Dermatitis Artefacta in Childhood: A Retrospective Analysis of 44 Patients, 1976-2006.

BACKGROUND: Dermatitis artefacta (DA) consists of self-inflicted skin lesions that the patient denies having produced. OBJECTIVES: To conduct a single-center retrospective clinical review of children and adolescents diagnosed with DA. METHODS: From 1976 to 2006, data were collected on children diagnosed with DA who were seen in the Department of Dermatology in our hospital. Clinical and epidemiologic features are described. Forty-four children (mean age 12.9 yrs) were selected, representing 21.9% of the total patients with DA recorded (n = 201) during this period. RESULTS: The most frequent clinical forms were excoriations (16 [36.4%]) and ulcers (10 [22.7%]), followed by blisters (7 [15.9%]), burns (3 [6.8%]), contact dermatitis (3 [6.8%]), hematomas (2 [4.5%]), panniculitis (1 [2.3%]), cheilitis (1 [2.3%]), and hyperpigmentation (1 [2.3%]). Sixteen were located exclusively on the face and neck, whereas 28 also had other locations (upper limbs, n = 10; lower limbs, n = 9; thorax, n = 5; abdomen, n = 4). Cutaneous lesions were treated with occlusive bandages using zinc paste or a plaster splint when necessary. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the largest reported series of DA in childhood. This complicated psychodermatologic condition requires correct diagnosis, appropriate management, and psychiatric assessment.

N-acetylcysteine in the Treatment of Trichotillomania.

Trichotillomania is as medical condition caused by the patient himself by pulling out of is own hair, resulting in a perceptible hair loss pattern that frequently is associated with other psychiatric processes. Generally has a chronic course in most patients, and a challenging therapeutical management. There are several available options for is treatment, but the clinical response is not satisfactory in many patients. Recently, N-acetylcisteine, a glutamate modulator, has shown efficacy in the treatment of trichotillomania and other compulsive behaviors, and is considered a new alternative in the management of this condition. We describe two patients with trichotillomania successfully treated with N-acetylcysteine. Nevertheless, further studies need to be conducted to establish the appropriate treatment regimen and to evaluate it long-term efficacy in improving this chronic condition.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and the human immune system: 4 studies on two Spanish families with increased body burdens of highly chlorinated PCDDs.

The consequences of exposure of people to highly chlorinated polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) are much less known than those of TCDD. We report on levels of PCDDs (and PCDFs) in 13 members of two families poisoned by contaminated cooking oil. Originally, all persons displayed chloracne as an early symptom. Persisting hexa- and higher chlorinated PCDDs could be analysed many years after exposure. Highest values found in blood lipids were: OCDD 660,000 pg/g; HpCDD 58,000 pg/g; HxCDDs: 3500 pg/g. None of the participants exhibited increased TCDD levels at the time of study. During a period of 6 years, HpCDD and OCDD disappeared from the blood lipids much faster in persons exposed as children or young adults, than from lipids of their parents. Surface receptors on blood lymphocytes of the members of the two families and the proliferative capacity of these blood cells in the presence of typical stimulants were analysed. Even in family members with the highest body burdens of hexa- to octachlorinated PCDDs we could not detect pronounced changes from a reference population with respect to the immunological markers. Minor deviations of levels of some receptors in a few, but not all, highly exposed persons suggested a similar trend to those reported in previous studies of persons with body burdens of > or =3000 pg TCDD/g blood lipids. An increase in the number of total blood lymphocytes in some subjects exposed as children may have similarity with highly TCDD-exposed children in Seveso.

Candidiasis cutaneomucosas. Manifestaciones clínicas / Mucocutaneous candidiasis. Clinical manifestations

Resumen La candidiasis cutaneomucosa se presenta con una gran variedad de manifestaciones clínicas y con características especiales en las diversas etapas de la vida. En la infancia es característica la aparición del muguet o de la candidiasis del área del pañal; en la edad adulta muchas manifestaciones orales están asociadas al uso de prótesis dentales, y entre adultos jóvenes es muy frecuente la balanitis y la vulvovaginitis candidiásica. No hay que olvidar que entre los pacientes con sida genera una enfermedad frecuente y resistente. Durante muchos años, en España no fue raro encontrar, entre heroinómanos, una foliculitis producida por Candida; sin embargo, la manifestación cutánea más relevante es el intertrigo, relacionado con factores de humedad y a veces en relación con la diabetes. La perionixis y la onixis por Candida no son muy frecuentes y precisan un diagnóstico certero para su tratamiento. Controvertida es la alergia a Candida, no aceptada por todos, y que sin embargo es importante tener en cuenta en algunos procesos cutáneos (AU)

