ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Most manufacturers of commercially available botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) recommend that the vials should be used within 24 hours after reconstitution to ensure efficacy, which in some instances would mean wastage of remaining reconstituted solution. Several studies have evaluated the efficacy of stored reconstituted BTX-A and have concluded that the use of BTX-A reconstituted and refrigerated for up to 6 weeks prior to administration does not significantly alter its efficacy in the treatment of facial rhytides.@*OBJECTIVES@#Our study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of freshly reconstituted BTX-A and BTX-A reconstituted 1, 2 or 3 months prior to administration in the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis.@*METHODOLOGY@#Patients with primary axillary hyperhidrosis were enrolled in this pilot study. Freshly reconstituted BTX-A and BTX-A reconstituted 1, 2 and 3 months prior were administered in 4 pre-determined areas in the same patient. The degree of hyperhidrosis was assessed subjectively using Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) and objectively using Minor’s iodine starch test followed by Sweating Intensity Visual Scale (SIVS) at 0, 2, 6 and 12 weeks after administration.@*RESULTS@#Five patients were enrolled in the study. Kruskall-Wallis test showed that HDSS at baseline was significantly different from follow-up periods with noted improvement from baseline to 2 weeks follow-up. Using Kruskall-Wallis test, SIVS was found to be not significantly different among these 4 treatment areas. In addition, significantly improved SIVS scores were noted as early as 2 weeks after administration in all 4 areas of treatments. There were no noted adverse effects in all patients at baseline and at all follow-up visits.@*CONCLUSION@#The clinical efficacy and safety of BTX-A reconstituted 1, 2 and 3 months prior to administration is comparable to that of freshly reconstituted BTX-A in the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis.
ABSTRACT
@#Erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) is a rare condition believed to be a form of chronic recurrent leukocytoclastic vasculitis possibly secondary to vascular immune complex deposition. The disease is characterized by symmetrical, red, brownish-purple, and yellow papules, plaques, and nodules distributed mainly over the extensor surfaces of the extremities. We report a 61-year-old male with an atypical presentation of such disease as a giant warty lesion on the heels. Histologically, a spectrum from leukocytoclastic vasculitis to vessel occlusion and dermal fibrosis is seen in EED. These histological findings were present in the histopathological reading of the patient which established its diagnosis and further ruled out verruca vulgaris. The disease is associated with many disease entities, which include human immunodeficiency virus, malignant conditions, chronic infection, and autoimmune and connective tissue disorders. None of these conditions was present in the patient as manifested in the history, physical, and laboratory examinations. However, the patient has a low hemoglobin and a G6PD deficiency which makes him a bad candidate for dapsone therapy which is the main treatment for EED. Tetracycline, niacinamide and plain vaseline + salicylic acid were given initially for 4 weeks but no improvement was noticed. It was then shifted to 10mg intralesional corticosteroid and urea paste 40%. Niacinamide still was given. There was a marked thinning of the lesions. The medications were continued and were slowly tapered. More improvement of the lesions was observed.