A randomized, controlled trial of oral propranolol in infantile hemangioma.

BACKGROUND: Oral propranolol has been used to treat complicated infantile hemangiomas, although data from randomized, controlled trials to inform its use are limited. METHODS: We performed a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, adaptive, phase 2-3 trial assessing the efficacy and safety of a pediatric-specific oral propranolol solution in infants 1 to 5 months of age with proliferating infantile hemangioma requiring systemic therapy. Infants were randomly assigned to receive placebo or one of four propranolol regimens (1 or 3 mg of propranolol base per kilogram of body weight per day for 3 or 6 months). A preplanned interim analysis was conducted to identify the regimen to study for the final efficacy analysis. The primary end point was success (complete or nearly complete resolution of the target hemangioma) or failure of trial treatment at week 24, as assessed by independent, centralized, blinded evaluations of standardized photographs. RESULTS: Of 460 infants who underwent randomization, 456 received treatment. On the basis of an interim analysis of the first 188 patients who completed 24 weeks of trial treatment, the regimen of 3 mg of propranolol per kilogram per day for 6 months was selected for the final efficacy analysis. The frequency of successful treatment was higher with this regimen than with placebo (60% vs. 4%, P<0.001). A total of 88% of patients who received the selected propranolol regimen showed improvement by week 5, versus 5% of patients who received placebo. A total of 10% of patients in whom treatment with propranolol was successful required systemic retreatment during follow-up. Known adverse events associated with propranolol (hypoglycemia, hypotension, bradycardia, and bronchospasm) occurred infrequently, with no significant difference in frequency between the placebo group and the groups receiving propranolol. CONCLUSIONS: This trial showed that propranolol was effective at a dose of 3 mg per kilogram per day for 6 months in the treatment of infantile hemangioma. (Funded by Pierre Fabre Dermatologie; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01056341.).

'En face' ex vivo reflectance confocal microscopy to help the surgery of basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid.

BACKGROUND: Ex vivo confocal microscopy is a recent imaging technique for the perioperative control of skin tumour margins. Up to date, it has been used in the fluorescence mode and with vertical sections of the specimen margins. The aim of this study was to evaluate its use in the reflectance mode and with a horizontal ('en face') scanning of the surgical specimen in a series of basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid. DESIGN: Prospective consecutive cohort study was performed at the University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, France. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-one patients with 42 basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid participated in this study. METHODS: Basal cell carcinomas were excised with a 2-mm-wide clinically safe margin. The surgical specimens were analysed under ex vivo confocal microscopy in the reflectance mode and with an en face scanning in order to control at a microscopic level if the margins were free from tumour invasion. Histopathogical examination was later performed in order to compare the results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity and specificity of ex vivo confocal microscopy for the presence of tumour-free margins. RESULTS: Ex vivo confocal microscopy results were consistent with histopathology in all cases (tumour-free margins in 40 out of 42 samples; sensitivity and specificity of 100%). CONCLUSIONS: Ex vivo confocal microscopy in the reflectance mode with an 'en face' scanning can control tumour margins of eyelid basal cell carcinomas and optimize their surgical management. This procedure has the advantage on the fluorescent mode of not needing any contrast agent to examine the samples.

Generalized lymphedema associated with neurologic signs (GLANS) syndrome: a new entity?

BACKGROUND: Primary lymphedema in children, especially generalized disease with facial involvement, is rare. OBJECTIVE: We sought to report 3 childhood cases of lymphedema with associated neurologic findings and to provide a pathophysiologic explanation for this association. METHODS: Clinical observations, electroencephalography, and neuroimaging studies were evaluated. Microcomparative genomic hybridization was performed in 1 case. RESULTS: The 3 children had primary lymphedema of all 4 limbs and the face. This was confirmed by lymphoscintigraphy, which showed hypoplasia of vessels and hypofixation of lymph nodes. They had nonspecific neurologic disorders and electroencephalography abnormalities, without intellectual deficit. Neuroimaging revealed normal findings. Microcomparative genomic hybridization in 1 patient revealed no cytogenetic anomaly. The outcome was fatal in 1 case with development of visceral lymphedema and coma. LIMITATIONS: Genetic studies were performed in only 1 case. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that neurologic assessment and electroencephalography are indicated for patients with lymphedema of the limbs and face to identify this syndrome.

