A case of childhood generalized pustular psoriasis treated with dapsone

Acute generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare, sometimes fatal, exudative form of psoriasis characterized by acute febrile pustular psoriasis. Unlike the adult forms, GPP in childhood tends to undergo a more benign course. It may resolve spontaneously with only supportive treatment, but may sometimes be life threatening and resistant to therapy. We report a case of GPP in 7-year-old girl treated successfully with dapsone.     

Psoriasis, metabolic syndrome and its components

The psoriasis is a chronic dermatosis which is characterized by strong inflammation. Recent studies showed that the chronic inflammation plays an important part in the pathogenesis of many metabolic and vascular diseases. Moreover, the diseases mediated by lymphocytes TH1 were related to the myocardial infarction. Epidemiologic investigations showed that psoriasis is associated at the increased risk of Comorbidities and mortality per comparison to the general population. Thus, the psoriatic patients have a high prevalence of metabolic pathologies such as the diabetes, hypertension, obesity and hyperlipidemy. These concomitant affections can complicate the treatment of psoriasis. It is important that the dermatologist systematically seeks these concomitant pathologies among psoriatic patients. These data also suggest that the treatments of these patients improve not only the skin lesions, but also control the inflammation associated with the psoriasis.     

Subcorneal Pustular Dermatosis: A Review of 30 Years of Progress

Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SPD), also known as Sneddon–Wilkinson disease, is a rare, benign yet relapsing pustular dermatosis. Its incidence and prevalence have not been well studied. It characteristically presents as hypopyon pustules on the trunk and intertriginous areas of the body. SPD is similar to two other disease entities. Both SPD-type immunoglobulin (Ig)-A pemphigus and annular pustular psoriasis clinically and histologically present similarly to SPD. Immunologic studies separate SPD-type IgA pemphigus from SPD and pustular psoriasis. However, there is still an unclear designation as to whether SPD is its own entity distinct from pustular psoriasis, as the once thought characteristic histologic picture of psoriasis does not hold true for pustular psoriasis. SPD has been reported to occur in association with several neoplastic, immunologic, and inflammatory conditions. Dapsone remains the first-line treatment for SPD, although dapsone-resistant cases have been increasingly reported. Other therapies have been used singly or as adjunctive therapy with success, such as corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, and ultraviolet light therapy. This article provides a review of the last 30 years of available literature, with a focus on successful treatment options and a suggestion for reappraisal of the classification of SPD.     

Infliximab monotherapy in psoriasis: a case of rapid clinical and histological response

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common chronic relapsing, inflammatory, hyperproliferative skin disorder with genetic predisposition. There is currently no experimental model for psoriasis and the pathogenesis is not fully understood. Psoriatic plaques have been shown to contain increased levels of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy with infliximab has been shown to be highly effective in recalcitrant psoriasis. METHODS: We evaluated the efficacy and timeline of histological changes in a psoriatic plaque following infliximab infusion. A patient with severe recalcitrant plaque psoriasis was clinically and histologically assessed for improvement. RESULTS: We found rapid clinical improvement with infliximab accompanied by histopathological changes. The earliest effects were seen on neutrophils and lymphocytes whereas keratinocyte normalization was not evident at the early stages. CONCLUSION: Infliximab is not only an effective agent in the treatment of psoriasis but appears to have a very rapid onset of action.     

妊娠泛发性脓疱型银屑病研究进展

妊娠泛发性脓疱型银屑病（GPPP）是妊娠期发生的一种罕见而严重的脓疱型银屑病。临床以全身急性泛发性红斑,伴浅在性无菌性脓疱为特征,发展迅速,可融合成脓湖,常伴高热、寒战等严重全身症状,甚至危及母胎生命。糖皮质激素、环孢素、TNF-α抑制剂等治疗有一定疗效,可降低GPPP死亡率。本文从病因、治疗等方面对GPPP研究进展进行概述。     

Psoriasis and uveitis: a literature review

Psoriasis is a systemic, chronic, immunologically mediated disease, with significant genetic and environmental influences. It affects from 1 to 3% of the world population. Recently, the relation between psoriasis and different comorbidities, particularly metabolic syndrome, has become extremely relevant. Uveitis is characterized by a process of intraocular inflammation resulting from various causes. Considering psoriasis and uveitis as immune-mediated diseases, this study aims to evaluate the possible association of psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis with uveitis and its subtypes. Few studies have evaluated the association of uveitis and psoriasis without joint involvement. It seems that psoriasis without arthropathy is not a risk factor for the development of uveitis. Uveitis tends to develop more frequently in patients with arthropathy or pustular psoriasis than in patients with other forms of psoriasis. Ophthalmic examination should be performed periodically in patients with psoriasis and uveitis. If ophthalmopathy is diagnosed, the patient should receive adequate treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs or immunomodulators to prevent vision loss.     

