Las reacciones adversas a fármacos son la primera causa de eritrodermia. Estudio retrospectivo de 70 pacientes en un hospital universitario de Argentina / Adverse Drug Reactions Are the Main Causes of Erythroderma in an Argentinian Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Study of 70 Patients

Antecedentes La eritrodermia es un cuadro caracterizado por un eritema y descamación que compromete al menos el 90% de la superficie corporal. Su etiología puede ser variable. La mayor parte de sus características clínicas y alteraciones del laboratorio son inespecíficas, lo que hace que el diagnóstico sea un desafío. Materiales y métodos Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo en el periodo comprendido entre el 1 de enero de 2010 y el 1 de junio de 2020. Se revisaron los antecedentes, las características clínicas, los hallazgos de laboratorio e histopatológicos, así como la evolución de todos los pacientes con una eritrodermia hospitalizados en el Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, con un seguimiento mínimo de 6 meses. Resultados Se incluyeron 70 pacientes. La edad media de aparición fue de 63 años con una relación hombre:mujer de 1,2:1. La principal causa de eritrodermia fueron las reacciones adversas a fármacos (48%), siendo la vancomicina el principal medicamento involucrado (30%), mientras que la segunda causa fueron las dermatosis preexistentes, dentro de las cuales la psoriasis fue la más común (42%). En el 40% de los pacientes se observó una adecuada correlación clínico-patológica con la primera biopsia, mientras que el rédito diagnóstico aumentó a un 76% con la segunda. El número máximo de biopsias requerido para efectuar el diagnóstico etiológico fue de 8 (2 pacientes). La evolución fue favorable en el 92% de los casos. Conclusión Las reacciones adversas a fármacos fueron la primera causa de eritrodermia y la vancomicina el fármaco responsable más frecuente. No se encontraron asociaciones estadísticamente significativas entre las variables estudiadas, ni se identificaron predictores de una determinada etiología, marcadores de mala evolución o factores de riesgo asociados a mortalidad (AU)

Background Erythroderma, characterized by erythema and scaling that affects at least 90% of the body, has diverse causes. Most of the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings are nonspecific, making diagnosis challenging. Material and methods Retrospective study of patients treated between January 1, 2010, and June 1, 2020. We reviewed the records to identify all patients with erythroderma who were hospitalized in Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires and followed for at least 6 months. We extracted information on clinical histories, the characteristics of the episodes, laboratory and histopathologic findings, and clinical course. Results Seventy patients were studied. The mean age at onset was 63 years, and the ratio of men to women was 1.2:1. Adverse drug reactions caused the largest proportion of the rashes (48%), and vancomycin was the most common culprit (involved in 30% of the cases). The next most frequent cause was a preexisting skin disease, psoriasis being the most common (in 42%). The clinicopathologic correlation was adequate for diagnosis after the first biopsy in 40% of patients, but the diagnostic yield increased to 76% with the second biopsy. The largest number of biopsies required was 8, in 2 patients. The outcome was favorable in 92% of the cases. Conclusion Adverse reactions to medications accounted for the largest proportion of erythroderma cases in this series, and vancomycin was the main culprit. We found no statistically significant associations among the variables studied. Nor did we identify potential predictors of causes, poor outcomes, or mortality (AU)

[Translated article] Adverse Drug Reactions Are the Main Causes of Erythroderma in an Argentinian Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Study of 70 Patients / Las reacciones adversas a fármacos son la primera causa de eritrodermia. Estudio retrospectivo de 70 pacientes en un hospital universitario de Argentina

