Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with arterial ectasia and arteriovenous malformation: Response to intra-arterial embolization.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia is a rare disease characterized by vascular proliferation of unknown origin. The lesions are mostly seen in the head and neck region and are characterized by papules or nodules. A 20-year-old man presented with a 1 year history of reddish papulo-nodular lesions overlying a pulsatile swelling on the left auricular area. Histopathology was suggestive of angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. B-mode ultrasonography, color Doppler and angiography revealed arterial ectasia and arteriovenous malformation of the left auricular artery. Such malformations have been reported previously, in association with angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. The cutaneous lesions responded well to transarterial embolization of the nidus.

Immunotherapy using purififi ed protein derivative in the treatment of warts: An open uncontrolled trial.

Background: Warts are known to clear spontaneously with the development of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to the virus. Purifi ed protein derivative (PPD) of tuberculin bacilli has been used as a non-specific stimulant of CMI to achieve this outcome. Aim: To study the effect of PPD in the treatment of warts. Methods: Patients with difficult-to-treat warts were selected for immunotherapy. Each patient received 2.5 TU of PPD intralesionally in a few warts. A total of four sessions were given at 2 weekly intervals and patients were followed up for 6 months after the last dose. Results: Sixty-one patients were recruited of which 55 completed 6 months follow up and were available for analysis. Of these, 25 had verruca vulgaris, 18 had verruca plana and 12 had plantar warts. Forty two (76%) patients showed complete clearance after four sessions while the remaining 13 (24%) patients were non-responders. One patient developed a recurrence after total clearance during the follow-up period. Adverse effects were erythema, edema and pain at the site of injections. Limitations: As this was an uncontrolled trial, there is no comparison with a non-intervention group. Also, a Mantoux test was not done due to practical difficulties. Conclusion: Immunotherapy with PPD is helpful in the treatment of cutaneous warts.