Regression of multifocal, skin-restricted, CD30-positive large T-cell lymphoma with interferon alfa and bexarotene therapy.

We report the case of a 43-year-old male patient with persistent multifocal, skin-restricted, CD30-positive, large T-cell lymphoma. Combination therapy of systemic interferon alfa and oral bexarotene was initiated on an experimental basis in the hope of circumventing therapies such as methotrexate, radiotherapy, or multiple-agent chemotherapy that may be required in such cases. This treatment was associated with rapid and marked regression of the patient's cutaneous lesions.

Papulosquamous disorders of the elderly.

Several papulosquamous skin conditions occur in the elderly, including inherited and acquired ichthyoses, psoriasis, cutaneous lymphoma, and cutaneous connective tissue diseases. The clinical presentations can be quite helpful in diagnosing these conditions, and confirmatory histology and immunologic testing can often better define the specific entities. Treatment often involves identifying underlying systemic causes, as well as specific approaches based on the diagnosis and severity of clinical presentation.

Therapeutic advances in biological response modifiers in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is most often a skin-infiltrating malignancy of clonal CD4+ T-cells. Therapy is based on staging and the likelihood of progression. Biological response modifiers and chemotherapeutic agents are used to preserve the integrity of the host antitumour response while selectively targeting the malignant cells. The biological response-modifying treatment options currently used to treat CTCL are bexarotene, denileukin diftitox, interferon-alpha, interferon-gamma and interleukin-12, as well as extracorporeal photopheresis and phototherapy. A combination therapy approach maximises response in patients with advanced CTCL. Biological response modifiers in combination with photopheresis are used for patients with the leukaemic phase of the disease. Among the majority of patients with advanced stage disease so treated, immune response augmentation appears to prolong survival. Future areas of research should assess not only survival and optimal treatment combinations, but also quality of life during the treatment period.

A screening questionnaire for body dysmorphic disorder in a cosmetic dermatologic surgery practice.

BACKGROUND: Dermatologic surgeons frequently see patients with body dysmorphic disorder, a distressing or impairing preoccupation with a nonexistent or slight defect in appearance. Recognition of this disorder is essential to avoid unnecessary and generally unsatisfying surgical outcomes, but no screening tools are available for use in a dermatology setting. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a brief self-report questionnaire to screen for body dysmorphic disorder in dermatology settings. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed and its sensitivity and specificity determined in 46 subjects, using a reliable clinician-administered diagnostic interview for body dysmorphic disorder. The interrater reliability of a defect severity scale was also determined (n = 50). RESULTS: The self-report questionnaire had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 93%. The interrater reliability (ICC) of the defect rating scale was.88. CONCLUSIONS: This brief questionnaire was a highly effective screening tool for body dysmorphic disorder in a cosmetic dermatology setting. Use of this questionnaire may help identify patients with this syndrome.

Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of an aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma (ADPA) on the right thumb of a 48-year-old white man. Histologic evaluation of the initial biopsy demonstrated features consistent with those proposed for aggressive digital papillary adenoma; however, re-excision of the remaining lesion revealed histologic features consistent with aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma. These tumors have a high rate of local recurrence and can metastasize, occasionally resulting in mortality. Our case demonstrates that even if the histologic criteria of aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma are met, the lesion may still represent an aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma (ADPAca). In agreement with a recent study by Duke et al., this case supports the idea that aggressive digital papillary lesions should be classified as aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma.

Rate of body dysmorphic disorder in dermatology patients.

BACKGROUND: Dermatologists appear to be the physicians most often seen by patients with the psychiatric condition body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a distressing or impairing preoccupation with a nonexistent or slight defect in appearance. The frequency of BDD among patients seeking dermatologic treatment is unknown, however. OBJECTIVE: This study determined the percentage of patients seeking dermatologic treatment who screened positive for BDD. METHODS: A validated self-report questionnaire and a reliable defect severity scale were used to determine the rate of BDD in 268 patients seeking dermatologic treatment. RESULTS: A total of 11.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.0%-15.8%) of patients screened positive for BDD. Rates were similar in a community general dermatology setting (14.4% [95% CI, 8.5%-20.3%]) and a university cosmetic surgery setting (10. 0% [95% CI, 6.1%-13.9%]). CONCLUSION: BDD appears relatively common among patients seeking dermatologic treatment. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to assist dermatologists in identifying these potentially high-risk patients.

