Dermoscopy of a single plaque on the face: an uncommon presentation of cutaneous sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown causes, and cutaneous sarcoidosis (CS) is an early manifestation of the disease. Dermoscopy has gained increasing interest in the past few years as an aid in the clinical diagnosis of inflammatory and infectious skin manifestations. We present a case report about a single, erythematous, and asymptomatic plaque on the face with unexpected dermoscopy characteristics of CS. Learning points: CS on the face of a therapy-resistant actinic keratosis should be considered a differential diagnosis.Dermoscopy can change the diagnosis and lead to the correct management.

Eosinophilic fasciitis

Abstract Eosinophilic fasciitis is a rare sclerodermiform syndrome of unknown etiology. It is characterized by the thickening of the muscular fascia and subcutaneous tissue, with a variable infiltration of eosinophils. Peripheral eosinophilia, poly or monoclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be seen. Clinical features begin acutely, with local edema and a painful and symmetrical stiffening of the limbs, progressing rapidly to fibrosis, which can limit joint movements. Some cases have a history of strenuous physical exercise or trauma. The diagnosis is confirmed by a deep skin biopsy. Glucocorticoids in high doses is the treatment of choice. We report a typical eosinophilic fasciitis case with peripheral eosinophilia and dramatic response to pulse therapy with methylprednisolone.

Eosinophilic fasciitis.

Eosinophilic fasciitis is a rare sclerodermiform syndrome of unknown etiology. It is characterized by the thickening of the muscular fascia and subcutaneous tissue, with a variable infiltration of eosinophils. Peripheral eosinophilia, poly or monoclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be seen. Clinical features begin acutely, with local edema and a painful and symmetrical stiffening of the limbs, progressing rapidly to fibrosis, which can limit joint movements. Some cases have a history of strenuous physical exercise or trauma. The diagnosis is confirmed by a deep skin biopsy. Glucocorticoids in high doses is the treatment of choice. We report a typical eosinophilic fasciitis case with peripheral eosinophilia and dramatic response to pulse therapy with methylprednisolone.

Severe hypoxaemia can predict unfavourable clinical outcomes in individuals with pulmonary embolism aged over 40 years.

INTRODUCTION: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is an urgent clinical condition that can progress in a wide variety of ways. Therefore, we sought to develop an easy-to-apply algorithm, to be based on readily available clinical indicators, effective in predicting unfavourable outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study based on systematically collected data in a database. The study included 102 patients with APE who were admitted to a tertiary care hospital. The following outcomes were defined as unfavourable: shock, the need for mechanical ventilation, the use of thrombolytics, and death. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore variables significantly associated with outcome and to calculate post-test probabilities. RESULTS: The prevalence of unfavourable outcomes was 25.5% (26 of the 102 patients with APE). The risk of an unfavourable outcome was reduced to 7.0% for patients with APE who were aged ≤ 40 years. In patients with APE who were aged > 40 years, the presence of hypoxaemia (i.e. peripheral oxygen saturation < 90%) alone increased the risk of an unfavourable outcome to 57.0%. A recent history of trauma and the presence of pre-existing lung or heart disease were significantly associated with unfavourable outcomes. The inclusion of those variables in the logistic regression model increased the post-test risk of an unfavourable outcome to 65.0%-86.0%. CONCLUSION: Advanced age (i.e. > 40 years), the presence of hypoxaemia, a recent history of trauma and the presence of pre-existing lung or heart disease are risk factors for unfavourable outcome in patients with APE.

Comparação dos fatores de risco e complicações da síndrome coronariana aguda entre pacientes com idade superior ou igual a 65 anos e aqueles com menor idade / Comparison of risk factors and complications of the acute coronary syndrome in patients aged over or equal to 65 years and those with younger age

Objetivo. Analisar os principais fatores de risco de síndrome coronariana aguda e as complicações mais frequentes em pacientes com idade igual ou superior a 65 anos hospitalizados em unidade de terapia intensiva, inclusos os casos de óbito após o evento coronariano. Método. Estudo retrospectivo, de revisão de prontuários de 740 pacientes admitidos com síndrome coronariana aguda na unidade de terapia intensiva do Hospital Santa Lúcia, Brasília, DF, no período de outubro de 2003 a fevereirode 2009. Compararam-se os dados dos 377 (51%) pacientes com idade igual ou superior a 65 anos com aqueles dos 363 (49%) pacientes com menos de 65 anos, com os testes qui ao quadrado ou exato de Fisher e Mann-Whitney. Considerou-se estatisticamente significante o valor de p ? 0,05. Resultados. Os portadores de síndrome coronariana aguda com idade igual ou superior a 65 anos, em relação àqueles com idade inferior a 65 anos, apresentam, com mais frequência, infarto agudo do miocárdio sem supradesnivelamento do segmento ST (p = 0,001), hipertensão arterial sistêmica (p = 0,009), diabetes melito tipo 2 (p < 0,0001), insuficiência renal crônica (p = 0,04), antecedente de acidente vascular encefálico (p = 0,01), arritmias (p = 0,01), insuficiênciacardíaca congestiva (0,01) e óbito (p < 0,0001). Conclusões. Houve diferença entre os fatores de risco com relação à idade. A hipertensão arterial sistêmica e o diabetes foram prevalentes na faixa etária igual ou acima dos 65 anos. Esses doentes têm seu curso hospitalar frequentemente acompanhado de complicações, principalmente arritmias e insuficiência cardíaca congestiva. O índice de mortalidadefoi maior nos pacientes com 65 anos de idade ou acima.

Objective. To analyze the risk factors for acute coronary syndrome and the complications in patients aged over or equal to 65 years hospitalized in an intensive care unit, including the mortality after coronary event.Method. Retrospective data collection with 740 patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome in an intensive care unit of Hospital Santa Lucia (Brasilia-DF, Brazil), from October 2003 to February 2009. Comparative analysis between the group of 377 (51%) patients aged over or equal to 65 years, and 363 (49%) patients younger than 65 yearswere performed. Data collection was based on the records, exams and interviews with patients or family members. Results. Patients aged over or equal to 65 years with acute coronary syndrome often have acute myocardial infarction without ST-segment elevation (p = 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.009), type 2 diabetes mellitus (p <0.0001), chronicrenal failure (p = 0.04), previous stroke (p = 0.01), arrhythmias (p = 0.01), congestive heart failure (0.01) and death (p <0.0001). Conclusions. There were differences of risk factors with age. High blood pressure and diabetes mellitus were prevalent in patients aged over or equal to 65 years. These patients have their hospital course frequently accompaniedby complications, especially arrhythmias, congestive heart failure. The mortality rate was higher in patients aged over or equal to 65 years.