Background Erythroderma, characterized by erythema and scaling that affects at least 90% of the body, has diverse causes. Most of the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings are nonspecific, making diagnosis challenging. Material and methods Retrospective study of patients treated between January 1, 2010, and June 1, 2020. We reviewed the records to identify all patients with erythroderma who were hospitalized in Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires and followed for at least 6 months. We extracted information on clinical histories, the characteristics of the episodes, laboratory and histopathologic findings, and clinical course. Results Seventy patients were studied. The mean age at onset was 63 years, and the ratio of men to women was 1.2:1. Adverse drug reactions caused the largest proportion of the rashes (48%), and vancomycin was the most common culprit (involved in 30% of the cases). The next most frequent cause was a preexisting skin disease, psoriasis being the most common (in 42%). The clinicopathologic correlation was adequate for diagnosis after the first biopsy in 40% of patients, but the diagnostic yield increased to 76% with the second biopsy. The largest number of biopsies required was 8, in 2 patients. The outcome was favorable in 92% of the cases. Conclusion Adverse reactions to medications accounted for the largest proportion of erythroderma cases in this series, and vancomycin was the main culprit. We found no statistically significant associations among the variables studied. Nor did we identify potential predictors of causes, poor outcomes, or mortality (AU)

Antecedentes La eritrodermia es un cuadro caracterizado por un eritema y descamación que compromete al menos el 90% de la superficie corporal. Su etiología puede ser variable. La mayor parte de sus características clínicas y alteraciones del laboratorio son inespecíficas, lo que hace que el diagnóstico sea un desafío. Materiales y métodos Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo en el periodo comprendido entre el 1 de enero de 2010 y el 1 de junio de 2020. Se revisaron los antecedentes, las características clínicas, los hallazgos de laboratorio e histopatológicos, así como la evolución de todos los pacientes con una eritrodermia hospitalizados en el Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, con un seguimiento mínimo de 6 meses. Resultados Se incluyeron 70 pacientes. La edad media de aparición fue de 63 años con una relación hombre:mujer de 1,2:1. La principal causa de eritrodermia fueron las reacciones adversas a fármacos (48%), siendo la vancomicina el principal medicamento involucrado (30%), mientras que la segunda causa fueron las dermatosis preexistentes, dentro de las cuales la psoriasis fue la más común (42%). En el 40% de los pacientes se observó una adecuada correlación clínico-patológica con la primera biopsia, mientras que el rédito diagnóstico aumentó a un 76% con la segunda. El número máximo de biopsias requerido para efectuar el diagnóstico etiológico fue de 8 (2 pacientes). La evolución fue favorable en el 92% de los casos. Conclusión Las reacciones adversas a fármacos fueron la primera causa de eritrodermia y la vancomicina el fármaco responsable más frecuente. No se encontraron asociaciones estadísticamente significativas entre las variables estudiadas, ni se identificaron predictores de una determinada etiología, marcadores de mala evolución o factores de riesgo asociados a mortalidad (AU)

Adverse Drug Reactions Are the Main Causes of Erythroderma in an Argentinian Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Study of 70 Patients. / Las reacciones adversas a fármacos son la primera causa de eritrodermia. Estudio retrospectivo de 70 pacientes en un hospital universitario de Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Erythroderma, characterized by erythema and scaling that affects at least 90% of the body, has diverse causes. Most of the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings are nonspecific, making diagnosis challenging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients treated between January 1, 2010, and June 1, 2020. We reviewed the records to identify all patients with erythroderma who were hospitalized in Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires and followed for at least 6 months. We extracted information on clinical histories, the characteristics of the episodes, laboratory and histopathologic findings, and clinical course. RESULTS: Seventy patients were studied. The mean age at onset was 63 years, and the ratio of men to women was 1.2:1. Adverse drug reactions caused the largest proportion of the rashes (48%), and vancomycin was the most common culprit (involved in 30% of the cases). The next most frequent cause was a preexisting skin disease, psoriasis being the most common (in 42%). The clinicopathologic correlation was adequate for diagnosis after the first biopsy in 40% of patients, but the diagnostic yield increased to 76% with the second biopsy. The largest number of biopsies required was 8, in 2 patients. The outcome was favorable in 92% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Adverse reactions to medications accounted for the largest proportion of erythroderma cases in this series, and vancomycin was the main culprit. We found no statistically significant associations among the variables studied. Nor did we identify potential predictors of causes, poor outcomes, or mortality.

Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Clinical Features, Treatments, and Outcomes. / Pénfigo vulgar: estudio de cohorte retrospectivo de sus características clínicas, tratamientos empleados y evolución.

