PASE and EARP questionnaires for the identification of enthesitis, synovitis, and tenosynovitis in patients with psoriasis.

The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of the Psoriatic Arthritis Screening Evaluation (PASE) and Early Psoriatic Arthritis Screening Questionnaire (EARP) questionnaires in the ultrasonographic detection of enthesitis, synovitis, and tenosynovitis. A cross-sectional study was done in a total of 96 consecutive patients. Double blind clinical examination and echographic assessment were performed. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) model analysis for the questionnaires was established using echographic findings as reference variable. The optimal diagnostic point was determined following a Youden analysis model from the obtained data, calculating sensitivity and specificity along with predictive values, likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio. A logistic regression analysis was used to determine possible predictor variables of enthesitis, synovitis, and tenosynovitis. When enthesitis, synovitis, and tenosynovitis were considered as one outcome for the diagnostic study of the PASE or EARP questionnaire, there were no statistically significant differences among the score of the study groups and the rest of patients. The PASE and EARP tests had a diagnostic performance for enthesitis, synovitis, and tenosynovitis that followed the expected pattern when the prevalence of findings is low. In these cases, the tests increase their negative predictive value, being particularly interesting in ruling out the disease.

Metabolic syndrome and its components in patients with psoriasis.

UNLABELLED: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin which affects 1-3% of the population. A higher association of metabolic syndrome (MS) has been described amongst sufferers. The objective of this study was to assess the association of MS and its components amongst subjects suffering psoriasis and compare it with that found for the control group. The secondary objective was to study the relationship between the duration and severity of the psoriasis and the MS. This was a case-control study: 102 subjects with psoriasis and 102 control subjects paired by sex, age and body mass index. Anamnesis: history of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, dyslipidaemia and psoriasis. Lifestyle. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: weight, height, blood pressure, waist circumference. TESTS: lipid profile, oral glucose tolerance test and insulinemia (HOMA calculation). MS classified according to the 2009 consensus. The prevalence of MS amongst psoriasis patients was 52.9%, as compared to 34.31% in the control group. MS independent factors: age (OR 1.085), body mass index (OR 1.346), sex (OR 2.69 for men) and psoriasis (OR 3.634). A comparative study of patients with psoriasis with or without MS, revealed no relationship to the severity, age at time of diagnosis or time of evolution of the psoriasis. In conclusion, the association of MS amongst psoriasis sufferers is very high and the disease is considered as an independent risk factor for MS. Our results show no relationship between the different characteristics of psoriasis and the presence of MS. The main limitation of this study is that it does not enable to conclude whether psoriasis is a risk factor for MS or the opposite.

Angiosarcoma en mama irradiada: descripción de un caso / Angiosarcoma in an irradiated breast: a case description

Se han descrito angiosarcomas cutáneos posradioterapia en diferentes localizaciones corporales, incluyendo la mama. Presentamos un caso de angiosarcoma cutáneo sobre una mama previamente irradiada diagnosticado a los 6 años de haber tratado el carcinoma mamario. Se trata de una mujer de 44 años con antecedentes de carcinoma ductal de mama derecha tratado con tumorectomía, linfadenectomía axilar, quimioterapia (FEC) y radioterapia que a los 6 años presentó una placa indurada violácea con un nódulo satélite en la misma mama. La histología de las biopsias cutáneas mostró una proliferación angiomatosa en toda la dermis sin atipia celular. Considerando la clínica, los antecedentes y los cambios observados por mamografía, se decidió realizar una exéresis completa de la lesión y posteriormente una mastectomía simple; se confirmó el diagnóstico de angiosarcoma. Posteriormente, la paciente realizó tratamiento con paclitaxel con un aparente control de la enfermedad. A pesar de esto, 2 años y un mes después, el angiosarcoma ha recidivado en la porción interna de la cicatriz de la mastectomía. Se ha realizado tratamiento con paclitaxel y una nueva exéresis quirúrgica del área lesional. Esta complicación suele aparecer a los 5-10 años posteriores al tratamiento con radioterapia, por lo que ante cualquier lesión angiomatosa tardía sobre piel previamente irradiada debe descartarse un posible angiosarcoma

Post-radiotherapy cutaneous angiosarcomas have been described in different locations, including the breast. We present a case of cutaneous angiosarcoma of the breast, diagnosed 6 years after a carcinoma of the breast had been treated with radiation. The patient was a 44-year-old female with a history of ductal carcinoma (CA) of the right breast treated with tumorectomy, axillary lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy (FEC) and radiotherapy, who 6 years later presented with a violaceous, indurated plaque with a satellite nodule on the same breast. The histology of the skin biopsies showed angiomatous proliferation throughout the entire dermis, with no cellular atypia. Considering the patient's symptoms, history and the changes observed via mammography, it was decided to completely excise the lesion followed by a simple mastectomy, with the diagnosis of angiosarcoma being confirmed. The patient was later treated with paclitaxel, and the disease was apparently controlled. Despite this fact, two years and one month later, the angiosarcoma recurred on the internal area of the mastectomy scar. The patient was treated with paclitaxel, and surgical excision of the lesion area was once again performed. This complication usually appears 5-10 years after treatment with radiotherapy, so angiosarcoma should be ruled out if any angiomatous lesions later appear on skin that had been irradiated

Escorbuto: púrpura folicular como signo guía / Scurvy: follicular purpura as a diagnostic sign