The role of in vivo confocal microscopy in the diagnosis of eyelid margin tumors: 47 cases.

BACKGROUND: Handheld in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (IVCM) is a new imaging method that allows noninvasive diagnosis of cutaneous tumors but to date it has not been used in the study of eyelid tumors. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the suitability of IVCM for eyelid margin tumors. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the IVCM features of 47 eyelid margin lesions, clinically suspicious of malignancy; 35 of these were excised whereas the other 12, with no IVCM malignant features, were followed up for at least 1 year. Clinical, IVCM, and histologic diagnoses were compared. RESULTS: IVCM showed sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 69.2%, respectively, for malignancy (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma). The follow-up of the 12 nonexcised lesions did not show any clinical progression. LIMITATIONS: The lesions showing neither clinical nor IVCM features for malignancies were not biopsied in view of the potential functional and aesthetic consequences of eyelid margin surgery. CONCLUSION: Used with a handheld dermatology-specific microscope, IVCM can play a role in the noninvasive diagnosis of eyelid margin lesions. Further studies are needed to better define diagnostic criteria of eyelid tumors and improve the specificity of this technique.

In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy to optimize the spaghetti technique for defining surgical margins of lentigo maligna.

BACKGROUND: Lentigo maligna (LM) is a therapeutic challenge for surgeons because of its location in aesthetic areas and the difficulty in determining margins. OBJECTIVE: To investigate a new procedure combining the "spaghetti" technique described by Gaudy-Marqueste and colleagues in 2011 with in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) to define the margins of LM more accurately and allow strict histologic control. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-three consecutive patients with LM of the head underwent a RCM-guided delineation of the margins followed by the "spaghetti" technique. RESULTS: The excision of the first "spaghetti" in a tumor-free area was obtained in 28 of 33 patients. In the other five cases, persistence of LM foci was found in <5% of the length of spaghetti. The average number of pieces of "spaghetti" was 1.2 (range 1-3). Definitive histologic examination of the lesion showed a minimum average margin of 2.7 mm. Follow-up in 27 patients after an average of 10 months (range 4-25 months) did not show any recurrence. CONCLUSION: This procedure allows accurate definition of the surgical margins of LM, with a low rate of multiple excisions, sparing tissue in functional and aesthetic areas. These results should be confirmed on the basis of a larger series with longer follow-up.

Anal melanosis diagnosed by reflectance confocal microscopy.

Until now, in vivo reflectance-mode confocal microscopy (IVCM) has been applied only to pigmented lesions of the vulvar and oral mucosa, but not to anal mucosa lesions. We present the first case in which IVCM has been used to diagnose anal melanosis. Clinical and dermoscopic features were of concern while IVCM found the draped pattern already described for genital melanosis. IVCM adds information to the clinical and dermatoscopic examination and allows skin biopsies to be avoided. Further studies are needed to define the IVCM features of anal melanosis and to compare the performance of IVCM with the findings of histological examinations.

Laser photodynamic treatment for in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the glans monitored by reflectance confocal microscopy.

While mutilating surgery can be avoided with non-surgical treatment of in situ squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), this procedure is not followed by histological evaluation to verify the total removal of the lesion, leading to possible recurrence. We present the first case of in situ penile SCC treated with laser PDT, where the efficacy of the treatment was monitored by reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) using a handheld camera. In the future RCM may be regarded as a complementary technique to assess the efficacy of non-surgical treatment of mucous membrane cancers.

Complications of BCG vaccine SSI® recent story and risk management plan: the French experience.

