A case of COVID-19 with papulovesicular rash that progressed to retiform purpura, accompanied by cherry angiomas

ABSTRACT CONTEXT: Various skin manifestations have been reported in coronavirus disease. It may be difficult to determine the etiology of these lesions in view of the increased frequency of handwashing during the pandemic, along with occurrences of irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis due to disinfectant use; usage of herbal medicine and supplements to strengthen the immune system; and urticarial or maculopapular drug eruptions due to COVID-19 treatment. The variety of associated skin manifestations seen with COVID-19 makes it challenging to identify virus-specific skin manifestations. Petechiae, purpura, acrocyanosis and necrotic and non-necrotic purpura, which can be considered as manifestations of vascular involvement on the skin, have been reported. CASE REPORT: Here, we report a case of eruptive cherry angiomas, which was thought to have developed due to COVID-19, with a papulovesicular rash on distal extremities that progressed over time to reticular purpura. CONCLUSION: The case presented had a papulovesicular rash at the onset, which evolved to retiform purpura, and eruptive cherry angiomas were observed. It should be kept in mind that dermatological signs may vary in patients with COVID-19.

Cutaneous susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection according to the expression of viral entry factors in the skin / Susceptibilidad cutánea a la infección por SARS-CoV-2 según la expresión de los factores de entrada viral en la piel

Abstract Introduction: Reports of dermatological manifestations in patients with COVID-19 suggest a possible cutaneous tropism of SARS-CoV-2; however, the capacity of this virus to infect the skin is unknown. Objective: To determine the susceptibility of the skin to SARS-CoV-2 infection based on the expression of viral entry factors ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in this organ. Method: A comprehensive analysis of human tissue gene expression databases was carried out looking for the presence of the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes in the skin. mRNA expression of these genes in skin-derived human cell lines was also assessed. Results: The analyses showed high co-expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in the gastrointestinal tract and kidney, but not in the skin. Only the human immortalized keratinocyte HaCaT cell line expressed detectable levels of ACE2, and no cell line originating in the skin expressed TMPRSS2. Conclusions: Our results suggest that cutaneous manifestations in patients with COVID-19 cannot be directly attributed to the virus. It is possible that cutaneous blood vessels endothelial damage, as well as the effect of circulating inflammatory mediators produced in response to the virus, are the cause of skin involvement.

Resumen Introducción: Reportes de manifestaciones dermatológicas en pacientes con COVID-19 sugieren un posible tropismo cutáneo del virus SARS-CoV-2; sin embargo, se desconoce la capacidad de este virus para infectar la piel. Objetivo: Determinar la susceptibilidad de la piel a la infección por SARS-CoV-2 con base en la expresión de los factores de entrada viral ACE2 y TMPRSS2 en dicho órgano. Método: Se buscaron los genes ACE2 y TMPRSS2 en la piel, para lo cual se realizó un análisis extenso de las bases de datos de expresión genética en tejidos humanos. Asimismo, se evaluó la expresión de dichos genes en líneas celulares humanas derivadas de la piel. Resultados: Los análisis mostraron alta expresión conjunta de ACE2 y TMPRSS2 en el tracto gastrointestinal y en los riñones, pero no en la piel. Solo la línea celular de queratinocitos humanos inmortalizados HaCaT expresó niveles detectables de ACE2 y ninguna línea celular de origen cutáneo expresó TMPRSS2. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que las manifestaciones dermatológicas en pacientes con COVID-19 no pueden ser atribuidas directamente al virus; es posible que sean originadas por el daño endotelial a los vasos sanguíneos cutáneos y el efecto de los mediadores inflamatorios circulantes producidos en respuesta al virus.

