Surgical debulking of podoconiosis nodules and its impact on quality of life in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, severe lymphedema and acute dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (ADLA) of the legs as a consequence of podoconiosis affects approximately 1.5 million people. In some this condition may lead to woody-hard fibrotic nodules, which are resistant to conventional treatment. We present a series of patients who underwent surgical nodulectomy in a resource-limited setting and their outcome. METHODS: In two teaching hospitals, we offered surgical nodulectomies under local anaesthesia to patients with persisting significant fibrotic nodules due to podoconiosis. Excisions after nodulectomy were left to heal by secondary intention with compression bandaging. As outcome, we recorded time to re-epithelialization after surgery, change in number of ADLA episodes, change in quality of life measured with the Dermatology Quality of Live Index (DQLI) questionnaire, and recurrence rate one year after surgery. RESULTS: 37nodulectomy operations were performed on 21 patients. All wounds re-reepithelialised within 21 days (range 17-42). 4 patients developed clinically relevant wound infections. The DLQI values were significantly better six months after surgery than before surgery (P<0.0001). Also the number of ADLA episodes per three months was significantly lower six months after surgery than before surgery (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Nodulectomy in podoconiosis patients leads to a significant improvement in the quality of life with no serious complications, and we recommend this to be a standard procedure in resource-poor settings.

The design and development of a multicentric protocol to investigate the impact of adjunctive doxycycline on the management of peripheral lymphoedema caused by lymphatic filariasis and podoconiosis.

BACKGROUND: As new lymphatic filariasis infections are eliminated through mass chemotherapy, previously affected individuals are left with the sequellae, especially chronic progressive lymphoedema. Currently this is managed by careful attention to limb hygiene to prevent infection. Studies over the past 15 years have suggested that the incorporation of doxycycline treatment may arrest or even reverse progression of lymphoedema. Most of this work has been observational or based on small studies, and if this intervention is effective, studies need to be conducted on a larger scale and under diverse geographical and social conditions before it can be incorporated into treatment policy. METHODS/DESIGN: The double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed to investigate the impact of six weeks treatment with doxycycline added to standard limb hygiene on early stage filarial lymphoedema in five sites in Africa and the Indian subcontinent. One site in Cameroon is selected for studying lymphoedema in podoconiosis. Each site was individually powered with the potential to undertake a meta-analysis on completion. Evaluation methods followed those used in Ghana in 2012 with additions resulting from advances in technology. The details of the core protocol and how it was varied to take account of differing situations at each of the sites are provided. The study will enrol up to 1800 patients and will complete in mid-2021. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provides details of what challenges were faced during its development and discusses the issues and how they were resolved. In particular, the reasons for inclusion of new technology and the problems encountered with the supply of drugs for the studies are described in detail. By making these details available, it is hoped that the study protocol will help others interested in improving treatment for filarial lymphoedema in the design of future studies. Trial registration India: Clintrials.gov. NCT02929121 registered 10 Oct 2016: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02929121 Mali: Clintrials.gov. NCT02927496 registered 7 Oct 2016: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT0292749 Sri Lanka: Clintrials.gov. NCT02929134 registered 10 Oct 2016: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02929134 Ghana: ISRCTN. 14042737 registered 10 July 2017: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14042737 Tanzania: ISRCTN. 65756724 registered 21 July 2017: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN65756724 Cameroon: ISRCTN. 1181662 registered 25 July 2017: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11881662.

Elefantiasis verrucosa nostra / Elephantiasis nostra verrucosa

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Elefantiasis escrotal. Presentación de un caso en Gambia / Elefantíase escrotal. Apresentação de caso na Gâmbia / Scrotal elephantiasis. Case presentation in the Gambia

Se presentó un paciente masculino con 25 años de edad, procedencia rural. Refirió en la cara lateral del hemiescroto derecho secreciones de color amarillo. En los genitales externos presentó una masa de 38 cm de largo y 35 cm de ancho, bordes irregulares, piel circundante edematosa, seca, acartonada, ulcera de 10 x 5 cm, no dolorosa y secreciones blanquecinas y serohemática escasa, pérdida de la anatomía del pene y disuria. Se confirmó el diagnóstico de elefantiasis escrotal secundaria a filariasis. Se aplicó tratamiento con dietilcarbamazina y quirúrgico. El tratamiento posibilitó la curación y la reincorpación social y sexual del paciente(AU)

A 25-year-old male patient was presented, of rural origin to the Urology office of the Royal Victoria National Hospital in the Republic of Gambia. He reported on the lateral side of the right hemiescrot yellow secretions. In the external genitalia it presented a mass of 38 cm long and 35 cm wide, irregular edges, surrounding edematous, dry, cracked skin, ulcer of 10x5 cm, non-painful and whitish secretions and serohematic scarce, loss of penile anatomy and dysuria The diagnosis of scrotal elephantiasis secondary to filariasis was confirmed. Diethylcarbamazine treatment and surgical intervention were applied. The treatment allowed the healing and social and sexual reincorpation of the patient(AU)

Um paciente do sexo masculino, 25 anos, foi apresentado, de origem rural, ao consultório de Urologia do Royal Victoria National Hospital, na República da Gâmbia. Ele relatou no lado lateral das secreções amarelas hemiescrot à direita. Na genitália externa, apresentava massa de 38 cm de comprimento e 35 cm de largura, bordas irregulares, circundando pele edematosa, seca e quebradiça, úlcera de 10x5 cm, secreções não dolorosas e esbranquiçadas e escassez seroemática, perda de anatomia peniana e disúria O diagnóstico de elefantíase escrotal secundária à filariose foi confirmado. Tratamento com dietilcarbamazina e intervenção cirúrgica foram aplicados. O tratamento permitiu a cura e a reincorpação social e sexual do paciente(AU)

Bilateral nonpitting edema and xerotic skin.