El escorbuto es un cuadro clínico caracterizado por debilidad general, anemia, gingivitis y hemorragias cutáneas, secundario a una carencia de ácido ascórbico en la dieta. Actualmente, esta enfermedad constituye una rareza clínica, aunque todavía puede observarse en casos de desnutrición asociada a alcoholismo o a carencias dietéticas, especialmente en la infancia y la senectud. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 45 años que consultó por edemas en extremidades inferiores con púrpura folicular que se acompañaba de astenia, poliartralgias y gingivorragia. Tras la instauración de tratamiento con vitamina C 1 g/día el paciente presentó una rápida mejoría sintomática. El diagnóstico del escorbuto se basa en la sintomatología, la historia dietética y la rápida resolución del cuadro con la instauración de suplementos de vitamina C

Scurvy is a set of clinical manifestations characterized by general weakness, anemia, gingivitis and cutaneous bleeding, caused by a lack of ascorbic acid in the diet. This pathology is currently a clinical rarity, although it can still be seen in cases of malnutrition associated with alcoholism or with dietary deficiencies, especially in childhood and old age. We present the case of a 45-year-old male who consulted his physician because of lower limb edema with follicular purpura, accompanied by asthenia, polyarthralgia and bleeding gums. After treatment with 1 g/day of vitamin C was initiated, the patient's symptoms quickly improved. The diagnosis of scurvy was based on the patient's clinical symptoms, dietary history and the rapid resolution of the symptoms when vitamin C supplements were initiated

Cutaneous necrosis after injection of polyethylene glycol-modified interferon alfa.

Pegylated interferon alfa-2b is a formulation of recombinant human interferon conjugated with polyethylene glycol. Compared with standard interferon alfa injections, this preparation has a longer half-life allowing for once-weekly injections and superior antiviral efficacy in the treatment of hepatitis C when used in combination with ribavirin. Cutaneous side effects caused by interferon are well known. Cutaneous necrosis as a result of interferon alfa is an infrequent complication with unknown pathogenesis, in which a cutaneous local immune-mediated inflammatory process might be involved. We report 5 patients (3 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon alfa-2b in association with oral ribavirin and two patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia) who developed local cutaneous reactions at sites of injection after the administration of weekly subcutaneous injections of pegylated interferon alfa-2b at different doses. The ulcers slowly healed with local therapy, but two patients required dose modification of the pegylated interferon alfa-2b and one patient required treatment withdrawal. We review the literature on previously reported cases of cutaneous necrosis after injection of standard interferon alfa or pegylated interferon alfa-2b and discuss the different pathophysiologic mechanisms that might be involved.

[Scurvy: follicular purpura as a diagnostic sign]. / Escorbuto: púrpura folicular como signo guía.

Scurvy is a set of clinical manifestations characterized by general weakness, anemia, gingivitis and cutaneous bleeding, caused by a lack of ascorbic acid in the diet. This pathology is currently a clinical rarity, although it can still be seen in cases of malnutrition associated with alcoholism or with dietary deficiencies, especially in childhood and old age. We present the case of a 45-year-old male who consulted his physician because of lower limb edema with follicular purpura, accompanied by asthenia, polyarthralgia and bleeding gums. After treatment with 1 g/day of vitamin C was initiated, the patient's symptoms quickly improved. The diagnosis of scurvy was based on the patient's clinical symptoms, dietary history and the rapid resolution of the symptoms when vitamin C supplements were initiated.

[Angiosarcoma in an irradiated breast: a case description]. / Angiosarcoma en mama irradiada: descripción de un caso.

Post-radiotherapy cutaneous angiosarcomas have been described in different locations, including the breast. We present a case of cutaneous angiosarcoma of the breast, diagnosed 6 years after a carcinoma of the breast had been treated with radiation. The patient was a 44-year-old female with a history of ductal carcinoma (CA) of the right breast treated with tumorectomy, axillary lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy (FEC) and radiotherapy, who 6 years later presented with a violaceous, indurated plaque with a satellite nodule on the same breast. The histology of the skin biopsies showed angiomatous proliferation throughout the entire dermis, with no cellular atypia. Considering the patient's symptoms, history and the changes observed via mammography, it was decided to completely excise the lesion followed by a simple mastectomy, with the diagnosis of angiosarcoma being confirmed. The patient was later treated with paclitaxel, and the disease was apparently controlled. Despite this fact, two years and one month later, the angiosarcoma recurred on the internal area of the mastectomy scar. The patient was treated with paclitaxel, and surgical excision of the lesion area was once again performed. This complication usually appears 5-10 years after treatment with radiotherapy, so angiosarcoma should be ruled out if any angiomatous lesions later appear on skin that had been irradiated.

Liquen estriado sistematizado bilateral / Systematized bilateral lichen striatus

El liquen estriado es una dermatosis autolimitada, de etiología desconocida y que se presenta como una erupción de pápulas liquenoides siguiendo las líneas de Blaschko. Presentamos el caso de una niña sana de 7 meses de edad que presentó una erupción generalizada de pápulas eritematomarronáceas, algunas de aspecto liquenoide y otras hiperqueratósicas, que seguían un patrón lineal generalizado en tronco y extremidades. Debido a la importante extensión de la erupción y a su distribución blaschkoide se plantearon otros diagnósticos como la incontinencia pigmenti y el nevo epidérmico. En la historia familiar destacaba que su hermana de 2 años presentaba desde los 6 meses de edad una erupción lineal diagnosticada de liquen estriado. En la literatura especializada existen pocos casos descritos de liquen estriado generalizado bilateral. La existencia de una hermana también afectada de liquen estriado puede indicar un posible origen viral (AU)