Sensitizing agents found in children and adolescents with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis: a cross-sectional study with a pediatric battery

Abstract Background Atopic dermatitis is the most common inflammatory skin disease in childhood and has an important impact on quality of life, especially severe cases or those that are recalcitrant to treatments. Sensitization to allergens with the potential for allergic contact dermatitis is a factor associated with cases of recalcitrant atopic dermatitis. Understanding the relationship between atopic dermatitis, allergens, and allergic contact dermatitis is essential. In Brazil, there are no studies on sensitization to allergens found in patch tests with pediatric batteries in patients with atopic dermatitis. Objectives To verify the main sensitizing agents, the prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis and the epidemiological and clinical profile of children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis. Methods Cross-sectional, prospective study in patients between 4 and 18 years of age, with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis, treated at the Sanitary Dermatology Outpatient Clinic (RS). All patients underwent patch tests with a battery of pediatric allergens. Results The prevalence of sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis in the evaluated patients was 37.07% (20/54) and 27.7% (15/54), respectively. The most frequent allergens were: nickel sulfate (16.7%), disperse blue (5.6%), and fragrance mix I (5.6%). Nickel was associated with the female sex (p = 0.019). Study limitations Sample size and selection, absence of a control group. Conclusions A proportion of patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis may be sensitized to different allergens and may even have developed allergic contact dermatitis. Recognizing this context is important in the prevention strategy and management of the disease.

Usefulness of dermoscopy in the evaluation of patch test reactions

Abstract Background: Despite being widely used in different areas of dermatology, there have been few studies evaluating the benefit of dermoscopy in the interpretation of patch tests, especially in weak and doubtful reactions. Objectives: To evaluate the role of dermoscopy in the interpretation of patch tests and describe the main findings of the reactions. Method: Prospective study, carried out in dermatology reference centers in southern Brazil, which evaluated the final results of patch tests analyzed with the aid of dermoscopy. Results: 77 patients and 160 reactions were included. The most prevalent substances were nickel sulphate (23.8%), kathon CG (9.4%), and perfume mix (8.8%). The main dermoscopic findings were reaction area greater than half of the chamber site (90%), homogeneous erythema (86.9%), vesicles (30%), crusts (21.3%), perifollicular erythema (35%), pore reaction (19.4%) and pustules (8.8%). Dermoscopy was found to facilitate the definition of erythema in reactions on black skin and when due to substances with deposition of pigment. Of the 64 weak or doubtful reactions, 36 (56.25%) showed a change in the final result after dermoscopy evaluation; of the 36 doubtful reactions, 33 (91.6%) showed a change in the final result after dermoscopy evaluation (p < 0.001). Study limitations: The probable limitation of the study is its sample size. Though certain significance levels have been reached, other possible relationships may not have been observed. Conclusion: Dermoscopy improves significantly the interpretation of patch tests, especially in weak and doubtful reactions.

Verrucous hemangioma and histopathological differential diagnosis with angiokeratoma circumscriptum neviforme

Abstract: Verrucous hemangioma is a rare vascular skin disorder with an immune profile similar to vascular neoplasms, but with behavior and evolution of vascular malformations. Its main differential diagnosis is angiokeratoma circumscriptum neviforme, with an almost indistinguishable clinical presentation because both diseases appear as erythematous patches that evolve to violaceous plaques, becoming scaly and even verrucous, most commonly affecting the lower limbs. Histopathology is crucial for the correct diagnosis: while in angiokeratoma the vascular alterations are limited to the papillary dermis, verrucous hemangioma extends deep into the dermis, reaching the subcutaneous tissue.

PLECT or PPLECT? Granulomatous pyoderma gangrenosum in the differential diagnosis of the verrucous syndrome

Abstract: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon neutrophilic dermatosis, with variable clinical features, nonspecific histopathology and multifactorial pathogenesis, posing a challenging diagnosis for the dermatologist. Pyoderma gangrenosum is a diagnosis of exclusion and should be included in the differential diagnoses of the verrucous syndrome. We report a granulomatous variant affecting the face.

Aspectos epidemiológicos da hanseníase em menores de 15 anos, diagnosticados em um Centro de Referência do Sul do Brasil, entre 2007 e 2017: uma tendência à mudança na detecção de casos novos? / Epidemiological aspects of leprosy under 15 years old diagnosed at a Referral Center in the South of Brazil, between 2007-2017: a tendency to change in the detection of new cases?

