Risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with mycosis fungoides and parapsoriasis: A Danish nationwide population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides (MF) and parapsoriasis are characterized by malignant proliferation and chronic inflammation, which may affect the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). OBJECTIVES: To examine the risk for VTE in patients with MF and parapsoriasis. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study in Denmark to examine the relative risk (RR) of VTE in 525 patients with MF and 634 patients with parapsoriasis compared with that in sex- and age-matched controls from the general population. RESULTS: In patients with MF, the 10-year absolute risk for VTE was 3.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0-5.4). The adjusted RRs were 2.41 (95% CI, 1.49-3.90) for VTE and 4.01 (95% CI, 2.16-7.46) for pulmonary embolism. Notably, within the first 5 years after diagnosis with MF, the RR of pulmonary embolism was increased 6.7-fold (to 6.71 [95% CI, 2.86-15.72]). Patients with parapsoriasis had a 2.7-fold increased RR of VTE (to 2.67 [95% CI, 1.32-5.40]) in the absence of other established VTE risk factors. LIMITATIONS: We had no information regarding disease stage of MF and prescribed drugs. CONCLUSION: Patients with MF and parapsoriasis had an increased RR of VTE, although the absolute risk remained low. These findings should increase awareness of comorbidities in patients with MF and parapsoriasis.

Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction or Stroke in Patients with Mycosis Fungoides and Parapsoriasis.

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and parapsoriasis display increased inflammation, which may be associated with increased risk of arterial cardiovascular events. The aim of this Danish nationwide population-based cohort study was to assess the relative risk (RR) of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or stroke in patients with MF and parapsoriasis. In patients with MF, the RR of AMI or stroke was 1.0 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.7-1.3). In the second half of the study period, the RR was 1.8 (95% CI 1.1-2.9) during the first 5 years of follow-up. In men with parapsoriasis, the RR of AMI or stroke was 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.7) within the first 5 years of follow-up, whereas the RR of AMI during the first 5 years of follow-up was 2.0 (95% CI 1.2-3.4). In conclusion, patients with MF and parapsoriasis have an increased RR of AMI or stroke within the first 5 years of follow-up.

Primary cutaneous lymphomas: the analysis of cases treated in the Department of Dermatology University Hospital in Krakow.

Introduction: Primary cutaneous lymphomas are lymphoproliferative skin infiltrates of T-, B- or NK-cells, classified according to the World Health Organization - European Organization of the Research and Treatment of Cancer (WHO-EORTC) criteria. They are the second most common group of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas, that present in the skin with no evidence of systemic involvement at the time of diagnosis. Aims: The aim of the study was the analysis of clinical profile of cutaneous lymphomas in the tertiary referral center in Poland. Material and Methods: We analyzed case records of 63 patients (26 women, 37 men aged 19 - 86) referred to the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital in Cracow for the diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous lymphoma. Results: After analysis of clinical and histological data, the final diagnoses were: mycosis fungoides (42 patients), primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder (7), Sezary syndrome (3), parapsoriasis (3), primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (1), acute myeloid leukemia (1), Hodgkin lymphoma coexistent with mycosis fungoides (1), generalized allergic contact dermatitis (2) and erythema elevatum diutinum (1). We excluded 2 patients due to incomplete data. The most common location of skin lesions was the lower limb (52.46%) and most common clinical presentation was raised erythematous lesion (26.23%). Pruritus was present in 45.9% of the patients and 39.3% had extracutaneous symptoms, with lymphadenopathy as the most common symptom. 37.7% of patients presented with mild eosinophilia and another 37.7% with mild monocytosis. Prior to referral to our center, general practitioners misdiagnosed the lymphomas commonly as: atopic and contact dermatitis, borreliosis, drug-induced exanthema. Conclusions: The diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoma is often delayed due to their indolent, often recurring course, non-specific symptoms and uncommon appearance. The cooperation of a clinician and pathologist is essential in the diagnostic process.

Predictive markers for carbamazepine and lamotrigine-induced maculopapular exanthema in Han Chinese.

The aims of this study were to clarify the possible associations of carbamazepine (CBZ)- and lamotrigine (LTG)-induced maculopapular exanthema (MPE) with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in Chinese patients. A total of 249 subjects, including 40 patients with CBZ-induced MPE (CBZ-MPE), 43 patients with LTG-induced MPE (LTG-MPE), 52 CBZ-tolerant controls, 42 LTG-tolerant controls and 72 healthy controls, were included in this study. High-resolution HLA genotyping was performed by a specific kit. Differences in the allele frequencies among the groups were assessed. The allele frequencies of HLA-A*0201 and HLA-DRB1*1405 were significantly higher (P=0.033 and P=0.003, respectively), but those of HLA-B*5801 and HLA-DRB1*0301 (P=0.037 and P=0.024, respectively) were lower in the CBZ-MPE patients when compared with the CBZ-tolerant group. We also observed two significantly increased alleles of HLA-A*3001 and HLA-B*1302 (P=0.013 and P=0.013, respectively) and a decreased allele of HLA-A*3303 (P=0.048) in the LTG-MPE patients when compared with those in the LTG-tolerant group. Our results support the hypothesis that these HLA alleles contribute to the genetic susceptibility to CBZ/LTG-MPE and may be valuable as potential biomarkers for CBZ/LTG-MPE in Han Chinese.

