ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The presence of serum varicella zoster virus (VZV) immunoglobulin M and G (IgM and IgG) aid diagnosis of and confirmation of immunization against varicella and herpes zoster. However, the relationship between serum VZV IgM and IgG and the clinical characteristics of VZV infection remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated quantitative changes in serum VZV IgM and IgG in accordance with the clinical features of varicella, herpes zoster, and disseminated herpes zoster compared with a normal control group. METHODS: A total of 922 patients were classified into 3 groups: varicella, herpes zoster, and disseminated herpes zoster. We assessed serum VZV IgM and IgG titers in association with age, severity of skin lesions, duration of skin lesions, immune status, and neurologic complications. RESULTS: In patients with varicella and herpes zoster, serum antibody titer varied significantly depending on age and the duration of skin lesions. A high serum VZV IgM titer was related to varicella or disseminated herpes zoster viremia. In herpes zoster, elevated antibody titers, especially VZV IgM, were associated with severe skin lesions and the presence of neurologic complications. CONCLUSION: Serologic data for varicella and herpes zoster varied according to clinical features. A high serum VZV IgM titer was associated with an unfavorable clinical course of herpes zoster.
Subject(s)
Humans , Chickenpox , Diagnosis , Herpes Zoster , Herpesvirus 3, Human , Immunization , Immunoglobulin G , Immunoglobulin M , Immunoglobulins , Skin , ViremiaABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic , Peptic Ulcer , Polyps , StomachABSTRACT
Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a chronic granulomatous skin disease typified by indurated plaques on the shin. Although this condition is strongly associated with diabetes mellitus, its etiology and pathogenesis remains unknown. Localization of NL to the lower extremities suggests that local injury may be a contributing factor to the disease. A healthy 38-year-old man presented with localized erythematous to yellowish plaques on his right thigh that developed over several years. The lesion developed in the scar where suture had been done for laceration repair 25 years ago. A biopsy specimen showed degenerated collagen with surrounding palisading granulomas. Numerous lymphocytes and multinucleated giant cells were infiltrated throughout the reticular dermis. Plasma cells aggregation was found at the dermal subcutaneous junction.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biopsy , Cicatrix , Collagen , Dermis , Diabetes Mellitus , Giant Cells , Granuloma , Lacerations , Lower Extremity , Lymphocytes , Necrobiosis Lipoidica , Necrobiotic Disorders , Plasma Cells , Skin Diseases , Sutures , ThighABSTRACT
Vestibular papillomatosis is an uncommon benign condition that can occur on labia minora and is considered as a normal anatomical variant of the vulva, as the female equivalent of pearly penile papules in men. Because vestibular papillomatosis resemble condyloma, it can be misdiagnosed as condyloma acuminatum and can lead to unnecessary treatment. We herein report a case of a 27-year-old women with multiple skin-colored soft papules on labia minora. The lesion was distributed symmetrically on the inner of labia minora and showed a separate base of individual projection. To the best of our knowledge, this is a unique case reported in the Korean dermatological literature.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Papilloma , VulvaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is one of the most common diseases of the nails accounting for up to 50% of all nail problems. There are many literatures on the cure rate and duration for complete cure according to the various factors. However, little information is available regarding duration required for negative conversion of KOH mount. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the duration required for negative conversion of KOH mount in patients with toenail onychomycosis according to the clinical factors and treatment regimens. METHODS: Medical records of 325 patients with onychomycosis between May 2001 and February 2012 were reviewed retrospectively to obtain the following information: age, sex, presence of diabetes mellitus (DM), extent of nail involvement, therapeutic methods, and result of KOH mount at each timepoint. RESULTS: Extent of nail involvement, old age (> or =60) and DM were negatively associated with the duration required for conversion of KOH mount. Extent of nail involvement also negatively affected the rate of conversion of KOH mount at week 48. Positive KOH mount at week 28 was negatively associated with complete cure. CONCLUSIONS: Extent of nail involvement, old age, and DM can prolong the duration required for negative conversion of KOH mount. Also, positive KOH mount at week 28 had negative effect on the cure of