Eosinophilic fasciitis: a case series with an emphasis on therapy and induction of remission.

Eosinophilic fasciitis is an uncommon connective tissue disorder that affects patients of all ages, resulting in significant morbidity. Systemic corticosteroids can induce remission of disease. However, there is no universally accepted treatment ladder for eosinophilic fasciitis. This case series evaluates treatment efficacy in patients with eosinophilic fasciitis seen at Wake Forest University Department of Dermatology outpatient clinics. Patient charts were screened using ICD-9 diagnosis code 710.9 (unspecified diffuse connective tissue disease) to identify patients with eosinophilic fasciitis (n=10) seen at our institution. Patients were treated for an average 24 months with a combination of methotrexate and prednisone therapy, unless one or both were contraindicated, with each medication tapered conservatively to prevent disease flares. Alternate treatments included mycophenolate mofetil with prednisone, azathioprine with prednisone, prednisone monotherapy, and methotrexate monotherapy. Disease remission off therapy and on low-dose therapy was 66 and 70%, respectively. Our first-line therapy of concomitant methotrexate and prednisone is well-tolerated and effective for managing patients with eosinophilic fasciitis. Our study was limited to cases seen at a single academic institution.

Trends in the outpatient medication management of lupus erythematosus in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and chronic cutaneous lupus (CCLE) therapy has changed little over the past 50 years. In March 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved belimumab, complementing the three preexisting approved therapies: low dose aspirin, prednisone, and hydroxychloroquine. OBJECTIVE: The objectives for this study were to evaluate trends in the medications prescribed for the management of lupus erythematosus (LE) and to assess how treatment varies among different specialists. METHODS: Outpatient visits for treatment of lupus and its comorbidities were identified in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), a representative survey of visits to physician offices in the United States. Data was evaluated to determine patient demographics, treatments prescribed by each specialty, and comorbidities encountered during the study period of 1993-2010. RESULTS: From 1993-2004, prednisone was the most frequently prescribed medication; however, prednisone became the second most frequently prescribed medication in 2005-2010, as hydroxychloroquine became the leading medication prescribed for LE. In primary care physicians and other non-dermatology specialists, the most frequently prescribed medications for lupus were prednisone and hydroxychloroquine; whereas, hydroxychloroquine and triamcinolone were the top two medications preferred by dermatologists. LIMITATIONS: The NAMCS collects cross-sectional data, such that individual patients cannot be followed over time. Hence, it does not provide data regarding the incidence of disease, patient age at the time of diagnosis, change in individual patient's medication regimens over time, or prognosis related to patient demographics. In addition, it is possible that the physician did not always record nonprescription medication use, such as NSAIDS, since these are typically used first line. CONCLUSION: First-line treatment of LE changed minimally from 1993 to 2010, with prednisone and hydroxychloroquine serving as the primary medications utilized by most physicians for the management of LE.

Dermatologist and gastroenterologist awareness of the potential of immunosuppressants used to treat inflammatory bowel disease to cause non-melanoma skin cancer.

BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressants used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may contribute towards the development of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Few studies have documented this increase in risk. METHODS: A mail-in survey was sent to practicing dermatologists and gastroenterologists in the state of Hawaii, USA. These physicians were asked if they had patients with IBD on immunosuppressants with NMSC and if they were aware of an association between immunosuppressants used in IBD and the occurrence of NMSC. Physicians were located via the Yellow Pages telephone directory and the websites http://www.healthgrades.com and http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com. RESULTS: Of the 96 surveys delivered, 45 were returned for analysis. Overall, 73.3% of responding physicians knew about an association between NMSC and immunosuppressants for IBD, but 26.7% had no knowledge of this association. When respondents were categorized according to specialty, 90.9% of dermatologists reported knowing about this association, but only 46.2% of responding gastroenterologists reported this awareness (P = 0.0034). Of the respondents who did not provide details of their specialty, 70.0% reported knowledge of the association. CONCLUSIONS: Immunosuppressants are helpful in controlling IBD symptoms and progression but should only be used after a thorough assessment of their risks and benefits in each patient. After the initiation of immunosuppressants, patients should have access to appropriate preventative and treatment modalities for NMSC.

Inflammatory bowel disease treatment and non-melanoma skin cancer: a case report.

Immunosuppressant medications for Inflammatory Bowel Disease can help with both symptoms and disease progression. However, like immunosuppressants used in transplant patients, they are now suspect of contributing to nonmelenoma skin cancer (NMSC). Presented is a case of a 57-year-old Jewish man with Crohn's Disease who was diagnosed with a total of 84 NMSCs. We hope to elucidate the risk of immunosuppressants, particularly the thiopurines, on the development of NMSC.

Skin manifestations of athletes competing in the summer olympics: what a sports medicine physician should know.

Olympic athletes are vulnerable to traumatic, environmental and infectious skin manifestations. Although dermatological complaints are frequent among Olympians, there is a scarcity of literature that reviews sports-related dermatoses among Olympic athletes. A comprehensive review of PREMEDLINE and MEDLINE searches of all available literature through to January 2011 was conducted, focusing on sports-related dermatological presentations as well as the key words 'Olympic athletes' and 'skin diseases'. Common skin conditions can be harmful and even prohibitive for competition. Common aetiologies of dermatological conditions related to sports include: skin infections with dermatophytes such as tinea pedis and tinea corporis, bacteria such as pitted keratolysis, and folliculitis and viruses such as herpes gladiatorum. Frictional dermatoses occur commonly and include athlete's nodules, jogger's itch, frictional blisters, callosities and talon noir. Trauma can cause haematomas such as auricular haematomas. Due to long training hours in the sun, many endurance athletes experience high levels of UV radiation and a higher risk for both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Pre-existing dermatoses can also be aggravated with practice and competition; in particular, atopic eczema and physical urticarias. Infrequent dermatoses are susceptible to misdiagnosis, delay in treatment and needless biopsies. This review highlights the diagnosis and management of sports-related dermatoses by the following general categories of Olympic sport: endurance, resistance, team sport, and performing arts.