Lamotrigine overdose presenting as anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the laboratory and physical manifestations of lamotrigine toxicity presenting as anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome. CASE SUMMARY: A 49-year-old white man presented to our institution with a two-day history of low-grade fever, erythema, and edema involving the periorbital area. Five days earlier, he had been placed on lamotrigine treatment for bipolar disorder. He inadvertently received four daily doses of lamotrigine 2700 mg each. Physical examination was significant for periorbital edema and discrete and confluent blanching red macules and papules involving the face, trunk, and extremities. Laboratory tests revealed leukocytosis, hepatitis, and acute renal failure. With normalization of the laboratory results, the eruptions and edema gradually resolved. DISCUSSION: Lamotrigine toxicity can lead to periorbital edema, rash, and multiorgan system abnormalities. This presentation has clinical and laboratory similarities with anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome, which suggests that at some threshold concentration the amount of lamotrigine may overwhelm the body's ability to metabolize the drug, leading to a similar hypersensitivity reaction. Lamotrigine is a relatively new agent, and this report may provide useful insights on evaluating the clinical toxicology of this agent. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers should be aware that lamotrigine overdose may present with multiorgan involvement, similar to anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome.

Widespread tinea corporis in an immunocompetent patient resistant to all conventional forms of treatment.

A 70-year-old immunocompetent man with a more than forty-year history of tinea corporis unresponsive to multiple systemic and topical antifungal agents, including systemic terbinafine, is described. The literature with respect to persistent dermatophyte infection is reviewed.

Monitoring for major side effects of systemic drugs in dermatology.

This review focuses on the major and important minor side effects of some of the systemic drugs used in dermatology. Suggestions for laboratory monitoring, information on record keeping, patient surveillance, and patient education from a nursing perspective are given. Since the majority of major side effects are reversible and easily managed at an early stage, careful laboratory monitoring is a key factor in the successful use of these agents in patients with severe skin diseases.

Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome.

Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome is a potentially fatal drug reaction with cutaneous and systemic reactions (incidence, one in 1000 to one in 10,000 exposures) to the arene oxide-producing anticonvulsants--phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital sodium. In most cases, the hallmark features of fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy are accompanied by multiorgan-system abnormalities. Fatal outcomes are most often associated with liver failure. Recognition of the syndrome, which may have variable presentations, is the key to prompt discontinuation of the drug, close monitoring, and management. The reaction may be genetically determined, and siblings of patients with anticonvulsive hypersensitivity syndrome may be at increased risk of developing this syndrome. The timely recognition of anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome is important, because accurate diagnosis avoids potentially fatal reexposure and affects subsequent anticonvulsant treatment options.

Epidemiology of human papillomaviruses.

The inherent difficulties in the study of HPV infection have made the epidemiology of this common infection complex. The early natural history of HPV infection is similar for all genital and nongenital tissues. Genital HPV infection, however, especially cervical infection, is strongly linked to carcinoma. With the advent of molecular diagnosis of infection, and possible future serologic assays, the natural history of HPV-induced disease and its relationship to the development of invasive carcinoma can lead to more appropriate surveillance and treatment of patients at risk for progression.

HLA antigens and clinical manifestations in Crohn's disease.

A clinical, radiological and immunogenetical study was carried out on 51 Crohn's patients. Rheumatological disorders were found in 16 of them, with higher frequency in those with colon involvement only. A statistically significant increase in the frequencies of HLA-A9 and HLA-Cw3 was noted: Cw3 showed a particularly high frequency in males, and A9 in younger patients. The frequency of HLA-B27 was significantly increased in the patients with colon involvement. In the group of 16 patients with rheumatic diseases HLA antigen frequencies were not significantly different from the control population.