ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pemphigus vegetans is a rare variant of pemphigus vulgaris, accounting for 1-2% of all pemphigus diseases. Systemic corticosteroids are the therapy of first choice in combination with immunosuppressants as steroid-sparing agents. OBJECTIVE: To highlight the exceptional but successful use of minocycline/nicotinamide monotherapy in pemphigus vegetans. METHODS: A review of the literature to date about pemphigus vegetans with special emphasis on therapy was performed. Due to its rarity, multiple anecdotal reports without long-term follow-up are available and prospective controlled trials are lacking. Only one retrospective study from Tunisia includes 17 patients with pemphigus vegetans. RESULTS: We present a 76-year-old woman with pemphigus vegetans achieving complete response to a minocycline/nicotinamide monotherapy at onset and at relapse of the disease. Treatment has been discontinued after repeated direct immunofluorescence (DIF) of previously affected normal skin and anti-desmoglein 3 antibodies had become negative. In addition, DIF of previously involved oral mucosa was negative. During long-term follow-up clinical remission has been maintained for more than 5 years. Up to now, negative results of serial performed indirect immunofluorescence and desmoglein ELISA testing also predict immunological remission. CONCLUSION: In our patient and in a case with oesophageal involvement, published more than 20 years ago, clearly the benefit of minocycline/nicotinamide monotherapy was demonstrated. We propose to consider minocycline/nicotinamide as first-line monotherapy in pemphigus vegetans, especially in elderly patients with comorbidities and contraindications to standard therapy, as it avoids the toxicities of systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.
Subject(s)
Minocycline/therapeutic use , Niacinamide/therapeutic use , Pemphigus/drug therapy , Aged , Female , HumansSubject(s)
Piperidines/therapeutic use , Psoriasis/drug therapy , Pyrimidines/therapeutic use , Pyrroles/therapeutic use , Adult , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
The oxidation of citronellal to citronellic acid was studied using molecular oxygen as oxidant and gold-containing supported catalysts under aqueous conditions. The reactions were carried out at 60-90 degrees C, with 200 Nml min(-1) O2 and at pH values from 9 to 12. The alumina- or titania-supported catalysts were synthesized according to the deposition-precipitation procedure using urea or NaOH. Mechanistic studies have revealed that radical-initiated reactions lead to undesired by-products especially at pH <9, that is, the C=C bond is attacked and a diol is primarily formed probably via an epoxide intermediate. This side reaction can be suppressed to a large extent by increasing the pH to 12 and by raising the catalyst/oxygen ratio. Furthermore, detailed studies on the influence of reaction time, pH value, reactant concentration and amount of catalyst show that citronellic acid can be obtained in over 90% yield with total conversion of citronellal at pH 12 and a temperature of 80 degrees C.