Clinical value of a [18F]-FDG PET-CT muscle-to-muscle SUV ratio for the diagnosis of active dermatomyositis.

OBJECTIVE: To study a muscle-to-muscle standardised uptake value (SUV) ratio with FDG-PET/CT (FDG-PET) as a marker for the detection of disease activity in dermatomyositis (DM). METHODS: Patients with DM (n = 24) who met the European Neuro-Muscular Centre diagnostic criteria were retrospectively identified over a 3-year period through a national survey. Muscle biopsy was performed in all patients. Maximum SUV was measured in proximal muscles (SUVPROX) that had the highest radiotracer uptake on visual grading as well as in the musculus longissimus thoracis (SUVMLT), whereas mean SUV was measured for the liver (SUVLIV). Muscle-to-liver SUV ratios for either muscle group were compared and a SUVPROX/SUVMLT ratio was calculated. SUVPROX/SUVMLT of DM patients were compared with age- and sex-matched control subjects (n = 24) with melanoma who had received FDG-PET scans. RESULTS: DM patients presented with proximal and symmetrical muscle uptake. Differences in SUVPROX/SUVLIV and SUVMLT/SUVLIV ratios in DM subjects were significant (p < 0.001). SUVPROX/SUVMLT ratios in DM and their controls also differed significantly (p = 0.0012). The SUVPROX/SUVMLT ratio threshold between DM subjects and controls was 1.73 with a sensitivity of 50% (CI95%, 29.1 to 70.9%) and specificity at 83.3% (CI95%, 62.6 to 95.3%). When amyopathic DM patients were removed from the analysis, specificity was increased to 95% (CI95%, 75.1 to 99.9%) with a likelihood ratio of 10 and an AUC of 83.4% (CI95%, 71.4 to 95.4%). CONCLUSION: A muscle-to-muscle SUVPROX/SUVMLT ratio with a cut-off value of 1.73 in FDG-PET imaging might serve as a non-invasive marker to determine disease activity in dermatomyositis. KEY POINTS: • [18F]-FDG PET-scanner standardised uptake value (SUV) could reflect disease activity in dermatomyositis (DM). • A ratio of SUV in proximal muscles (SUVPROX) to SUV in musculus longissimus thoracis (SUVMLT) could be used to determine active DM. • Active disease is suspected for SUV PROX /SUV MLT ratios greater than 1.73.

Fractionated bipolar radiofrequency and bipolar radiofrequency potentiated by infrared light for treating striae: A prospective randomized, comparative trial with objective evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Very few treatments for striae are based on prospective randomized trials. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of bipolar fractional radiofrequency and bipolar radiofrequency potentiated with infrared light, alone or combined, for treating abdominal stretch marks. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bicentric prospective interventional randomized controlled trial in the department of Dermatology of University Hospital of Nice and Aesthetics Laser Center of Bordeaux, France. Men and women of age 18 years or above, who presented for the treatment of mature or immature abdominal striae were included. The patients' abdomens were divided into four equal quadrants. Bipolar radiofrequency potentiated with infrared light and fractional bipolar radiofrequency were applied, alone or combined, and compared to the remaining untreated quadrant. The main criterion of evaluation was the measurement of depth of striae, using 3D photography at 6 months follow-up. A global assessment was also rated by the physician performing the treatment and by the patients. Histological analysis and confocal laser microscopy were additionally performed. RESULTS: A total of 22 patients were enrolled, and 384 striae were measured. In per protocol analysis mean striae depth was decreased by 21.64%, observed at 6 months follow-up with the combined approach, compared to an increase of 1.73% in the control group (P < 0.0001). No significant difference in striae width was observed between the treated or control quadrants. Global assessment by the physician who performed the treatment and by the patient both showed greater improved with the combination treatment compared to control areas (P = 0.004 and P = 0.01, respectively). A more homogeneous interlacing pattern and thicker collagen fibers with a decreased proportion of elastic fibers was observed after treatment. CONCLUSION: Fractional bipolar radiofrequency, combined with bipolar radiofrequency potentiated by infrared light, is an effective treatment of both immature and mature striae of the abdomen.

Maintenance therapy of adult vitiligo with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.