onychomycosis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Accounting , Diabetes Mellitus , Medical Records , Nails , Onychomycosis , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Granuloma annulare is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by erythematous or flesh-colored papular eruptions of annular configuration. In a HIV positive patient, granuloma annulare could be confused with other papular diseases because it could be presented as atypical appearances due to the defect of the immune system. Moreover, without specific treatment for granuloma annulare, the lesions could be improved by systemic anti-retroviral therapy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Granuloma , Granuloma Annulare , HIV , Immune System , Skin DiseasesABSTRACT
Glomus tumors are benign cutaneous neoplasm, occurring in the vascular hamartomatous tubercles of the glomus body, which is a myoarterial apparatus typically found in the reticular dermis of the skin. Histopathologically, glomus tumors are composed of neoplastic cells that resemble normal glomus cells, arranged around a varying number of thin-walled, sometimes branching capillaries. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells in glomus tumors clearly exhibit smooth muscle characteristics with expression of muscle-specific actin and alpha-smooth muscle actin; whereas, the expression of CD34 is rare. In this report, we present two cases of benign glomus tumors on the subungual area and palm. Tumor cells of glomus tumor in two patients were both positive for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and CD34 immunohistochemical staining. We thought that coexpression of SMA and CD34 adds support to the interpretation of these lesions as a family of perivascular neoplasms.
Subject(s)
Humans , Actins , Capillaries , Dermis , Glomus Tumor , Muscle, Smooth , Muscles , SkinABSTRACT
Neutrophilic dermatosis of the dorsal hands (NDDH) is a recently described skin disorder regarded as a localized variant of acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet syndrome). The lesions of NDDH are characterized by erythematous plaques, pustules, and hemorrhagic bullae on the dorsal surface of the hands. Herein, we report a case of NDDH in a 52-year-old man with concomitant involvement of the ankle. The patient presented with well-demarcated erythematous papules, patches, and plaques on the dorsum of the hands as well as erythematous papules on the left ankle for 3 days. The lesions responded rapidly to systemic corticosteroid therapy.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Middle Aged , Ankle , Blister , Hand , Neutrophils , Skin , Skin Diseases , Sweet SyndromeABSTRACT
Myopericytoma (MP) is a benign tumor composed of cells that show apparent differentiation towards putative perivascular myoid cells called myopericytes. It arises most commonly in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue of the extremities in adults. The most common presentation is a well-circumscribed, slow-growing painless firm mass. A 45-year-old woman presented with a 2-year history of a painless, slowly growing 0.9x0.7 cm sized firm mass in the subcutaneous tissue of the posterior side of the right lower leg. We presumed this lesion to be an epidermal cyst, pilomatricoma or calcinosis cutis and performed an excisional biopsy. The histologic examination showed that it was composed of spindle-shaped myoid-appearing cells in a concentric arrangement, intimately associated with thin-walled vascular channels. Lesional spindle cells were diffusely positive for smooth muscle actin and were negative for CD34, desmin and S100 protein. From these findings, we diagnosed this lesion as a myopericytoma.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Actins , Biopsy , Calcinosis , Dermis , Desmin , Epidermal Cyst , Extremities , Leg , Muscle, Smooth , Pilomatrixoma , Subcutaneous TissueABSTRACT
Lichen planus is a chronic papulosquamous disease that affects the skin and mucous membranes. It is characterized by pruritic violaceous papules that are most commonly seen on the extremities of middle aged adults, but the elderly are rarely affected. Hypertrophic lichen planus usually occurs on the extremities and especially on the shins, and it tends to be the most pruritic variant. An 82-year-old female presented with severe pruritic multiple papules and plaques on the both the upper and lower extremities for 1 year. At first, the lesions began as small, polygonal papules that formed verrucous plaques over several months. Histopathologic examination showed marked hyperkeratosis, irregular acanthosis and wedge-shaped hypergranulosis. The vacuolar alteration and the lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate were accentuated at the base of the rete ridge. From these findings, we diagnosed these lesions as hypertrophic lichen planus. The lesions were treated with topical steroid and intralesional injection of steroid, and they were slightly improved after 2 months of therapy.