Burden of Disease in the Real-Life Setting of Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: Italian Data From the MEASURE-AD Study.

INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that negatively impacts the quality of life and work productivity of patients. OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the real-world burden of AD patients in Italy. METHODS: This sub-analysis of the MEASURE-AD multicountry study conducted between December 2019-2020 included patients diagnosed with moderate-to-severe AD eligible for or receiving systemic therapy in the previous 6 months. During a single visit, physician and patient-reported questionnaires were used. RESULTS: A total of 118 adult patients were enrolled and 57.6% (N = 68) of patients had moderate-to-severe AD at the time of enrolment according to the Eczema Area and Severity Index. Sleep disorders interfered with daily function in the previous week in 58.5% (N = 69) of patients, pruritus was severe in 50% (N = 59) and 42.4% (N = 50) reported a flare lasting >7 days in the previous 6 months. According to the Dermatology Quality of Life Index, 37.3% (N = 44) of patients reported a severe impact of AD and approximately 10% had clinical depression/anxiety. Current drug therapy was considered inadequate in controlling AD in 26.3% (N=31) of patients. Work activity impairment was 38.6±31.7% and monthly AD-related expenses were 148.6±134.6 Euros per patient. CONCLUSIONS: This real-life study documents a high burden of disease in patients with moderate-severe AD in Italy.

The Association among Pyoderma Gangrenosum, Ulcerative Colitis, and Hidradenitis Suppurativa and the Syndromic Hidradenitis Suppurativa Network: A Case Report.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), together with other inflammatory diseases, is involved in a syndromic network where different combinations of signs and symptoms characterize the definition. The observation of the concurrent occurrence of HS, pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in detail ulcerative colitis (UC), led the authors to describe a new association. The patient, a 36-year-old woman, who saw IBD as the first appearing condition, shortly followed by HS and PG, was referred because of a clinical situation quickly worsening. A severe aggravation of both GI symptoms and general systemic situation total led to total colectomy. Surprisingly, shortly after the radical surgical treatment of UC, the cutaneous manifestations of HS and PG with no specific treatment almost completely disappeared suggesting the existence of a common etiopathogenetic mechanism and possibly an inductor role of UC on the other disorders. The presentation of this case offers the opportunity to deal with the fact that the resolution of one of the associated conditions may lead to the clearance of one or more of the others. It confirms a pathogenetic link between them and the pivotal role of one of them, in this case colitis.

KID Syndrome and Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Rare Association Responding to Surgical Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome is a rare genodermatosis characterized by keratitis, neurosensorial auditory impairment and ichthyosiform skin involvement. Frequent complications of the syndrome are chronic, opportunistic cutaneous infections, and the development of skin cancers. Several cases of association between KID syndrome and other conditions, including hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), are described in the literature. This correlation could be explained by the hyperproliferative state of the epidermis, which occurs in KID syndrome and may favor follicular plugging. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe a very rare case of association between KID syndrome and HS and its complex therapeutic management. RESULTS: The failure of the drugs commonly used in HS and the excellent results of surgery, although difficult to achieve, were experienced. CONCLUSION: Despite the technical difficulties related to surgery, namely, cutaneous superinfections, frequent dehisce of the suture, and closure by secondary intention, the authors strongly recommend the surgical approach in these patients.

Eruptive Cherry Angiomas and Skin Melanoma: Further Insights into an Intriguing Association.

BACKGROUND: Some risk factors for malignant melanoma (MM) are recognized. OBJECTIVE: To compare the strength of association between MM and eruptive cherry angiomas (CAs) with that of other well-known associations. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included all subjects referred to the Outpatient Dermatology-Oncology and Dermoscopy Units of the Universities of Ferrara and Bologna, Italy, over a 5-month period and submitted to total body skin examination. We recorded: age, sex, cutaneous and non-cutaneous malignancies, presence of CAs, arbitrarily considered as "eruptive" when >10, >40 common melanocytic naevi or >2 clinically atypical naevi. The strength of association between the possible risk factors and MM was calculated by odds ratio in both the whole population and age quartiles. Variables associated with MM were included in multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 1,190 subjects were included; 615 had malignant skin tumours, 462 MM, 85 extracutaneous tumours. Five hundred and eighty-seven subjects had eruptive CAs, 485 subjects >40 melanocytic naevi and 368 more than 2 atypical melanocytic naevi. Eruptive CAs, especially in subjects younger than 70, and >2 atypical melanocytic naevi, mostly in subjects older than 50, were significantly associated with MM. The strength of these 2 associations was similar. The presence of >40 melanocytic naevi was not associated with MM. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirmed an association between MM and eruptive CAs, which was as strong as the one between MM and >2 atypical melanocytic naevi. CAs seem an intriguing model of interaction between heterogeneous variables, like immunocompetence, stimuli inducing endothelial cell proliferation, and oncogenesis, which deserves further investigation.

Measuring perceived benefit and disease-related burden in patients affected with vulvar lichen sclerosus after a standard topical corticosteroid treatment. Results from a cohort study using Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self-measure and Dermatology Life Quality Index.

Improvement in suffering after treatment has been poorly investigated in women affected with vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS). We performed an observational study on a cohort of VLS patients for assessing the effect of a 12-week topical corticosteroid treatment on their VLS-related burden, as measured with Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self-Measure (PRISM) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Demographics and disease-related subjective and objective scores (at baseline, T0, and at the control visit, T1) were recorded. The PRISM and DLQI were administered at T0 and T1. We assessed the variation of PRISM and DLQI at T1 compared to baseline and the relevance of several variables on these changes. Sixty-three patients were included. A significant improvement was found in both PRISM and DLQI after treatment. A higher coefficient of variations was observed for PRISM and DLQI as compared to subjective and objective scores. Improvement of global subjective score after treatment was the sole variable associated with PRISM and DLQI variations. The corticosteroid treatment led to a significant decrease in the impact of VLS on patients' well-being, in terms of suffering and quality of life impairment. PRISM seems a reliable instrument for integrating clinicians' and patients' perspectives for a comprehensive VLS management.

Patch test reactions through the lens of dermoscopy: Further insights, particularly on weak allergic reactions.

BACKGROUND: Distinguishing weak allergic reactions from irritant patch test reactions may be difficult. OBJECTIVES: To describe the dermoscopic features of allergic reactions (especially weak allergic ones) and irritant patch test reactions, and to assess the suitability of dermoscopy in supporting differential diagnosis. METHODS: Eligible participants for this observational, cross-sectional study included consecutive adult outpatients patch tested during a 12-month period, who developed any skin reaction. Healthy volunteers were patch tested with sodium lauryl sulfate as irritant controls. At the 72-hour reading, patch test reactions were recorded both with a digital camera and a digital dermoscopic system. For each reaction, clinical and dermoscopic variables were separately assessed, scored, and then compared. RESULTS: Erythema, vessels, and vesiculation were constant dermoscopic features of allergic reactions (n = 173). In 46 weak (+) allergic reactions, dermoscopy showed (a) erythema (100%), (b) dense polymorphic vessels (100%), and (c) whitish vesicles (78.3%). Scores for vesicles and dotted vessels were significantly higher in weak allergic than in irritant reactions. Vesicles were identified as the chief dermoscopic parameter for correctly distinguishing weak allergic from irritant reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Dermoscopy can improve accuracy in the differential diagnosis between weak allergic and irritant patch test reactions.