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an uncommon, serious disease that is treated with systemic corticosteroids and corticosteroid-sparing agents. OBJECTIVES: To describe and analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with PV. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of adults diagnosed with PV over a period of 12years. RESULTS: PV presented with mucosal lesions in 20 of the 32 patients studied (63%); the most common site was the oral mucosa followed by the vulva. Mucosal involvement was more common in women (P=.03). Lesions were found at more than 1 mucosal site in patients whose disease began in the mucosa, independently of age or sex (P=.003). Disease onset before the age of 40years was associated with generalized skin lesions (P=.003), a need for corticosteroid-sparing therapy (P=.05), and refractory PV (P=.02). Azathioprine was the most widely prescribed corticosteroid-sparing agent (in 22 patients). Eight patients (25%) were dependent on corticosteroids and disease recurred in 26 (81%). Complete remission, with or without treatment, was achieved in 15 patients (47%). Patients remained disease-free for a median of 14months, and 2 patients died (6%). CONCLUSION: Onset before the age of 40 years could be a sign of poor prognosis in patients with PV, as it was significantly associated with a higher risk of generalized skin involvement, a need for corticosteroid-sparing therapy, and refractory disease.

Mucocutaneous Manifestations of Infection by Histoplasma capsulatum in HIV-Negative Immunosuppressed Patients. / Manifestaciones mucocutáneas de la infección por Histoplasma capsulatum en pacientes inmunosuprimidos.

Histoplasmosis is a systemic mycosis caused by the dimorphous fungus Histoplasma capsulatum (H. capsulatum). The fungus enters the body through the respiratory tract in the form of microconidia, which are transformed into intracellular yeast-like structures in the lungs before disseminating hematogenously. Primary infection is usually asymptomatic and self-resolving. Some patients develop severe disease with acute or chronic respiratory involvement. Immunosuppressed patients, mainly those with altered cellular immunity, may have disseminated disease with variable mucocutaneous involvement characterized by papules, nodules, gummas, or ulcers with a granulomatous base. We report the case of 3 HIV-negative patients infected by H capsulatum in whom diagnosis based on the skin lesions proved essential for early initiation of treatment.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in a Population With Disseminated Herpes Zoster: A Retrospective Cohort Study. / Características clínicas y evolutivas de una población con herpes zoster diseminado: un estudio de cohorte retrospectiva.

INTRODUCTION: Shingles is the cutaneous expression of the reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus infection in sensory ganglia. It presents as vesicles in the corresponding dermatome. The condition is called disseminated herpes zoster (DHZ) when more than 2 contiguous dermatomes are affected, more than 20 vesicles are observed outside the initial dermatome, or involvement is systemic. DHZ is rare and most frequently occurs in immunocompromised patients. OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology, predisposing factors, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and clinical course of patients with DHZ, and to compare the findings in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed a retrospective case series of adults hospitalized between February 2010 and October 2015. RESULTS: Forty-one patients with virologically confirmed manifestations of DHZ were included. Stress as a trigger factor was detected in 39% and immunodepression in 58.5%. Immunocompromised patients were younger than the immunocompetent patients (mean ages, 60.5 vs 82 years, P<.01). The 8 immunocompetent patients with no detectable trigger factors were older (mean age, 85 years). In 95% of cases, DHZ was initially limited to a single dermatome and then spread to other dermatomes or became disseminated. Thrombocytopenia was detected in 56% of cases. Complication rates were similar in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients (54% vs 59%, P>.01). Six patients died; there was no difference in mortality between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence on the relationship between DHZ, the presence of underlying immunodepression, and complications. Immunosenescence may play an important role in the onset of this disease in older immunocompetent patients.

Quantum diffusion on a cyclic one-dimensional lattice.

The quantum diffusion of a particle in an initially localized state on a cyclic lattice with N sites is studied. Diffusion and reconstruction time are calculated. Strong differences are found for even or odd number of sites and the limit N--> infinity is studied. The predictions of the model could be tested with microtechnology and nanotechnology devices.