Interleukin-8 Expression in Psoriatic Skin of Different Disease Activities / 대한피부과학회지

Psoriasis is a relatively common disorder that affects at least 1-2% of the population, however, the pathogenesis is not fully understood yet. Histopathologically, psoriatic lesion is characterized by hyperplasia of keratinocyte, intraepidermal neutrophil accumulation and activated T lymphocyte infiltration in the dermis. Among many cytokines, IL-8 is known to play a role for the activation and migration for neutrophil and T lymphocyte and for the proliferation of keratinocyte. We performed immunohistochemical staining with anti-IL-8 monoclonal antibody for the active lesion, stable lesion and normal-looking skin of ten psoriatic patients and ten healthy controls. Strong expression of IL-8 in the epidermis and dermis was noted from the active as well as stable psoriatic skins. In the normal-looking skin of the psoriatic patients, only faint expression which is not different from healthy control skin, was noted. These observations indicate that the expression of IL-8 is increased in psoriatic lesion, and IL-S is important for the initiation and maintenance of psoriasis.

A Case of hemiatrophy Secondary to Generalized Morphea / 대한피부과학회지

Localized scleroderma is a connective-tissue disorder that is limited to the skin and subcutaneous tissue, sometimes involving muscles beneath the cutaneous lesions. Although it is usually a self-limiting disease, complications like growth failure, joint contractures, deformities and functional impairment may occur resulting in significant morbidity. Herein we report a 9-year-old girl who presented with hemiatrophy as a major clinical feature associated with widespread multiple hyperpigmented sclerotic plaques. The patient proved to be a relatively rare case of hemiatrophy secondary to extensive generalized morphea also having complicating features of joint contracture and growth failure of involved extremities.

A Case of Connubial Contact Dermatitis due to Rhus / 대한피부과학회지

Allergic contact dermatitis that is attributable to contact with environmental sensitizers boine by a second individual, especially in marital or sexual relationships, has been described as connubial contact dermatitis. Severely pruritic multiple erythematous plaques, vesicles and bullae in a 35-year-old woman occurred on the face, posterior area of the neck, breasts, buttock, and both upper arms. No direct contact to allergens was obtained. However her husband had eaten some cooked sprouts from a lacquer tree for lunch at a restaurant the day before her eruption, then he caressed her that night. A patch test with extracts of lacquer tree in ethanol(2%), crushed extracts of lacquer tree (as is), and urushiol(0.002% pet.) on the patients back showed strong positive reactions.

Pseudo - Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated with Deep Vein Thrombosis / 대한피부과학회지

Pseudo-kaposi's sarcoma is a vasoproliferative disorder that may resemble Kaposi's sarcoma, clinically and histologically. In most cases, it has been associated with congenital or iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula and chronic venous insuffiency. We present a 36-year-old male patient with pseudo-Kaposi's sarcoma caused by a deed vein thrombosis in the absence of any detectable underlying etiologic factors.