The risk of relapse after successful repigmentation in vitiligo is estimated to 40% within the first year. It has been shown in atopic dermatitis that continuous low-level use of topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors in previously affected skin can prevent new flares. We hypothesized that a twice-weekly application of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment might be effective for maintaining repigmentation in therapeutically repigmented lesions of vitiligo patients. After randomization, sixteen patients with 31 patches were assigned to the placebo group and 19 patients with 41 patches were assigned to the tacrolimus group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, 48.4% of lesions showed depigmentation in the placebo group, whereas 26.8% did in the tacrolimus group (P=0.059). The intention-to-treat results did not remain significant after adjustment for within-patient clustering, odds ratio (OR) 2.55; 95% confidence interval (CI; 0.65-9.97); P=0.1765. The per-protocol analysis (n=56) showed that 40% of lesions had some depigmentation in the placebo group, whereas only 9.7% did in the tacrolimus group (P=0.0075). The per-protocol results remained significant after adjustment for within-patient clustering: OR 6.22; 95% CI (1.48-26.12); P=0.0299. Our study shows that twice-weekly application of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment is effective in preventing the depigmentation of vitiligo patches that have been previously successfully repigmented.

Effects of low-dose recombinant interleukin 2 to promote T-regulatory cells in alopecia areata.

IMPORTANCE: An impaired inhibitory function of circulating CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells was reported to play a key role in alopecia areata (AA). We report the first use to our knowledge of low-dose interleukin 2 for treating severe AA by promoting the recruitment of Treg cells. OBSERVATIONS: We conducted a prospective open pilot study in 5 patients with severe AA resistant to previous systemic treatments. Subcutaneous interleukin 2 (1.5 million IU/d) was administered during 5 days, followed by three 5-day courses of 3 million IU/d at weeks 3, 6, and 9. The primary outcome was the evolution of the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score, evaluated by 2 independent investigators on standardized photographs. Lesional skin biopsy specimens and peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotype were analyzed. The median SALT score went from 82 (range, 63-100) at baseline to 69 (range, 28-100) at 6 months. Immunochemical analysis revealed the appearance or a notable increase in Treg cell count in 4 of 5 patients at the end of the treatment compared with baseline. No serious adverse event was reported. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The partial regrowth achieved in 4 of 5 patients and the recruitment of Treg cells in lesional skin support the interest of promoting Treg cells for treating AA. Further investigations are now required to confirm and to optimize the design in order to enhance the Treg cell response. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01840046.

Papular, profuse, and precocious keratosis pilaris.

Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a frequent and benign condition in children characterized by the presence of rough, follicular papules and varying degrees of erythema. Different variants have been described, including simple KP and red KP. Between September 2007 and October 2010, 11 children with profuse and precocious KP seen at the department of pediatric dermatology were included. They defined an underemphasized clinical variant of childhood KP: the papular, profuse, and precocious KP characterized by early age of onset (<18 mos), extensive involvement of the limbs and cheeks, and papular nature of lesions. No clinical association has been found. The main complication was episodes of folliculitis. Diagnosis was delayed for all patients. Treatment is difficult, but association between emollient and keratolytic agents can provide some help.

Evolution of nevi during treatment with natalizumab: A prospective follow-up of patients treated with natalizumab for multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Natalizumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against α4 integrin used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Four cases of melanomas occurring in patients prescribed natalizumab to treat MS were recently reported. Although some fundamental data suggested that α4ß1 integrin could be linked to the invasiveness of melanoma, none showed any relation with the transformation of melanocytes. OBSERVATIONS: We performed a prospective follow-up of a cohort of patients with MS treated with natalizumab to assess the evolution of nevi under treatment. Clinical dermatologic examination and videodermoscopy were performed every 6 months. Nevi were compared side-by-side with baseline photographs, and histologic analysis was proposed based on clinical and dermoscopic criteria. Forty-four patients were included, and 248 nevi were examined and followed up. The mean duration of follow-up was 14 months (range, 6-20 months). Seventeen lesions (6.8%) showed modifications over time. Only 12 (4.8%) presented substantial dermoscopic changes. Five lesions were removed. All of them were classified as benign after histologic examination. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed the same rate of clinical and dermoscopic changes of nevi during treatment with natalizumab compared with the spontaneous evolution of nevi reported in literature. In accordance with fundamental data, those results suggest that the inhibition of the α4 integrin does not promote the transformation of melanocytic lesions.