Epidermal necrolysis: SCORTEN performance in AIDS and non-AIDS patients

Abstract: Background: Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are life-threatening blistering drug reactions with high incidence of ocular sequela. The term 'Epidermal Necrolysis' has been recently used to better describe the full spectrum of the disease that includes Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis at opposite ends, which differ by the extent of body surface area with epidermal detachment. SCORTEN is a mortality prognosis score for 'Epidermal Necrolysis' cases that still needed validation in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Objective: To evaluate the SCORTEN performance in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and the differences in outcomes between acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and non- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cohorts. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of AIDS and non-AIDS 'Epidermal Necrolysis' cases admitted to a Brazilian reference center from 1990-2014. Results: Five deaths (16.7%) occurred as a consequence of EN in 30 AIDS patients, and seven (17.9%) in 39 non-AIDS patients, relative risk (RR) .92 (p=1.0). SCORTEN showed great performance, with an Area Under the Receiver Operating Curve (AUC) (ROC) of 0.90 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from .81 to .99. The performance of SCORTEN was better among non- AIDS patients than AIDS patients: AUC non- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome =0.99 (CI 05% 0.96-1.00), AUC acquired immunodeficiency syndrome = 0.74 (CI 95% 0.53-0.95), p=.02. Study Limitations: Heterogeneity of cases, wide variation of systemic corticosteroid doses when used. Conclusion: SCORTEN is valid for the Brazilian population, including among those patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and, as such, its use is recommended for aiding treatment choice in this subgroup of patients.

Pesquisa de opinião sobre eficácia, custos e cicatrização de procedimentos de resurfacing para rugas estáticas faciais / Expert survey on the efficacy, costs and healing of resurfacing procedures for facial static wrinkles

Foi realizada uma pesquisa de opinião entre especialistas em "resurfacing" cutâneo com a finalidade de compararem-se custos e benefícios entre as técnicas de laser de CO2 totalmente ablativo, lasers fracionados ablativos, lasers fracionados não ablativos, radiofrequência fracionada ablativa, microagulhamento, dermabrasão, peelings médios e peelings de fenol- -óleo de cróton. A opção mais eficaz para tratamento de rugas estáticas faciais foi peeling de fenol-óleo de cróton, ranqueado em primeiro lugar por 71,4% dos experts, seguido de laser de CO2 totalmente ablativo, por 28,6%. Sobre "downtime", os procedimentos elencados com recuperação mais rápida foram microagulhamento e laser fracionado não ablativo, com 42,9% cada um, seguidos por radiofrequência fracionada ablativa, com 14,3%. O período para recuperação completa dos efeitos colaterais e adversos foi percebido como mais curto no microagulhamento por 50% dos experts. Sobre os custos operacionais, o procedimento menos custoso foram peelings médios, de acordo com a opinião de 71,4% dos especialistas. Tais resultados apontam para melhor custo/benefício de procedimentos como peelings químicos e microagulhamento, de acordo com a opinião dos 14 especialistas brasileiros que responderam ao questionário.

A survey on the opinion of specialists regarding skin resurfacing was performed, with the objective of comparing costs and benefits between the techniques: totally ablative CO2 laser, fractional ablative lasers, fractional non-ablative lasers, ablative fractional radiofrequency, microneedling, dermabrasion, medium peels, phenol-croton oil peels. The most effective option for the treatment of static wrinkles was the phenol-croton oil peel, in first place by 71.4% of the experts, followed by totally ablative CO2 laser, by 28.6%. Regarding downtime, procedures ranked as fastest recovery were microneedling and fractional non-ablative lasers, with 42.9% each, followed by ablative fractional radiofrequency, with 14.3%. Complete recovery period for side and adverse effects was perceived as shorter with microneedling by 50% of the experts. Regarding operating costs. The less costly procedure was medium peels, according to the opinion of 71.4% of the experts. Such results point towards a better cost/benefit of procedures such as chemical peels and micro-needling, according to the opinion of 14 Brazilian specialists who answered the questionnaire.

