A case of pemphigus vulgaris possibly triggered by quinolones

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune blistering disorder in which both genetic and environmental factors, mainly drugs, are thought to play a part in its aetiopathogenesis. Although some drugs that contain thiol groups, such as D-penicillamine and captopril, and non-thiol drugs, such as cephalosporin, have been reported to trigger or induce pemphigus, there are no previous reports regarding the influence of quinolones in triggering this disease. Here we present a case of pemphigus possibly triggered by quinolones.     

舒肤特治疗痤疮疗效观察

目的　探讨舒肤特对座疮的治疗作用。　方法　病人随机分为治疗组和对照组。治疗组 45例 ,男 2 8例 ,女 17例 ;对照组 45例 ,男 2 5例 ,女 2 0例。年龄 14～ 42岁 ,平均 2 4岁。病程 2周～ 6年。治疗组用舒肤特 ,对照组用2 5 %氯霉素酊 ,每日 2次 ,4～ 8周为 1疗程。每周复诊 1次。　结果　治疗组痊愈率 3 7 8% ,总有效率 84 5 % ,对照组痊愈率 17 8% ,总有效率 62 2 % ,治疗组痊愈率优于对照组 ( χ2 =10 0 2 ,P <0 0 1) ,两组总有效率差异有显著性 ( χ2=11 42 8,P <0 0 1) ,　结论　舒肤特是中西药复方制剂 ,其用于治疗痤疮效果较好 ,无明显副作用。     

Pemphigus Vulgaris Associated with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Elevated TNFα

A 76-year-old female was admitted with many bullae and erythema on her trunk and extremities. A biopsy specimen showed significant intercellular edema in the lower epidermis and eosinophilic infiltration into the dermis and the epidermis. Immunofluorescent staining revealed the deposition of IgG in the intercellular area of her prickle cells. From these histologic findings and the typical clinical features, we diagnosed her as having pemphigus vulgaris. Examination of her blood revealed that she also suffered from autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Despite intensive treatment with prednisolone, she finally died. This case is of interest because of its rarity and the TNFα detected significantly in the blister fluid of this patient.     

Surgical treatment of acne scarring by using skin grating knife

Summary A method of dermaplaning for acne scarring using a skin graft knife is described. This surgical technique cannot be considered as a form of dermabrasion. Its advantages are reported.     

Accelerating effects of epidermal growth factor on skin lesions of pemphigus vulgaris: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a severe blistering disease involving the skin and mucous membranes. The most common causes of death in these patients are adverse effects of drugs, and infection. Skin lesions are one of the important sources of infection. Thus, any local treatment that could reduce healing time of lesions and consequently reduce the total dosage of drugs needed to treat is favourable. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in reducing healing time of lesions in patients with pemphigus vulgaris. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, within-patient, left/right, controlled trial, 20 hospitalized patients with pathologial and immunohistologial (direct and indirect immunoflourecence) proven pemphigus vulgaris (PV) were chosen. In addition, all patients had at least one appropriate pemphigus lesion on each side of the body that had not healed after 2-week systemic therapy and sterile saline washing. EGF (10 microg/g) in 0.1% silver sulfadiazine cream vs. 0.1% silver sulfadiazine cream alone was applied randomly on one side of the body. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested that median time to heal with application of EGF plus silver sulfadiazine cream was 9 days, in comparison with 15 days for silver sulfadiazine cream alone (log-rank test, P=0.0003). No intervention-related adverse effect was observed during the study. CONCLUSIONS: EGF can significantly reduce healing time of skin lesions in patients with pemphigus vulgaris, at least when this cream base is applied (Cochrane skin group identifier: CSG20).     