Mucocutaneous candidiasis presents a wide variety of clinical manifestations with special characteristics in the distinct stages of life. In childhood, candidal napkin dermatitis around the nappy area is common; in adults, many oral manifestations are associated with the use of dental prostheses, and among young adults candidal balanitis and vulvovaginitis are frequent. This infection is both frequent and often resistant among patients with AIDS. For many years, it was not uncommon to find candidiasis folliculitis among heroin addicts in Spain; however, the most important cutaneous manifestation is intertrigo, which is related to humidity and sometimes to diabetes. Candidal perionyxis and onyxis are not common and require an accurate diagnosis for treatment. Candida allergy is controversial and not universally accepted. However, it should be borne in mind in some cutaneous processes (AU)

Linfangitis esclerosante no venérea del pene: presentación de un caso clínico / Nonvenereal sclerosing lymphangitis of the penis: presentation of a clinical case

La linfangitis esclerosante no venérea del pene es un proceso infrecuente que afecta a los linfáticos distales de este órgano. Se caracteriza por la aparición súbita de un cordón translúcido e indurado en el surco coronal. Su etiología es desconocida, aunque se ha relacionado con microtraumatismos en la zona después de una actividad sexual intensa. Es un proceso benigno y autorresolutivo por lo que no es necesaria la realización de biopsia en etapas iniciales y el tratamiento inicial debe ser conservador. Se presenta un nuevo caso de esta enfermedad y se comentan sus características etiopatogénicas, clínicas, diagnósticas y terapéuticas

Nonvenereal sclerosing lymphangitis of the penis is an infrequent process that affects the distal lymphatics of this organ. It is characterized by the sudden appearance of a translucent and indurated cord on the coronal sulcus. Its etiology is unknown, although it has been related to microtraumas in the area after intense sexual activity. It is a benign, self-resolving process, so it is not necessary to perform a biopsy in early stages, and initial treatment should be conservative. We present a new case of this disease and discuss its etiopathogenic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics

[Nonvenereal sclerosing lymphangitis of the penis: presentation of a clinical case]. / Linfangitis esclerosante no venérea del pene: presentación de un caso clínico.

Nonvenereal sclerosing lymphangitis of the penis is an infrequent process that affects the distal lymphatics of this organ. It is characterized by the sudden appearance of a translucent and indurated cord on the coronal sulcus. Its etiology is unknown, although it has been related to microtraumas in the area after intense sexual activity. It is a benign, self-resolving process, so it is not necessary to perform a biopsy in early stages, and initial treatment should be conservative. We present a new case of this disease and discuss its etiopathogenic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics.

Lesiones telangiectásicas de distribución uniforme / Telangiectatic lesions in uniform distribution

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Hipotricosis tipo Marie-Unna asociada a esclerodactilia: estudio con microanálisis de rayos X / Hypotrichosis type Marie-Unna associated to sclerodactily: study with X-ray microanalysis

Las hipotricosis hereditarias, tanto cicatriciales como no cicatriciales, son infrecuentes, observándose generalmente de forma aislada o familiar en algunos países. La reciente publicación de una familia paquistaní con hipotricosis generalizada, donde se ha encontrado el gen responsable en el cromosoma 8p 12, y su impacto social, motivó que revisáramos las hipotricosis congénitas estudiadas en nuestra Unidad de Tricología. Sólo tuvimos ocasión de diagnosticar, tratar y seguir un caso de hipotricosis tipo Marie Unna en el que se asociaba esclerosis de cuero cabelludo, esclerodactilia y alteraciones ungueales del tipo onicodistrofia y onicólisis. Realizamos estudios tricológicos incluyendo microanálisis de rayos X. Los resultados indicaron que se trataba de una hipotricosiscicatricial tipo Marie Unna, que se asociaba a zonas de esclerosis en cuero cabelludo y manos. Los estudios con microscopio óptico y electrónico de barrido de la distrofia pilosa pueden considerarse típicos. Los picos elevados de azufre y potasio observados en el microanálisis son de difícil interpretación

Hipotricosis tipo Marie-Unna asociada a esclerodactilia: estudio con microanálisis de rayos X / Hypotrichosis type Marie-Unna associated to sclerodactily: study with X-ray microanalysis

Las hipotricosis hereditarias, tanto cicatriciales como no cicatriciales, son infrecuentes, observándose generalmente de forma aislada o familiar en algunos países. La reciente publicación de una familia paquistaní con hipotricosis generalizada, donde se ha encontrado el gen responsable en el cromosoma 8p 12, y su impacto social, motivó que revisáramos las hipotricosis congénitas estudiadas en nuestra Unidad de Tricología. Sólo tuvimos ocasión de diagnosticar, tratar y seguir un caso de hipotricosis tipo Marie Unna en el que se asociaba esclerosis de cuero cabelludo, esclerodactilia y alteraciones ungueales del tipo onicodistrofia y onicólisis. Realizamos estudios tricológicos incluyendo microanálisis de rayos X. Los resultados indicaron que se trataba de una hipotricosiscicatricial tipo Marie Unna, que se asociaba a zonas de esclerosis en cuero cabelludo y manos. Los estudios con microscopio óptico y electrónico de barrido de la distrofia pilosa pueden considerarse típicos. Los picos elevados de azufre y potasio observados en el microanálisis son de difícil interpretación (AU)