The predictive value of a maculopapular rash in children hospitalized for dengue fever in Cayenne, French Guiana.

In order to determine the predictive value of a rash during dengue fever, a cohort study was conducted in children hospitalized for dengue during an epidemic in French Guiana. A rash was predictive of uncomplicated dengue: the HR of developing a severe form of disease was 0.43 (95% CI 0.21-0.88; p-value=0.021) for patients with rash.

Cytomegalovirus: its potential role in the development of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

To investigate the potential role of CMV in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), we studied cytomegalovirus (CMV) seroprevalence in parapsoriasis (PP), mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) compared with healthy control patients. In cases where CMV seropositivity was observed, CMV PCR analyses were performed on skin biopsies. CMV seroprevalence was 37.1% in the control group, 50.68% in the PP + MF + SS group (P = 0.08), 56.2% in the MF + SS group (P = 0.07), 40% in the PP group (P = 0.9), 66.67% in the MF group (P = 0.009), 42.86% in the SS group (P = 0.9). CMV PCR in initial skin biopsies were all negative. However, PCR CMV was positive in two SS skin biopsies realized at an advanced stage. Our results show that latent CMV infection may play a role in the susceptibility of MF in predisposed subjects by inducing T-cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. Concerning SS, an immunosuppressive state may be responsible for CMV reactivation that in turn may interfere with evolution of the disease.

Parapsoriasis: a complex issue.

Parapsoriasis is a peculiar reaction pattern of the skin that appears to have a spectrum with small plaque parapsoriasis at one end and large plaque at the other. The spectrum between is bridged by pityriasis lichenoides, pityriasis lichenoides chronica, pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, and lymphomatoid papulosis. The highlights of the clinical pattern of these diseases has been succinctly elucidated here to facilitate their recognition in day-to-day dermatologic practice. Their possible etiopathogenesis has been brought to focus in the light of changing concepts reported in the literature. Further, possible future implications demand a meticulous follow-up because, in a few cases, true neoplasms may ultimately develop. Treatment modalities are briefly discussed.

Clinical analysis of 48 cases of inverse psoriasis: a hospital-based study.

Inverse psoriasis, rare in clinical practice, refers to psoriasis only or mainly occurring at flexural sites, such as the axilla, antecubital fossae, popliteal fossae, and inguinal creases. It is also known as flexural psoriasis. With a total collection of psoriatic cases from September 2002 to December 2003 at Xijing hospital, we made a retrospective analysis of the disease history, clinical characteristics, and treatment of the patients affected with inverse psoriasis. The results showed that the major clinical manifestations of inverse psoriasis were sharply demarcated erythematous plaques with varying degrees of infiltration and minimal or no scales. Affected areas often involve the groin, axilla, genitals, and umbilicus. The disease responds well to the narrow band UVB therapy. Compared with common psoriasis, inverse psoriasis has similar and unique characteristics in terms of the affected areas, clinical symptoms, and responses to the treatment.

The aetiology of maculopapular rash diseases in Niterói, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: implications for measles surveillance.

A study investigating the causes of rash diseases using systematic laboratory testing was conducted in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, between January 1994 to April 1998. Sera from 327 patients were tested for evidence of anti-rubella virus, measles virus, human parvovirus B19 and dengue fever virus specific immunoglobulin IgM and anti-human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6) IgG antibodies. A laboratory confirmed diagnosis was achieved in 71.3% of the cases investigated: dengue fever (33.0%), rubella (20.2%), parvovirus B19 (9.2%), measles (6.7%) and HHV-6 (2.1%). No diagnosis was established for 94 cases (28.7%). An outbreak of measles was detected during 1997, with a peak in September and October. All of the diseases studied here presented with clinical features similar to measles and classical symptoms were found in all measles confirmed cases. The large overlap of combinations of signs and symptoms seen in this study highlights the difficulties of diagnosing a rash illness on clinical grounds alone.

[Skin lymphoma morbidity over a 10-year period (based on data from the Rostov-on-Don Skin Clinic)]. / Zabolevaemost' limfomami kozhi za 10 let (po dannym kozhnoi kliniki Rostova-na-Donu).

The author analyzes the incidence of skin lymphomas and the manifestations of this condition in the patients treated in the dermatologic center of Rostov-on-Don in 1979-1987. There were 14 patients with primary reticulosis of the skin, 11 ones with mycosis fungoides, 1 with reticulosarcomatosis, 2 with lympholeukemia, and 16 with psoriasis en plaques. Each group of patients is characterized in detail. Comparative analysis of the morphologic forms of lymphomas of the skin has detected the differences in the course of each process. Analysis of the cases with skin lymphomas calls for further studies and improvement of the methods of treatment of this patient population.