INTRODUCTION: As of January 2006, the BCG vaccine SSI® became the only BCG vaccine available for tuberculosis vaccination in France. The use of this vaccine led to significant changes in vaccination technique which were accompanied by a rapid increase in the number of adverse reactions (ADRs) reported. A national pharmacovigilance follow-up began in February 2006, and a risk management plan (RMP) was put in place in April 2006, made of three phases (carried out in June 2006, July 2006 and September 2006) with risk minimisation measures. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of the RMP on the amount of ADRs reported. METHODS: Based on data collected by the regional pharmacovigilance centres and the MSD laboratory, the cases of locoregional ADRs spontaneously reported were analysed retrospectively from January 2005 to February 2006, and then prospectively up to June 2008, the date at which the national follow-up ended. The locoregional ADRs were divided into three categories: abscesses, local reactions or lymphadenopathy of more than 1 cm and suppurative lymphadenopathy. A parallel was then drawn between these data and the different phases of the RMP. RESULTS: During the entire follow-up period, we note 1050 locoregional ADRs, of which 764 were abscesses (73% of all cases), 266 were local reactions and 20 involved suppurative lymphadenopathy.Locoregional ADRs increased rapidly from January 2006 onward, reaching a peak in August 006 and then falling and stabilising from December 2007 onward.The RMP was implemented when there was an increase in the number of ADRs reported. The drop in the number of these effects began 3 months after the first phase and 2 months after the second phase of the RMP. The third phase was not accompanied by a variation in the number of ADRs reported. CONCLUSION: The RMP appears to have positive effect on the evolution of the number of ADRs, their decrease occurring rapidly after the risk minimisation measures of the first two phases. Nonetheless, these data should be confirmed by other studies on the efficacy of RMPs.

Cutaneous Necrosis Over the Nose and Lower Limbs Induced by Acenocoumarol: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Coumarin derivatives are the most used class of oral anticoagulants, and almost 1-2% of adults worldwide take it in the form of warfarin (WA) or acenocoumarol (AC). Cutaneous necrosis is a rare and severe complication of oral anticoagulant therapy. Most commonly, it occurs in the first 10 days, and the incidence peaks between the third and sixth day of starting treatment. Cutaneous necrosis due to AC therapy is underreported in the literature, and studies refer to this condition as "coumarin-induced skin necrosis"; however, this term is not totally accurate, as coumarin itself has no anticoagulant properties. We report a case of a 78-year-old female patient with AC-induced skin necrosis, who presented with cutaneous ecchymosis purpura over her face, arms, and lower extremities 3 hours after AC intake.

A randomized, controlled, double-blind prospective trial with a Lipido-Colloid Technology-Nano-OligoSaccharide Factor wound dressing in the local management of venous leg ulcers.

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are the most prevalent chronic wounds in western countries with a heavy socioeconomic impact. Compression therapy is the etiologic treatment of VLU but until now no wound dressing has been shown to be more effective than another. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a new dressing in the management of VLU. Adult patients presenting a noninfected VLU and receiving effective compression therapy were enrolled in this randomized, controlled, double-blind trial. The VLUs were assessed every 2 weeks for 8 weeks. The primary study outcome was the relative Wound Area Reduction (WAR, in %), and the secondary objectives were absolute WAR, healing rate, and percentage of wounds with >40% surface area reduction. One hundred eighty-seven patients were randomly allocated to treatment groups. Median WAR was 58.3% in the Lipido-Colloid Technology-Nano-OligoSaccharide Factor (TLC-NOSF) dressing group (test group) and 31.6% in the TLC dressing group (control group) (difference: -26.7%; 95% confidence interval: -38.3 to -15.1%; p = 0.002). All other efficacy outcomes were also significant in favor of the TLC-NOSF dressing group. Clinical outcomes for patients treated with the new dressing are superior to those patients treated with the TLC dressing (without NOSF compound), suggesting a strong promotion of the VLU healing process.

Reflectance confocal microscopy for the diagnosis of vulvar melanoma and melanosis: preliminary results.

BACKGROUND: In the early stages, vulvar melanoma can mimic vulvar melanosis and therefore the diagnosis is often late and carries a poor prognosis. In vivo reflectance-mode confocal microscopy (RCM) is an emerging technique that allows noninvasive high-resolution imaging of the skin and mucosa, but it has not been employed in the study of genital pigmentation. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of vulvar melanosis and vulvar melanoma using RCM to define the confocal aspects that allow a correct differential diagnosis. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Features of eight melanoses and two melanomas of the vulva were analyzed using RCM. RCM diagnosis was then compared with clinical and histologic diagnosis. RESULTS: Two major characteristics are associated with vulvar melanosis: papillae rimmed by bright monomorphous cells and possible presence of a few dendritic bright cells in the basal layer of the epithelium. Two major features of vulvar melanoma have been identified: atypical cells in the epithelium and loss of normal architecture of chorion papillae. CONCLUSIONS: Reflectance Confocal Microscopy can play a role in noninvasive differentiation between vulvar melanoma and vulvar melanosis, but further broader studies are needed to validate our observations.

