Dermatologists' and Rheumatologists' Adherence to the Latest Recommendations for Screening of Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION:  Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is used to manage the symptoms of inflammatory rheumatic and dermatologic disorders. However, HCQ retinopathy is a serious side effect because even after the drug is discontinued, irreversible vision loss may occur and may continue to progress. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the recent recommendation for HCQ dosing is ≤5 mg/kg of real body weight, with baseline ophthalmologic screening during the first year of HCQ treatment and yearly screening after five years of continuous use of HCQ medication, unless the patient is at high risk or symptoms have developed. Nonetheless, this study aims to assess dermatologists' and rheumatologists' adherence in Saudi Arabia to the 2016 AAO HCQ retinal toxicity guidelines. METHODS:  A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted on dermatologists and rheumatologists in Saudi Arabia. It was conducted between August and September 2022 and questionnaires were sent to dermatologists and rheumatologists via their professional emails or accounts. RESULTS: The collected sample consisted of 635 participants; males and females represented 54% and 46%, respectively; 47.6% were consultants; 50.1% were rheumatologists; and 49.9% were dermatologists. Approximately 28.2% of the participants reported treating one to three patients with HCQ in the previous year. Only 45.4% of the respondents stated that the ideal recommended HCQ dose for reducing the risk of retinopathy is "≤ 5 mg/kg of the real body weight." More than 50% of the respondents stated that systemic lupus erythematosus was the most common disease for which they used HCQ. Additionally, 36.5% of the physicians screened patients during the first year of HCQ treatment. We found significant associations between practice levels and specialty practice-related questions with a p-value of less than 0.05, except for the specialty practice-related question, "What is the most common disease for which you use HCQ?" with a p-value of 0.074. Also, we found significant associations between all demographic variables and screening-related variables with a p-value of less than 0.05, with two exceptions: no significant associations were found between specialty area and the screening-related question, "Do you recommend screening tests for all patients starting treatment with HCQ?" at p = 0.270, and gender and the screening-related question, "When would you recommend screening tests for a patient without risk?" at p = 0.142. CONCLUSIONS:  Dermatologists and rheumatologists in Saudi Arabia have shown poor adherence to the most recent AAO recommendations. Educating physicians and patients about the AAO guidelines is needed for HCQ to be used in a way that is both effective and safe.

Pigmented Desmoplastic Trichilemmoma Arising in Nevus Sebaceous: A Potential Mimicker of Pigmented Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: Trichilemmomas are a form of benign adnexal neoplasm with differentiation toward the follicular outer sheath. Nevus sebaceous (NS) of Jadassohn is a congenital malformation characterized as a nonhereditary hamartoma of the adnexal structures of the skin, mainly the pilosebaceous unit. NS represents a fertile field for the development of secondary adnexal neoplasms, commonly benign but occasionally malignant. To our knowledge, one case of a pigmented desmoplastic trichilemmoma (DT) has been reported in the English literature. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 36-year-old male with pigmented DT that developed on long-standing congenital NS, mimicking pigmented basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which was successfully excised with 4-mm margins. Conclusion: Pigmented DT may mimic pigmented BCC on clinical and dermatoscopic examination; therefore, histological evaluation is always recommended to confirm the diagnosis.

Influence of narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy on serum folate level in skin of color females: A cross-sectional study.

Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) (311-312 nm) is widely used for dermatological conditions with a favorable side-effect profile during pregnancy. Recently published data showed that NB-UVB might decrease serum folate level in Fitzpatrick skin phenotype I-III, especially at higher doses; this may predispose newborns to neural tube defects. Objective: To compare serum folate levels of skin of color females treated with NB-UVB and healthy females of childbearing age, as well as to note whether subsequent complications have been observed, if any. Methods: Multicenter, cross-sectional study of 30 females (N = 30): 15 female patients undergoing NB-UVB phototherapy as well as 15 age-, gender-, and skin phenotype-matched healthy volunteers who were enrolled into the study after excluding factors known to alter serum folate concentration. NB-UVB exposures were performed 2-3 times a week for at least 8-12 weeks (mean cumulative NB-UVB dose ± standard deviation [SD] was 55 ± 79 J/cm2). Results: Mean serum folate ± SD in NB-UVB exposed and healthy controls were 10.3 ± 4 and 8.3 ± 3 ng/mL, respectively. This was not a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .14). Limitations: Small sample size (N = 30) and a cross-sectional study type. Conclusion: Cumulative NB-UVB exposure is not associated with a statistically significant difference in serum folate level (P > .05) in skin of color females of childbearing age in comparison to age-, gender-, and skin phenotype-matched healthy females, even with the relatively higher cumulative doses (mean ± SD was 55 ± 79 J/cm2) that have been shown to reduce serum folate level in lighter skin phenotypes.

Lichenoid eruption in a child receiving growth hormone for dwarfism.

A wide variety of medications have been associated with lichenoid drug eruption. They present similarly or even identically to idiopathic lichen planus, both clinically and histologically. Lichenoid eruption has been associated with recombinant human growth hormone intake in two previous patients. Herein, we describe a young boy who developed a lichenoid eruption following growth hormone injection for dwarfism.

Necrobiosis Lipoidica: Atypical Presentation in a Diabetic Girl.

Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a chronic granulomatous idiopathic disorder. It usually presents as yellow-brown, atrophic, telangiectatic plaques with an elevated violaceous rim, typically in the pretibial region of both extremities with and without ulceration [1, 2]. There are few reported cases of childhood-onset NL in atypical locations. We report a case of type 1 diabetic 13-year-old girl who developed yellow atrophic plaque with telangiectasia on the extensor aspect of her upper arm.

Therapy-Recalcitrant Folliculitis Decalvans Controlled Successfully with Adalimumab.

Folliculitis decalvans (FD) is a rare idiopathic primary cicatricial alopecia which leads to permanent destruction of hair follicular stem cell. Staphylococcus aureus as well as autoimmunity has been implicated in the pathogenesis. Treatment options include topical antiseptics, topical and systemic corticosteroids, systemic antibiotics, isotretinoin, dapsone, hydroxychloroquine, and immunomodulators. We present the therapy-recalcitrant case of FD which is controlled successfully by subcutaneous injections of Adalimumab (Humira®) with no serious adverse events throughout the treatment.