Gold: an old drug still working in refractory pemphigus

BACKGROUND: The mainstay of treatment for pemphigus is systemic corticosteroids. Different adjuvants have been used to reduce side-effects of long-term corticotherapy. Gold is an anti-inflammatory drug used in autoimmune diseases, whose use has waned with the advent of new immunosuppressive agents. OBJECTIVE: To study the outcome of the use of intramuscular gold treatment of pemphigus vulgaris refractory to previous therapies. METHODS: Thirteen patients with pemphigus vulgaris who had failed to respond to several prior therapies were treated with aurothiomalate, as a steroid-sparing agent. Patients were monitored to assess disease activity and gold toxicity. RESULTS: Seven patients achieved complete remission. Four patients were able to taper prednisone doses, although pemphigus flared when prednisone was discontinued or reduced. Toxicity was observed in the other two patients. CONCLUSIONS: In 53.4% of the patients, the use of chrysotherapy resulted in the complete clearing of the disease, discontinuation of all systemic therapies and induced a long-term clinical remission. Prednisone doses were able to be reduced in the remaining 46.6%. Any side-effects were reversible with drug discontinuation. Gold therapy showed efficacy as a secondary line treatment in refractory pemphigus vulgaris.     

复合维生素E,C,B组合物面膜治疗寻常痤疮117例的疗效和安全性(英文)

目的:了解维生素E,C,B组合物面膜治疗寻常痤疮的疗效及安全性。方法:117例13a以上、痤疮严重程度分级在2级以上且主要表现于脸部的病人,予维生素E,C,B组合物面膜治疗,每日1次,共8wk。观察治疗前后痤疮数量及性质,包括粉刺、丘疹、脓疱及囊肿之数目,并评估整体疗效。结果:治疗后,粉刺、丘疹、脓疱及囊肿数目下降了13±s13,10±12,5±7及3±3,均P<0.01。7例(6.0%)病人症状完全改善,44例(37.6%)中度改善,56例(47.9%)轻度改善,10例(8.6%)无改善。59例(50.4%)病人无红肿、搔痒、灼热及脱皮等现象发生。结论:维生素E,C,B组合物面膜治疗痤疮有效,超过半数的受试者无不良反应发生,可作为传统治疗寻常痤疮药物的替代。     

Minocycline is a useful adjuvant therapy for pemphigus

Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disease with high mortality if untreated. The cases of 10 patients who had minocycline 100 mg daily added as adjuvant therapy are reported. Prior to the use of minocycline, all patients had active disease, nine were on prednisolone (10–40 mg) and five were on azathioprine (100–200 mg). The response was assessed on clinical improvement and reduction of immunosuppressive (IS) drugs. It was graded into four categories: major, minor, equivocal and no significant response. A major response was seen in four patients, minor in two, equivocal in one and no improvement in three patients. The prednisolone dose in the six responders was reduced to 0–6 mg (0 mg in three patients), with an average decrease of 21 mg. The average time to respond was 8 months. Of the six responders, three were on azathioprine, which was ceased in two patients and reduced by two-thirds in the other patient. No patient ceased minocycline because of side effects. In conclusion, minocycline 100 mg daily is a simple, safe and well tolerated treatment that should be tried in patients with pemphigus to reduce disease activity and/or the dose of potent IS agents.     

The effectiveness of intermittent isotretinoin treatment in mild or moderate acne

BACKGROUND: Isotretinoin is the only drug that affects almost all factors in acne pathogenesis. Recently, its use for the treatment of chronic mild or moderate acne unresponsive to long-term antibiotic therapy, and with a tendency to cause scarring and leading to negative psychological effects, has became popular. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of intermittent isotretinoin treatment in mild or moderate acne. METHODS: Sixty patients with mild or moderate acne localized to the face were enrolled in the study. The treatment regimen consisted of isotretinoin, 0.5-0.75 mg/kg per day, applied for 1 week every 4 weeks for a total period of 6 months, according to the degree of acne and number of inflammatory lesions. RESULTS: Forty-one (68.3%) of the 60 patients completed the 6-month therapy. At the end of the treatment complete improvement was observed in 34 patients (82.9%) out of 41. All adverse effects were mild and discontinuation of the treatment was not necessary. CONCLUSION: Intermittent isotretinoin treatment was found to be a safe and effective choice for patients with mild or moderate acne.