o diagnóstico de efeito paradoxal ao uso da medicação imunobiológica, caso raro. Discussão: Os efeitos adversos dos imunobiológicos incluem infecções, reativação de infecções latentes, insuficiência cardíaca, efeito paradoxal. Este último consiste no aparecimento de psoríase em pacientes que usavam imunobiológicos devido a outras doenças de base; exacerbação de uma psoríase já em tratamento; ou surgimento de novas formas de psoríase. São reações raras, porém causam grande prejuízo na qualidade de vida do paciente, podendo até interferir no tratamento em andamento. Conclusões: Os efeitos paradoxais são divididos entre lesões de novo nos pacientes ou exacerbação de uma patologia previamente existente. Isso dificulta o diagnóstico do efeito adverso e, muitas vezes, retarda o tratamento do paciente. Buscamos, com este relato, alertar os médicos sobre a doença e seu tratamento.

Ictiose lamelar com apresentação na vida adulta: relato de caso / Ichthyosis lamellar with presentation in adult life: case report

Contexto: A ictiose lamelar é uma genodermatose rara, de herança autossômica recessiva. Pode ser causada por diferentes genes, principalmente mutação no gene TGM1 (transglutaminase 1) no cromossomo 14, e tem incidência de 1 caso em cada 200 mil nascidos vivos. A ictiose lamelar é causa de importante impacto na qualidade de vida. Relato da comunicação: Paciente do sexo feminino, 44 anos, procura atendimento médico para investigação de sintomas psiquiátricos, os quais foram avaliados. Foi afastado qualquer quadro psiquiátrico. Encaminhada à dermatologia, devido a evidente descamação lamelar disseminada, queratodermia palmoplantar, onicodistrofias e ectrópio bipalpebral. O exame clínico dermatológico e a avaliação histopatológica, evidenciaram características de ictiose lamelar, nunca tratada. Discussão: A ictiose lamelar é, na maioria das vezes, diagnosticada ao nascimento, com apresentação clínica muitas vezes sob a forma de bebê colódio. Este caso apresentou-se na vida adulta, com história desde o nascimento e, portanto, descartou-se a ictiose adquirida, relacionada a afecções nutricionais, metabólicas ou até paraneoplásicas. Conclusões: Este caso ilustra as manifestações da ictiose lamelar em paciente adulta em sua evolução natural, sem a interferência de tratamento.

Unexpectedly high leprosy seroprevalence detected using a random surveillance strategy in midwestern Brazil: A comparison of ELISA and a rapid diagnostic test.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy diagnosis is mainly based on clinical evaluation, although this approach is difficult, especially for untrained physicians. We conducted a temporary campaign to detect previously unknown leprosy cases in midwestern Brazil and to compare the performance of different serological tests. METHODS: A mobile clinic was stationed at the main bus terminal in Brasília, Brazil. Volunteers were quizzed and given a clinical exam to allow categorization as either patients, known contacts of patients or non-contacts, and blood was collected to determine anti-PGL-I and anti-LID-1 antibody titers by ELISA and by the NDO-LID rapid test. New cases of leprosy and the impact of performing this broad random surveillance strategy were evaluated. Accuracy values and concordance between the test results were evaluated among all groups. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty-four individuals were evaluated, and 44 (10.1%) were diagnosed with leprosy. Borderline forms were the most frequent presentation. Both tests presented higher positivity in those individuals with multibacillary disease. Serological tests demonstrated specificities arround 70% for anti-PGL-1 and anti-LID ELISA; and arround 40% for NDO-LID. Sensitivities ranged from 48 to 62%. A substantial agreement between NDO-LID and ELISA with concomitant positive results was found within leprosy patients (Kappa index = 0.79 CI95% 0.36-1.22). CONCLUSIONS: The unexpectedly high leprosy prevalence in this population indicates ongoing community-based exposure to Mycobacterium leprae antigens and high rates of subclinical infection. All tests showed low specificity and sensitivity values and therefore cannot be considered for use as stand-alone diagnostics. Rather, considering their positivity among MB patients and non-patients, these tests can be considered effective tools for screening and identifying individuals at high risk who might benefit from regular monitoring.

Clinical presentation of tuberculoid leprosy in an epidermodysplasia verruciformis patient.

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is triggered by a variety of mechanisms that at least partly include genetic background. We present a Brazilian man with a 30-year history of flat, wart-like lesions with clinical, histopathological, and evolutive aspects consistent with papillomavirus (HPV)-associated EV. Histological analysis of the wart lesions showed epidermis with hyperkeratosis, regular acanthosis, hypergranulosis, and cells with abundant basophilic cytoplasm. Moreover, a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate was found in the superficial dermis, consistent with a viral wart. Type-2-HPV DNA was detected in various fragments of skin-wart lesions using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two years after the EV diagnosis, the patient presented with an anesthetic well-demarcated, erythematous and mildly scaly plaque on his right forearm. A histopathological analysis of this lesion demonstrated the presence of a compact tuberculoid granuloma. Ziehl-Neelsen staining demonstrated the presence of rare acid-fast bacilli and confirmed the tuberculoid leprosy diagnosis. The patient's Mitsuda Intradermal Reaction was positive. To elucidate the possible mechanism involved in this case of EV, we genotyped the HLA genes of this patient. DQB genotyping showed the polymorphic HLA alleles DQB1*0301 and 0501. The patient was treated with a paucibacillary multi-drug therapy scheme, and the disease was cured in six months. This report describes an EV patient with an M. leprae infection, confirming that tuberculoid leprosy patients possess a relatively specific and efficient cell-mediated immunity against the bacillus and, therefore, localized forms of the disease. Moreover, we show the possible involvement of the polymorphic HLA alleles DQB1*0301 and 0501 in EV induction mechanisms.

Treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis with clofazimine.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the safety and efficacy of clofazimine for the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. STUDY DESIGN: In this randomized controlled partially blind study, 23 patients received clofazimine 100 mg daily for 30 days and then 100 mg every other day. Twenty-three patients received colchicine 0.5 mg 3 times daily. Twenty patients received 1 placebo pill 2 times daily. All subjects received medications for 6 months. The chi-squared or Fisher exact tests were used to assess drug efficacy with respect to objective findings and symptoms. RESULTS: A greater percentage of individuals in the clofazimine group had no further aphthous episodes (17%-44% compared with

Multiple deep granuloma annulare limited to the cephalic segment in childhood.

Deep granuloma annulare is a rare variance of granuloma annulare. We present a 4-year-old boy with 30 lesions located only in the scalp with spontaneous regression of all lesions.

The oral mucosa in paucibacillary leprosy: a clinical and histopathological study.

BACKGROUND: Involvement of the oral mucosa can occur in lepromatous leprosy; however, lesions in the oral mucosa of paucibacillary patients have not been previously observed. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine whether clinical and subclinical lesions exist in oral mucosa in nontreated paucibacillary leprosy patients, using clinical and histopathological examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical and histopathological study involving 30 untreated paucibacillary leprosy patients was conducted. All patients underwent biopsies of the buccal mucosa, soft palate, and tongue. When acid-fast bacilli in association with inflammatory infiltrate, granulomatous or not, were encountered, it was considered "specific" involvement of the oral mucosa; and "nonspecific" involvement when the bacilli were not encountered. RESULTS: Eight nonspecific chronic inflammatory reactions and 1 granulomatous inflammatory process without acid-fast bacilli were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Paucibacillary leprosy patients do not exhibit specific, clinical or subclinical, involvement in the oral mucosa; nonspecific alterations occur even in the absence of signs and symptoms.

Histological and ultrastructural aspects of the tongue in undernourished rats.

UNLABELLED: There are few published studies on the effects of protein-caloric undernourishment on the oral mucosa. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to verify the histological and ultrastructural aspects of the tongue mucosa in protein-caloric undernourished adult rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A clinical experimental study was done in thirty Wistar rats, 15 controls and 15 with protein-caloric undernourishment. The last group received ration in small amounts, with a reduced casein content, during 45 days. Rats were weighed every 3 days, from the first (90 days of life) to the last day of a 45-day dietary period, when they were sacrificed. Plasma was used for protein electrophoresis and their tongues were prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy. Analyses of variance and Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A significant decrease in weight and in plasma proteins was found in protein-caloric undernourished rats compared to the control group. Histological findings revealed no differences between the two groups and there were no statistically significant differences in the filiform papilla count under the scanning electron microscopy. CONCLUSION: Protein-caloric undernourishment does not cause alterations in the tongue mucosa of adult rats.

The oral mucosa in leprosy: a clinical and histopathological study.

INTRODUCTION: Multibacillary leprosy may involve the oral mucosa, with or without apparent lesions. There are few studies that deal with this issue in the era of multidrug therapy. AIM: To assess the frequency of oral mucosa involvement in multibacillary leprosy patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A transversal study with twenty non-treated multibacillary leprosy patients. The patients were treated in Dracena, São Paulo, between 2000 and 2002. Clinical examination of the oral mucosa was carried out. All patients were submitted to jugal mucosa, soft palate and tongue biopsies, in altered or in pre-established sites. The cross-sections were stained by techniques of hematoxilin-eosin and Ziehl-Neelsen. Granuloma and alcohol-acid-resistant bacilli findings determined the specific histopathological involvement. RESULTS: The study involved 19 patients with an average of 2.5 years of disease progression. Specific histopathological involvement occurred in the tongue and soft palate of one lepromatous patient with an apparently normal oral mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Clinical alterations in the oral mucosa does not imply disease involvement, it is necessary to have histopathological confirmation. (2) Apparent specific clinical alterations are rare. (3) The clinically normal oral mucosa can show specific histopathological involvement.

Granular parakeratosis in children: case report and review of the literature.

Granular parakeratosis is a cutaneous eruption with erythematous and/or brownish hyperkeratotic papules and plaques which are exclusively localized to intertriginous areas and show histopathologic features of an unusual form of parakeratosis. The etiology is unknown, but the excessive use of various topical preparations (e.g., ointments and deodorants) has been associated with this disease. It has heretofore been reported only in adults. We report two children, ages 3 and 5 months, with characteristic lesions in the groin associated with topical pomades used to prevent diaper rash. This is the first report associating the clinical presentation and the histopathologic diagnosis of granular parakeratosis in children. The literature on this entity is also reviewed and all case reports are summarized.