Metabolic syndrome, C-reactive protein and cardiovascular risk in psoriasis patients: a cross-sectional study

Abstract: Background: Psoriasis has been associated with co-morbidities and elevated cardiovascular risk. Objectives: To analyze the relationships among metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular risk, C-reactive protein, gender, and Psoriasis severity. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, plaque Psoriasis patients (n=90), distributed equally in gender, were analyzed according to: Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, cardiovascular risk determined by the Framingham risk score and global risk assessment, C-reactive protein and metabolic syndrome criteria (NCEPT-ATP III). Results: Metabolic syndrome frequency was 43.3% overall, without significance between genders (P=0.14); but women had higher risk for obesity (OR 2.56, 95%CI 1.02-6.41; P=0.04) and systemic arterial hypertension (OR 3.29, 95%CI 1.39-7.81; P=0.006). The increase in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index also increased the risk for metabolic syndrome (OR 1.060, 95%CI 1.006-1.117; P=0.03). Absolute 10-year cardiovascular risk was higher in males (P=0.002), but after global risk assessment, 51.1% patients, 52.2% women, were re-classified as high-intermediate cardiovascular risk; without significance between genders (P=0.83). C-reactive protein level was elevated nearly six-fold overall, higher in metabolic syndrome (P=0.05), systemic arterial hypertension (P=0.004), and high-intermediate 10-year cardiovascular risk patients (P<0.001); positively correlated to: Framingham risk score (P<0.001; r=0.60), absolute 10-year cardiovascular risk (P<0.001; r=0.58), and age (P=0.001; r=0.35); but not to Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (P=0.14; r=0.16); increased the 10-year cardiovascular risk (R2=33.6; P<0.001), MetS risk (OR 1.17, 95%CI 0.99-1.37; P=0.05) and with age (P=0.001). HDL-cholesterol level was higher in normal C-reactive protein patients (t=1.98; P=0.05). Study limitations: Restricted sample, hospital-based and representative of a single center and no specification of psoriatic arthritis. Conclusions: Psoriasis, metabolic syndrome, systemic arterial hypertension and age share the increase in C-reactive protein, which could implicate in additional burden for increasing the cardiovascular risk and be an alert for effective interventions.

Psoriasis comorbidities: complications and benefits of immunobiological treatment

Abstract During the last decade, different studies have converged to evidence the high prevalence of comorbidities in subjects with psoriasis. Although a causal relation has not been fully elucidated, genetic relation, inflammatory pathways and/or common environmental factors appear to be underlying the development of psoriasis and the metabolic comorbidities. The concept of psoriasis as a systemic disease directed the attention of the scientific community in order to investigate the extent to which therapeutic interventions influence the onset and evolution of the most prevalent comorbidities in patients with psoriasis. This study presents scientific evidence of the influence of immunobiological treatments for psoriasis available in Brazil (infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept and ustekinumab) on the main comorbidities related to psoriasis. It highlights the importance of the inflammatory burden on the clinical outcome of patients, not only on disease activity, but also on the comorbidities. In this sense, systemic treatments, whether immunobiologicals or classic, can play a critical role to effectively control the inflammatory burden in psoriatic patients.

Linfoma subcutâneo de células T paniculite-símile: [relato de caso] / Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma: [case report]

Linfoma subcutâneo de células T paniculite-símile foi recentemente reconhecido como entidade clínico-patológica. Paciente do sexo feminino, 17 anos, relatou nodosidades eritêmato-violáceas e depressões nos membros e abdome há três anos e discreta perda ponderal, sem outros sintomas gerais. Adenomegalia, visceromegalias e infiltração da medula óssea estavam ausentes, e a histopatologia da pele mostrou densa infiltração de linfócitos atípicos CD3/CD8 no subcutâneo. A quimioterapia interrompeu o surgimento de novas lesões com remissão das pré-existentes no seguimento de oito meses. Aspectos imunofenotípicos e moleculares são relevantes para elucidação diagnóstica e avaliação do prognóstico.

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma is extremely rare and has recently been recognized as a clinicopathological entity. Young female, 17 years old, has complained of subcutaneous nodules and plaques in the limbs and abdomen for three years, accompanied of mild weight loss without other constitutional symptoms. Nodal, visceral and bone marrow involvement was absent, and subcutaneous CD3/CD8 atypical lymphocyte infiltration was observed in the skin sample. Chemotherapy interrupted the onset of new lesions and led to remission in the 8-month follow-up. Immunophenotypic and molecular aspects were relevant to the diagnosis and as prognosis makers.