[Granulomatous hypodermitis revealing a cutaneous mucormycosis in an immunodepressed patient]. / Hypodermite granulomateuse révélatrice d'une mucormycose chez une malade immunodéprimée.

INTRODUCTION: Mucormycosis is an exceptional opportunist fungal infection, despite the ubiquitous nature of its pathogenic agents. It is sometimes revealed by primary cutaneous involvement and its prognosis is bad in the case of visceral dissemination. Our observation illustrates the need for early diagnosis and treatment of this infection. OBSERVATION: An immunodepressed, 45 year-old woman, had developed necrotic hypodermitis lesions on the lower limbs. The skin biopsy led to the diagnosis of mucormycosis. Despite treatment with liposomal amphotericin, the fungal infection worsened, spread to the organs (lungs and brain) and the patient died. DISCUSSION: This case report underlines the potential severity of mucormycosis, which is presently emerging in the onco-hematological field. The infection is sometimes revealed by inaugural ulcerated and/or necrotic cutaneous lesions. Its diagnosis must be evoked early so that salvage medical-surgical treatment can be initiated.

Cytomegalovirus-specific immune recovery following allogeneic HLA-identical sibling transplantation with reduced-intensity preparative regimen.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) represents a major cause of morbidity after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Using interferon-gamma-enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay and HLA-peptide tetramers, we analysed 54 patients who received a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen, including fludarabine, busulphan and antithymocyte globulin (ATG), with the aim of defining essential elements of protective immunity to CMV. The cumulative incidence of CMV positive antigenaemia was 37% occurring at a median of 43 days (range, 7-104) after allo-SCT. In univariate analysis, conditioning regimen (ATG dose) and graft characteristics (graft source and CD3+ T-cell dose) significantly influenced CMV-specific immune recovery. A significant correlation (P=0.000002) was found between CMV-specific T cells detected by IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay and pp65-specific CD8+ T-cell frequency quantified by tetramers. CMV-specific CD8+ T cells presented a phenotype of effector cells (perforin and 2B4 positive). In multivariate analysis, bone marrow (BM) as a graft source was the only variable associated with an increased risk of CMV positive antigenaemia (P=0.0001) in line with the ELISPOT assay showing a higher frequency of functional CMV-specific effectors within peripheral blood stem cell grafts as compared to BM. Thus, early monitoring of CMV-specific immune recovery using sensitive new tools might prove useful for patient management after allo-SCT.

[Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the breast after treatment with conservative surgery and radiotherapy of breast carcinoma]. / Angiosarcome cutané du sein après traitement par chirurgie conservatrice et radiothérapie d'un carcinome mammaire.

Secondary cutaneous angiosarcoma of the breast is uncommon. This tumor develops after conservative treatment of breast cancer. We present a case that developed seven years after conservative treatment with surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer. Several factors may be implicated in the pathogenesis of this tumor (carcinogenic effect of radiotherapy, HHV8 infection), but the essential factor appears to be chronic edema. Prognosis is poor but initial wide surgical resection can achieve prolonged remission. Early diagnosis and treatment are the main prognostic factors.