Epstein-Barr virus and skin

Abstract: Epstein-Barr virus is a DNA virus infecting human beings and could affect 90% of human population. It is crucial to take in account that in Latin America, unlike what happens in developed countries, the exposure to the virus is very early and therefore people have a much longer interaction with the virus. The virus is related to many diseases, mainly the oncological ones, and when the onset is in cutaneous tissue, it can present many clinical variants, as well acute as chronic ones. Among the acute ones are infectious mononucleosis rash and Lipschutz ulcers; the chronic presentations are hypersensivity to mosquito bites, hydroa vacciniforme, hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma, its atypical variants and finally nasal and extra-nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma. Although they are not frequent conditions, it is crucial for the dermatologist to know them in order to achieve a correct diagnosis.

HTLV-1-associated infective dermatitis and probable HTLV-1- associated myelopathy in an adolescent female

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated infective dermatitis (ID) is a chronic, severe and recurrent eczema occurring during childhood in patients vertically infected with HTLV-1. HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesia (HAM/ TSP) is slow and progressive. We report the case of an adolescent female from a non-endemic area for HTLV-1 who presents ID and, most likely, associated HAM/TSP.

Case for diagnosis / Caso para diagnóstico

Papular-purpuric gloves and socks syndrome is a rare, highly contagious dermatosis caused by parvovirus B19, which may result in the abrupt cessation of red blood cell production in patients with preexisting hematological diseases. It affects predominantly children and young adults and has an unusual presentation.

A síndrome "gloves and socks" pápulo-purpúrica é uma dermatose incomum, altamente contagiosa, causada pelo parvovírus B19, que pode provocar interrupção aguda da produção de glóbulos vermelhos em pacientes com doenças hematológicas preexistentes. Acomete, principalmente, crianças e jovens, e tem uma apresentaçao nao-usual.

High HTLV-1 proviral load, a marker for HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, is also detected in patients with infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1

Salvador (BA, Brazil) is an endemic area for human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). The overall prevalence of HTLV-1 infection in the general population has been estimated to be 1.76%. HTLV-1 carriers may develop a variety of diseases such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 (IDH). IDH is a chronic and severe form of childhood exudative and infective dermatitis involving mainly the scalp, neck and ears. It has recently been observed that 30% of patients with IDH develop juvenile HAM/TSP. The replication of HTLV-1 has been reported to be greater in adult HAM/TSP patients than in asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers. In the current study, the proviral load of 28 children and adolescents with IDH not associated with HAM/TSP was determined and the results were compared to those obtained in 28 HTLV-1 adult carriers and 28 adult patients with HAM/TSP. The proviral load in IDH patients was similar to that of patients with HAM/TSP and much higher than that found in HTLV-1 carriers. The high levels of proviral load in IDH patients were not associated with age, duration of illness, duration of breast-feeding, or activity status of the skin disease. Since proviral load is associated with neurological disability, these data support the view that IDH patients are at high risk of developing HAM/TSP.

Lesões dermatológicas em pacientes infectados pelo vírus linfotrópico humano de células T do tipo 1 (HTLV-1) / Dermatologic lesions in patients infected with the human T-cell lymphotropic vírus type 1 (HTLV-1)

O vírus linfotrópico humano de células T do tipo 1 (HTLV-1) é o primeiro retrovírus isolado do ser humano. Descreveu-se, em pouco tempo, o seu papel etiológico em algumas doenças, com destaque para a leucemia/linfoma de células T do adulto (ATLL), a mielopatia associada ao HTLV-1/paraparesia espástica tropical (HAM/TSP) e a uveíte associada ao HTLV-1 (HAU). Na década de 90, o HTLV-1 foi associado a eczema grave da infância, conhecido como dermatite infecciosa (DI). Desde então, diversos outros tipos de lesões cutâneas têm sido observados em pacientes infectados pelo HTLV-1, em especial, nos doentes de HAM/TSP ou de ATLL. Porém, mesmo portadores assintomáticos do vírus apresentam doenças dermatológicas. Excetuando-se a dermatite infecciosa, não há lesão da pele específica da infecção pelo HTLV-1. Aqui, os autores apresentam as principais lesões dermatológicas descritas em pacientes infectados pelo HTLV-1, destacando o valor epidemiológico e clínico desses achados.