Solar urticaria treated with intravenous immunoglobulins.

BACKGROUND: Solar urticaria (SU) is a rare idiopathic photodermatosis induced immediately after sun exposure. This disorder may considerably restrict normal daily life and management is extremely difficult when treatment with oral H1 antihistamines and sun avoidance are ineffective. OBJECTIVE: We sought to report the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) in severe SU. METHODS: We performed a retrospective multicentric study via the mailing of a questionnaire to the French photodermatology units to analyze all cases of patients with SU who were treated with IVIG. RESULTS: Seven patients (5 women) with a mean age of 40 years (range 32-55 years) and a mean disease duration of 5 years (range 2-10 years) received IVIG. The administration schedule differed from one patient to another: 1.4 to 2.5 g/kg were infused over 2 to 5 days. Five of 7 patients obtained a complete remission. The number of courses necessary to obtain clinical remission varied from 1 to 3 courses. Complete remission was maintained during 4 to more than 12 months but antihistamines were still required. In one case, psoralen plus ultraviolet A photochemotherapy was administered. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective study design, limited number of patients, and variations in the IVIG administration schedule could limit the interpretation of the results. CONCLUSION: Our case series suggests a beneficial effect of IVIG in severe SU but additional prospective trials including a larger number of patients are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of IVIG and to specify the optimal modalities of their administration in this disease.

In vivo and ex vivo confocal microscopy for the evaluation of surgical margins of melanoma.

We report the first series of melanomas (MMs) where the surgical margins were evaluated both by ex vivo confocal microscopy (EVCM) and in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM). We evaluated the surgical margins of 42 cutaneous MMs of lentigo maligna/lentigo maligna melanoma type and 2 mucosal MMs with EVCM. Cutaneous MMs also underwent RCM mapping. Imaging results were compared with histopathology. The rate of correct identification of the tumor margins (invaded or not invaded) was 97.6% for RCM (evaluations of cutaneous MMs) and 95.5% for EVCM (evaluations of both cutaneous and mucosal MMs). Our study showed that the MM extension is visible under EVCM and that the combination of in vivo RCM and EVCM can be a new strategy for the evaluation of surgical margins of MMs.

Efficacy and safety of oral alitretinoin as treatment for chronic hand eczema in France: a real-life open-label study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hand eczema is an inflammatory dermatosis that results in a significant psychological and socio-economic burden. Alitretinoin (AL) is indicated in adults with severe chronic hand eczema (sCHE) unresponsive to potent topical corticosteroids. OBJECTIVES: To assess AL effectiveness and safety in patients with sCHE under real-life conditions based on a prospective observational study in France (2010-2014). MATERIALS & METHODS: Clinical severity was assessed using Physician Global Assessment (PGA) and Modified Total Lesion Symptom Score (mTLSS) and quality of life by Skindex and visual analogue scales. Patients were treated with AL for 12-24 weeks and followed for 24 months. Responders were patients with clear/almost clear skin based on PGA at the end of treatment and the primary outcome was remission (clear, almost clear, or mild skin) at one and two years after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 394 patients with severe or moderate PGA were included in the study by 109 dermatologists. AL treatment duration was 5.4 ± 4.1 months (mean ± SD) and 112/274 patients evaluated at the end of treatment were responders. Of the 112 responders, 41/51 evaluable patients were in remission after one year and 36/46 after two years. At the end of treatment, Skindex improved from 48.8 ± 18.1% to 27.1 ± 23.2%. Among the 112 responders, 68/84 did not relapse (mTLSS increased >75% from baseline). The most common adverse events were headache (24%) and dyslipidaemia (4%). CONCLUSIONS: This study supports a positive benefit/risk profile for AL for sCHE patients unresponsive to topical corticosteroids.