Introdução: A Hanseníase (Doença de Hansen) é uma doença infectocontagiosa, que apresenta tropismo pela pele e nervos periféricos, cujo diagnóstico tardio pode causar sequelas físicas e emocionais. A Hanseníase em crianças é considerada um dos principais indicadores da tendência da doença e sugere intensa circulação do Mycobacterium leprae. Métodos: Um estudo retrospectivo, observacional e analítico foi conduzido com dezoito crianças diagnosticadas e tratadas no Ambulatório de Dermatologia Sanitária de Porto Alegre, Brasil. As informações clínicas e sociodemográficas foram obtidas através do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Resultados: Durante o período de 2007-2017, 478 indivíduos foram diagnosticados como novos casos de Hanseníase em nosso Serviço; dentre esses, 18 (3,76%) eram crianças menores de 15 anos de idade, e sete foram diagnosticadas somente no ano de 2017. Dentre as 18 crianças, 15 (83,3%) eram multibacilares, e somente uma apresentou grau 2 de incapacidade. Aproximadamente 11% da amostra desenvolveram reações hansênicas durante o período de acompanhamento; 61,1% tinham entre 10 e 14 anos de idade. Contatos domiciliares foram identificados em 77,8% dos pacientes. Conclusão: Este estudo mostra que, apesar da situação endêmica ser menos preocupante no Sul do Brasil em relação às demais regiões brasileiras, o aumento da incidência de casos de Hanseníase em 2017 em indivíduos menores de 15 anos pode indicar uma mudança na tendência da doença e do indicador de detecção de casos novos da Hanseníase no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil(AU).

Setting: Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is an infectious and contagious disease, which presents tropism on the skin and peripheral nerves, and its late diagnosis can lead to serious physical and emotional disabilities. Leprosy in children is considered one of the main indicators of the disease trend and suggests intense circulation of Mycobacterium leprae. Methods: A retrospective, observational and analytical study was conducted of 18 children, diagnosed as new cases of Leprosy and registered for treatment at the Ambulatory of Sanitary Dermatology, Porto Alegre, Brazil. The medical and socio-demographic details were obtained from the Information System for Notificable Diseases. Results: During 2007-2017, 478 people were diagnosed as new active cases of Leprosy at our referral center; among the registered patients, 18 (3,76%) were children aged under 15 years, of whom 15 (83,3%) were diagnosed with multibacillary disease and just one was reported with grade 2 of disability (G2D). Between new cases under 15 years of age, seven were detected in 2017. Nearly 11% of the sample developed reactions during the follow-up period; 61,1% were between 10 to 14 years old. Household contacts were identified in 77,7% of the patients. Conclusion: This study shows that despite the more favourable situation in the South of Brazil, the increase in Leprosy incidence in 2017 in individuals under 15 years may reveal a change in the trend of the disease and in the detection of the new cases of the Hansen's disease in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil(AU).

A case of late-onset oligomeganephronia / Um caso de oligomeganefronia de início tardio

A 33-year old caucasian man was investigated for pain in the right flank, proteinuria, hemathuria and an elevated serum creatinine level. He also presented an abnormal ultrasonography, which revealed asymmetric kidneys. Through renal biopsy, the diagnosis of oligomeganephronia (OMN) was confirmed. OMN is a very rare form of renal hypoplasia, and late-onset in adulthood is even rarer. In the pediatric population, OMN leads to end-stage-renal-failure(ESRF) in a few years. This is the sixth case related in the literature of a late-onset OMN who have not yet developed ESRF.

Paciente do sexo masculino, 33 anos de idade, foi investigado por apresentar um quadro de dor abdominal em flanco direito, proteinúria, hematúria e níveis elevados de creatinina sérica. A ultrassonografia evidenciou rins de tamanhos assimétricos, e a biópsia renal confirmou o diagnóstico de oligomeganefronia (OMN). OMN é uma forma muito rara de hipoplasia renal, e ainda mais infrequente na faixa etária adulta. Na população pediátrica, OMN culmina com insuficiência renal terminal em poucos anos. Este é o sexto caso de oligomeganefronia de início tardio relatado na literatura, que ainda não teve evolução para insuficiência renal crônica.