The EAACI/GA²LEN/EDF/WAO guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis and management of urticaria.

This evidence- and consensus-based guideline was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group. The conference was held on 1 December 2016. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the EU-founded network of excellence, the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO) with the participation of 48 delegates of 42 national and international societies. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell-driven disease, presenting with wheals, angioedema, or both. The lifetime prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous urticaria and other chronic forms of urticaria are disabling, impair quality of life and affect performance at work and school. This guideline covers the definition and classification of urticaria, taking into account the recent progress in identifying its causes, eliciting factors and pathomechanisms. In addition, it outlines evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria.

European academy of dermatology and venereology European prurigo project: expert consensus on the definition, classification and terminology of chronic prurigo.

BACKGROUND: The term prurigo has been used for many decades in dermatology without clear definition, and currently used terminology of prurigo is inconsistent and confusing. Especially, itch-related prurigo remains unexplored regarding the epidemiology, clinical profile, natural course, underlying causes, available treatments and economic burden, although burdensome and difficult to treat. OBJECTIVE: To address these issues, the multicentre European Prurigo Project (EPP) was designed to increase knowledge on chronic prurigo (CPG). In the first step, European experts of the EADV Task Force Pruritus (TFP) aimed to achieve a consensus on the definition, classification and terminology of CPG. Additionally, procedures of the cross-sectional EPP were discussed and agreed upon. METHODS: Discussions and surveys between members of the TFP served as basis for a consensus conference. Using the Delphi method, consensus was defined as an agreement ≥75% among the present members. RESULTS: Twenty-four members of the TFP participated in the consensus conference. Experts consented that CPG should be used as an umbrella term for the range of clinical manifestations (e.g. papular, nodular, plaque or umbilicated types). CPG is considered a distinct disease defined by the presence of chronic pruritus for ≥6 weeks, history and/or signs of repeated scratching and multiple localized/generalized pruriginous skin lesions (whitish or pink papules, nodules and/or plaques). CPG occurs due to a neuronal sensitization to itch and the development of an itch-scratch cycle. CONCLUSION: This new definition and terminology of CPG should be implemented in dermatology to harmonize communication in the clinical routine, clinical trials and scientific literature. Acute/subacute forms of prurigo are separated entities, which need to be differentiated from CPG and will be discussed in a next step. In the near future, the cross-sectional EPP will provide relevant clinical data on various aspects of CPG leading to new directions in the scientific investigation of CGP.

The use of time to maximum enhancement to indicate areas of ablation following the treatment of liver tumours with high-intensity focused ultrasound.

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of time to maximum enhancement (t(max)) for each voxel in contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) as a non-invasive tool to determine areas of necrosis following treatment of liver tumours with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and, having established the utility of t(max) maps, to develop a three-dimensional (3-D) representation to display this information concisely. 3-D T(1) weighted fast spoiled gradient echo images of the liver were acquired before and after administration of contrast agent. The CE-MR images were aligned to the pre-contrast volume and an estimate of t(max) was obtained for each voxel. Such pre- and post-contrast image sets were acquired before and after ablation. The t(max) maps before and after HIFU treatment were correlated with the procedure notes, radiological reports and gross histological specimen. Finally, 3-D t(max) maps of the whole liver were reconstructed to show all areas of abnormal tissue perfusion. Normal, healthy liver tissue uniformly enhances maximally after approximately 1 min. The computed t(max) maps accurately delineated areas of abnormal contrast agent uptake, corresponding to tumour deposits. Changes in t(max) and non-enhancing voxels after treatment correlate well with volumes targeted during ablation and the necrotic regions seen on gross histological specimens. Alignment of the contrast-enhanced images with the pre-contrast volume greatly improved the conspicuity of the t(max) maps. We conclude that t(max) maps and their 3-D views can be used as a non-invasive tool to assess and potentially to quantify the success of HIFU ablation, and concisely represent the large number of CE-MRI data.

High-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of liver tumours: can radiological assessment predict the histological response?

Cancer therapies usually depend on cross-sectional imaging for the assessment of treatment response. This study was designed to evaluate the ability of MRI to predict zones of necrosis following the use of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to treat liver metastases. Patients with liver metastases, who had been scheduled for elective surgical resection of their tumours, were recruited to this non-randomized Phase II study. In each case, a proportion of an index liver tumour target was ablated. The response to HIFU was assessed after 12 days using contrast-enhanced MRI and compared directly with histological analysis at the time of surgery. Eight patients were treated, of whom six were subsequently assessed with both MRI and histology. There were no major complications. MRI predicted complete ablation in three cases. In each case, histological analysis confirmed complete ablation. In one case, the region of ablation observed on MRI appeared smaller than predicted at the time of HIFU, but histology revealed complete ablation of the target region. The predominant characteristic of HIFU-ablated tissue was coagulative necrosis but heat fixation was evident in some areas. Heat-fixed cells appeared normal under haematoxylin and eosin staining, indicating that this is unreliable as an indicator of HIFU-induced cell death. This study demonstrates that HIFU is capable of achieving selective ablation of pre-defined regions of liver tumour targets, and that MRI evidence of complete ablation of the target region can be taken to infer histological success.

High intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of abdominal and gynaecological diseases.

In recent years high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has received increasing interest as a non-invasive modality for the treatment of tumours of solid organs. Surgeons continue their quest to find the optimal technique whereby a diseased organ can be treated with a minimum of damage to the patient, while providing a comprehensive treatment to produce either cure or resolution of symptoms. Two of the areas in which HIFU is beginning to establish itself as a real therapeutic alternative, are in the treatment of abdominal and gynaecological disease. In this paper, we will review the literature available regarding the use of HIFU in the treatment of various organs: liver, kidney, pancreas, bladder, uterus and vulva.

Expression of nerve growth factor receptors in cutaneous inflammation.

Evidence indicates that the neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF) is a mediator of cutaneous inflammatory responses. Cellular responses to NGF are facilitated by two receptors called trk A and p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). In the current study we have investigated the expression of these receptors in lesional and non-lesional skin from patients with plaque psoriasis and in normal skin exposed to three times the minimal erythema dose of ultraviolet (UV) B radiation. Trk A immunostaining was confined to the basal keratinocytes in normal skin. There was a significant reduction in trk A immunostaining in both non-lesional and lesional psoriatic skin compared with control skin. In UVB-irradiated normal skin, there was a significant reduction in trk A immunostaining at 4 h after irradiation, which was still evident at 48 h. In normal skin, p75NTR immunopositive fine nerve fibres were present throughout the dermis and occasionally seen in the epidermis. Thick nerve fibres were evident in the deep dermis and in the middle region of the dermis. p75NTR immunopositive basal keratinocytes were occasionally seen. There was a statistically significant loss of p75NTR immunopositive fine nerve fibres in the epidermis of lesional psoriatic skin and a statistically significant loss of p75NTR immunopositive fine nerve fibres in the dermis in both non-lesional and lesional psoriatic skin. p75NTR immunopositive thick nerve fibres were reduced in lesional psoriatic skin compared with normal skin. UVB irradiation of normal skin led to a statistically significant decrease in the p75NTR immunopositive fine nerve fibres in the epidermis at 48 h after irradiation. There was no significant reduction in the dermal p75NTR immunoreactivity. These results demonstrated that expression of both NGF receptors is decreased following an acute inflammatory stimulus and also in association with a chronic inflammatory dermatosis.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide, endothelin-1, the cutaneous microvasculature and Raynaud's phenomenon.

It has been argued that the digital cutaneous microvasculature is the site of the anomaly which causes Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). Both endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide present in the digital cutaneous microvasculature, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a powerful vasodilator present in digital cutaneous perivascular nerves, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of RP. Circulating ET-1 levels are raised, and there is a diminution of CGRP-containing perivascular nerves in finger skin in RP. We undertook a pharmacological study to investigate the sensitivity of the digital cutaneous microvasculature to intradermal ET-1 and CGRP. Differences were found in RP compared with normal digital skin, supporting the idea that the digital cutaneous microvasculature is actively involved in the pathogenesis of RP. In RP, the erythematous response to ET-1 was diminished at both 20 and 5 degrees C (a low temperature at which RP classically occurs) providing pharmacological support for the morphological evidence that in RP there is a deficiency of CGRP-containing nerves in the distal digital skin.

Inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase in human skin.

The aim of this study was to investigate in human skin in vivo the role of nitric oxide in maintaining resting vascular tone, in the vasodilatation caused by local warming and by ultraviolet B light exposure, and in the response to exogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Cutaneous blood flow was assessed by planimetry of the visible erythema or pallor and by laser Doppler flowmetry. Intradermal injection of the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 25 nmol), into forearm skin produced a visible pallor and a reduction of blood flow at a controlled ambient temperature of 21 degrees C. The control, NG-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME; 25 nmol) or NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 25 nmol) did not cause pallor or reduce blood flow. L-NAME and L-NMMA caused dose- and time-dependent increases in pallor, and reductions in cutaneous blood flow in skin that had been locally warmed by immersion in water at 45 degrees C and in skin that had been exposed to ultraviolet B light. D-NAME and D-NMMA at comparable concentrations did not have the effects on skin blood flow observed with the L forms. L-NAME and L-NMMA both inhibited the increased blood flow in human skin caused by the intradermal injection of CGRP (12.5 or 25 pmol). The reduction of CGRP-induced increase of blood flow by L-NAME was reversed by L-arginine. Neither D-NAME nor D-NMMA inhibited the increase in blood flow caused by CGRP. Neither L-NAME nor L-NMMA inhibited the increase in blood flow in human skin caused by the intradermal injection of prostaglandin E2 (63 pmol). The data show that nitric oxide is involved in the maintenance of resting blood flow in human skin and also in the cutaneous vasodilator responses to local warming, ultraviolet B irradiation, or injection of CGRP.

