Granulomatous slack skin-like clinical findings in Sézary syndrome.

Granulomatous slack skin (GSS) is a very rare condition that has been described as a variant of mycosis fungoides. It is characterized by the development of bulky and pendulous skin folds in flexural areas that are histologically formed by atypical T lymphocytes, histiocytes and giant cells. We report the case of a 37-year-old African-American female with history of Sézary syndrome (SS) that while on treatment for the disease and in a space of 1 month developed exorbitant slack folds in the axillae and cervical area mimicking GSS. The absence of giant cells and epithelioid granulomas in the biopsy ruled out this diagnosis. We report this peculiar SS presentation that clinically resembles GSS, but with histopathology that does not show the typical features of this condition. We also review the literature in regard to SS, GSS and granulomatous mycosis fungoides (GMF), particularly the existing criteria to differentiate these various entities.

Open label study to evaluate the efficacy of re-treatment with etanercept in patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Etanercept has been used to treat chronic plaque psoriasis. Previously reported data demonstrated that some patients experienced secondary failure and frequently rotational-switch therapy is used. The re-treatment with etanercept as part of the rotational therapy could be considered as another safe and efficient therapeutic approach. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the re-treatment with etanercept in patients with a history of etanercept use with good response and secondary loss of efficacy. METHODS: This is an open label prospective study involving 20 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, who had been initially treated with etanercept and were re-treated after a variable interval with 50 mg BIW for 12 weeks. RESULTS: At week 12 of etanercept re-treatment, 13 of 20 patients (65%) achieved a PGA score of 2 or less and 40% (8 of 20), achieved a PGA score of 0 to 1. Etanercept was well tolerated and no serious adverse events were reported. LIMITATIONS: Our study involved a small number of patients. Failure of etanercept was establish by patient's history. However we were able to correlate such failure from our medical records in 17 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Re-treatment with etanercept, after secondary loss of efficacy should be considered in patients with psoriasis if satisfactory therapy cannot be achieved with other therapeutic regimens.

The use of cyclosporine in dermatology.

Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive drug that acts selectively on T-cells by inhibiting calcineurin phosphorylase. It has been used in dermatology since its approval for US Food and Drug Administration in 1997 for the use in psoriasis. While indicated only for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis, cyclosporine has also been used as an off-label drug for the treatment of various inflammatory skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis, blistering disorders, and connective tissue diseases. In this article, we review the use of cyclosporine in dermatology.

Fatal cutaneous Strongyloidiasis as a side effect of Pemphigus foliaceus treatment with mycophenolate mofetil.

Strongyloidiasis is caused by the roundworm Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis). It is uncommon in the Unites States, and most cases are brought by travelers who have visited or lived in South America or Africa. Individuals with an intact immune system may experience mild gastrointestinal symptoms or none at all. In contrast, those with a compromised immune system may develop a rapidly fatal infection, commonly referred to as hyperinfection syndrome or disseminated Strongyloidiasis. We present a 66-year-old inmunocompromised male with Pemphigus Foliaceus who was admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition and in whom a skin biopsy prove to be the main tool in the diagnosis of Strongyloidiasis.

Sister Mary joseph nodule as a presenting sign of pancreatobiliary adenocarcinoma.

Sister Mary Joseph nodules represent metastatic cancer of the umbilicus. These malignancies are usually associated with the ovary and gastrointestinal tract. The authors report the case of a Sister Mary Joseph nodule originating from the bifurcation of the common hepatic duct. Umbilical nodules should prompt clinical evaluations, as these tumors are usually associated with poor prognosis.

An Update on the Treatment of the Cutaneous Manifestations of Systemic Sclerosis: The Dermatologist's Point of View.

Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disorder that affects multiple organs. Although the initial symptoms of the disease are vascular, skin involvement is almost universally present in patients with systemic sclerosis. The presence of Raynaud's phenomenon, progressive thickening of the skin, digital ulcers, and calcinosis all correlate proportionally with disease severity. Since no treatment is available to completely prevent the natural course of the disease, emphasis is often placed on managing symptoms and complications. In this review, the authors focus on the management of each one of the skin manifestations seen in systemic sclerosis, as the dermatologist may facilitate the early recognition and treatment of these complications.

A Case of Palmoplantar Pustulosis Induced by Certolizumab Pegol: New Anti-TNF-alpha Demonstrates the Same Class Effect.

The development of de novo psoriasis in patients treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonists is well recognized. The authors hereby report a case of palmplantar pustular psoriasis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated with etanercept. The condition responded to topical steroids but re-occurred upon treating the patient with certolizumab pegol. This strongly suggests that the development of de novo psoriasis is a class effect.

Erythema multiforme major associated with CMV infection in an immunocompetent patient.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection usually remains asymptomatic in immunocompetent adults, and few cases of complicated disease in nonimmunosuppressed patients have been reported. Erythema multiforme (EM), an acute and self-limiting skin eruption characterized by a typical targetoid lesion that may also affect the mucosa, is a hypersensitivity reaction that usually occurs after herpes simplex virus infection or use of certain drugs and resolves without complications in healthy individuals. To our knowledge, CMV infection has been associated with EM in only six patients. OBJECTIVE: We present a case of an EM caused by CMV infection in a 35-year-old nonimmunosuppressed patient who was successfully treated with ganciclovir. CONCLUSION: Our report, like other similar reports found in the literature, suggests that CMV can trigger EM in apparently healthy individuals. Intravenous ganciclovir appears to be a good treatment option in these cases.

Multiple eruptive keratoacanthomas arising in a tattoo.

Keratoacanthomas are rapidly growing, keratinizing, epithelial neoplasms that tend to spontaneously involute and are rarely multiple or eruptive. There is still disagreement on whether or not this condition is a malignancy or a benign epidermal neoplasm; nevertheless, its appearance on tattoos has been reported in rare instances. When waiting for spontaneous involution is not an option, surgery is the preferred treatment. Other therapeutic modalities used for the treatment of this condition include radiotherapy; cryotherapy; laser therapy; and multiple intralesional, topical, and systemic agents. The authors report a patient who developed multiple, eruptive keratoacanthomas in the red ink portions of a tattoo and was successfully treated with acitretin.