When treatment for cellulitis and a suspected exacerbation of congestive heart failure failed, we ordered a biopsy. The pathology report made the diagnosis clear.

Preparing for and Executing a Randomised Controlled Trial of Podoconiosis Treatment in Northern Ethiopia: The Utility of Rapid Ethical Assessment.

BACKGROUND: Community-based randomized controlled trials are often complex pieces of research with significant challenges around the approach to the community, information provision, and decision-making, all of which are fundamental to the informed consent process. We conducted a rapid ethical assessment to guide the preparation for and conduct of a randomized controlled trial of podoconiosis treatment in northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A qualitative study was carried out in Aneded woreda, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State from August to September, 2013. A total of 14 In-depth Interviews (IDIs) with researchers, experts, and leaders, and 8 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) involving 80 participants (people of both gender, with and without podoconiosis), were conducted. Interviews were carried out in Amharic. Data analysis was started alongside collection. Final data analysis used a thematic approach based on themes identified a priori and those that emerged during the analysis. RESULTS: Respondents made a range of specific suggestions, including that sensitisation meetings were called by woreda or kebele leaders or the police; that Health Extension Workers were asked to accompany the research team to patients' houses; that detailed trial information was explained by someone with deep local knowledge; that analogies from agriculture and local social organisations be used to explain randomisation; that participants in the 'delayed' intervention arm be given small incentives to continue in the trial; and that key community members be asked to quell rumours arising in the course of the trial. CONCLUSION: Many of these recommendations were incorporated into the preparatory phases of the trial, or were used during the course of the trial itself. This demonstrates the utility of rapid ethical assessment preceding a complex piece of research in a relatively research-naive setting.

Los tres premios Nobel de Medicina 2015 / The Three Nobel Prizes 2015

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Long-term follow-up and epidemiological trends in patients with pretibial myxedema: an 11-year study from a tertiary care center in northern India.

INTRODUCTION: Pretibial myxedema (PTM) is a rare manifestation of Graves' disease. There is paucity of data regarding long-term follow-up and response to treatment in PTM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study wherein 30 patients of PTM presenting during 2001-2011 attending dermatology and endocrinology outpatient departments were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 30 patients with PTM, 12 were males and 18 females with a ratio of 1 : 1.5 males/females. Four morphological forms were identified: plaques (18 patients), diffuse non-pitting edema of both lower legs (five), nodules (five), and elephantiasis lesions (two). Eighty percent were diagnosed with hyperthyroidism before the development of dermopathy. Twenty-six patients presented with ophthalmopathy. Fourteen patients with plaque had an excellent response to topical clobetasol propionate ointment and attained complete resolution by 3.6 years. Out of 16 patients treated with combination therapy, which included nine treated with topical corticosteroids/intralesional triamcinolone and seven treated with oral, intralesional, and topical corticosteroids, nine attained complete resolution in the lesions by 3.4 years, and none relapsed anytime during four years of post-treatment follow-up. However, the remaining patients (elephantiasis and diffuse forms) failed to achieve complete resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Plaques and nodules are common variants with a favorable clinical response to topical and intralesional corticosteroid; elephantine and diffuse forms responded poorly to therapy. Studies analyzing larger cohorts of patients with PTM and their long-term follow-up are limited, hence more such studies are required.

Elefantiasis nostras verrucosa / Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa

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A case of late-stage lymphogranuloma venereum in a woman in Europe.

Lymphogranuloma venereum is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis serovars L1-L3. The third stage of the disease leads to chronic progressive lymphangitis. The first European case of elephantiasic enlargement of the female genitalia caused by C. trachomatis L2 serovar in decades is reported.

Treatment of pretibial myxedema with dexamethazone injected subcutaneously by mesotherapy needles.

Pretibial myxedema (PTM) is a rare extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease that requires treatment when the clinical picture is markedly evident. In addition to topical treatment with steroid ointments, there have been previous reports of subcutaneous injections of steroids. This procedure may cause nodular degeneration of the skin due to fat atrophy when standard needles are used. In the present study, we have tried a novel modality of treatment of PTM by injecting a solution of dexamethasone in the subcutaneous tissue using needles employed for mesotherapy. These needles are ≤4 mm long and deliver the medication within the dermis or the first layer of the subcutaneous fat. We have treated five patients, four with diffuse and one with elephanthiasic PTM. We utilized multiple injections of a solution of dexamethasone, lidocaine, and saline in the PTM plaque and in the pretibial area, both in the PTM plaque and in the area surrounding the lesions, once a week for three consecutive weeks. Two patients with a more severe form of PTM underwent another two cycles four to six weeks after initial treatment. Patients were studied before and after treatment by clinical assessment and ultrasound of the pretibial skin. The treatment was well-tolerated, with only moderate pain upon injection of the solution. One month after treatment, all patients showed improvement of PTM at clinical assessment and a reduction of the thickness of the lesions at ultrasound of ∼15%, involving mostly the dermis. Moreover, all patients reported amelioration of the leg appearance. The present study, although preliminary, shows that intralesion steroid injection with mesotherapy needles in PTM is effective and well tolerated, and does not cause undesired long-term modifications of the skin. More studies are warranted to standardize such treatment in larger groups of patients.