Nerve growth factor contributes to the up-regulation of growth-associated protein 43 and preprotachykinin A messenger RNAs in primary sensory neurons following peripheral inflammation.

Peripheral inflammation induced in adult rats by an intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant results in a rapid (6 h) increase in the expression of the messenger RNAs for the neuronal growth-associated protein 43 and for preprotachykinin A, the precursor for substance P, in dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons innervating the inflamed area. This increase peaks at 48 h and then declines by five days. The changes are present in the dorsal root ganglion cells innervating the inflamed skin (lumbar 4 or 5) but no elevation was found in the third lumbar dorsal root ganglion which innervates neighbouring non-inflamed skin. The increased growth-associated protein 43 messenger RNA in the dorsal root ganglion is followed by a marked increase in growth-associated protein 43-like immunoreactive fibres in the epidermis of the inflamed skin. Systemic administration of neutralizing anti-nerve growth factor antibodies immediately prior to the inflammation prevents the increase in growth-associated protein 43 and preprotachykinin A messenger RNAs in the sensory neurons. A subcutaneous injection of nerve growth factor (200 ng) into the hindpaw elevates preprotachykinin A but not growth-associated protein 43 messenger RNA in the fourth lumbar dorsal root ganglion 48 h post-injection and this could be prevented by co-administration of the anti-nerve growth factor serum. The production of nerve growth factor in inflamed target tissues leads to alterations in the phenotype of responsive adult primary sensory neurons which include a change in the levels of a growth-related protein and a peptide neuromodulator.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans: a case report and review of the literature.

We report a 55-year-old woman with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) and a peripheral sensory neuropathy. ACA is an uncommon late cutaneous manifestation of Lyme disease, which follows disseminated Borrelia burgdorferi infection. This is the second published case from the U.K. since serological diagnosis has been available. In this patient the diagnosis was confirmed by serology using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting techniques. B. burgdorferi DNA was demonstrated in the affected skin using the polymerase chain reaction, although staining and cultures for the organism were negative. Recommended treatment of ACA is with oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 28 days, but our patient did not respond well to this regimen. She was therefore treated with ceftriaxone intravenously for 21 days, which resulted in a rapid symptomatic and clinical response.

Cutaneous nerve fibre depletion in vibration white finger.

Vibration white finger or hand-arm vibration syndrome is the episodic blanching of the fingers in response to cold occurring in those who work with hand held vibrating tools. Clinically the condition differs from primary Raynaud's phenomenon as persistent paraesthesiae and pain are common in the hands and arms and these occur independently from the 'white attacks'. Symptoms can become severe enough to warrant a change of occupation. Industrial compensation may be awarded for vibration white finger but, at present, no simple or reliable objective diagnostic test is available. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neuropeptide with powerful vasodilator properties. A deficiency of immunoreactive CGRP nerve fibres has been previously demonstrated in the digital cutaneous microvasculature of patients with primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon with the distribution and quantity of other types of nerve fibres not being significantly altered. To determine if the innervation of the cutaneous microvasculature in vibration white finger was also abnormal skin biopsy samples from the fingers of 15 patients with vibration white finger, six healthy age matched controls who worked with vibrating machinery and 26 healthy age matched controls who were heavy manual workers without exposure to vibrating machinery were examined by immunohistochemistry. To try to correlate any histological abnormalities with clinical neurological deficit sensory nerve conduction studies have so far been performed in six patients with vibration white finger.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Degos disease and spastic paraplegia.

Malignant atrophic papulosis (Degos disease) is a rare disorder characterized by a vasculopathy of unknown origin. The cutaneous manifestations comprise erythematous papules, which heal to leave scars with a pathognomonic central porcelain-white atrophic area and a peripheral telangiectatic rim. There is usually involvement of the gastrointestinal tract but other organ systems can also be affected, the central nervous system being involved in 20% of cases. It is frequently fatal within 2 or 3 years from onset of systemic involvement, the cause of death usually being intestinal perforation. Our patient is of interest as she has survived an unusually long time despite florid cutaneous and neurological manifestations.