Nd: YAG laser (1,064 nm) fails to improve localized plaque type psoriasis: a clinical and immunohistochemical pilot study

Chronic and localized plaque-type-psoriasis is often therapy resistant as a result of which dermatologists often have trouble finding a suitable treatment option. Traditional therapies for psoriasis merely focus on the inhibition of epidermal proliferation, inflammation, or both. The earliest changes, however, in a novel psoriatic lesion concern abnormal microvasculature. The position of lasers in the treatment of psoriatic lesions is debatable, as different views exist with respect to efficacy and tolerability. The current investigation evaluates the clinical and immunohistochemical effect of the Nd:YAG (1,064 nm) laser in chronic localized psoriasis, as this laser can penetrate up to the deeper abnormal psoriatic vasculature. The effects are compared to treatment with the well-established calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment. The use of the Nd:YAG laser with treatment-intervals of four weeks was found not to be of additional value in the array of treatment modalities for chronic localized plaque-psoriasis. Targeting the more superficially located microvasculature in psoriasis seems of stronger significance for achieving a clinical effect than the deeper vasculature targeted by the Nd:YAG laser. Therefore, the present data are of importance in preserving dermatologists from treating psoriatic lesions with a Nd:YAG laser. However, further studies incorporating changes in methodology, in particular shortened time-intervals between treatments, are needed in order to refute or confirm this position.     

中国银屑病诊疗指南（2018完整版）

【摘要】 银屑病是一种遗传与环境共同作用诱发的免疫介导的慢性、复发性、炎症性、系统性疾病,典型临床表现为鳞屑性红斑或斑块,局限或广泛分布,无传染性,治疗困难,常罹患终身。银屑病的病因涉及遗传、免疫、环境等多种因素,通过以T淋巴细胞介导为主、多种免疫细胞共同参与的免疫反应引起角质形成细胞过度增殖或关节滑膜细胞与软骨细胞发生炎症。中医认为多属血分热毒炽盛,营血亏耗,瘀血阻滞,化燥生风,肌肤失养。银屑病是不可治愈性疾病,目前可使用的治疗药物及方法甚多,选择适合患者的治疗药物和方法,对控制病情,维持长期疗效十分重要。指南的目的就是为了逐渐规范治疗方法,提高治疗效能,尽可能减少不良反应的发生。银屑病的治疗方案应根据患者症状确定,轻度以外用治疗为主,中重度可使用系统治疗,对传统系统性药物治疗效果欠佳的患者可适当选择靶向生物制剂治疗。银屑病的治疗目的以控制症状、改善患者生活质量为主。银屑病药物及治疗方法不断发展,新的成果不断涌现,更新指南的目的是及时将国际国内研究的新的成果及时介绍给国内医师,与全球进展保持同步发展。本指南在前两版中国银屑病诊疗指南的基础上进行补充和修订,以进一步规范中国银屑病诊断与治疗,提高诊疗效率,改善患者生活质量。     

Successful treatment of plasma cell cheilitis with topical tacrolimus: report of two cases

Plasma cell cheilitis is an uncommon chronic inflammatory dermatitis that presents with flat to slightly elevated erosive erythematous plaques. It is histologically characterized by plasma cell infiltrates into the mucosa. Other than the lip, genital areas are often involved, which is called plasma cell balanitis or vulvitis. Plasma cell cheilitis is sometimes resistant to conventional topical corticosteroid therapy. Other choices include oral griseofulvin, topical cyclosporine, and intralesional corticosteroid injection, all of which occasionally fail to produce satisfactory results. Recent reports show that topical calcineurin inhibitors are effective for plasma cell cheilitis, balanitis, and vulvitis. However, there are so far only 2 reports of plasma cell cheilitis successfully treated with topical pimecrolimus and tacrolimus. We present herein two cases of plasma cell cheilitis, in which topical tacrolimus showed beneficial effects, suggesting that this immunomodulatory agent is a promising option for plasma cell cheilitis.     

Resolution of inverse psoriasis after treatment with levodopa for Parkinson's disease

Inverse psoriasis is characterized by the development of erythematous shiny plaques at intertriginous areas of the body. It has a prevalence of 2% worldwide. The usefulness of levodopa in psoriasis was discovered in 1970 but nowadays it is not a standard therapy for this condition. A 74‐year‐old woman was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease subsequent to the development of extensive inverse psoriasis. The skin lesions were resistant to classical topical and systemic medications. Treatment with levodopa was initiated in order to treat her neurological problem and progressive remission of the skin lesions was noted. We highlight the role of dopamine in the pathophysiology of this dermatosis.     

La psoriasis, ¿una enfermedad sistémica?

It has long been recognized the epidemiological association of psoriasis, especially the most severe forms, with several diseases that share a common pathogenic substrate involving TNF-alpha and different target organs (arthritis and Crohn's disease, for example), as well as an increased risk of coronary heart disease and occlusive cardiovascular disease. In the patient with severe psoriasis there is also an increased prevalence of obesity, dyslipemia, adult diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse and tobacco habit which contribute to the increased risk of mortality associated with atherosclerosis. Recently it has been identified the so-called metabolic syndrome, characterized by the association of abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipemia, hypertension, insulin resistance with or without glucose intolerance and a proinflammatory and prothrombotic state as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. There is evidence that in rheumatoid arthritis as well as in psoriasis, chronic inflammation has a pathogenic role in the metabolic syndrome and associated comorbidities, and its adequate treatment may contribute to revert it. The dermatologist should recognize the elements of the metabolic syndrome and propose the patient with psoriasis, in addition to the optimal dermatologic treatment, changes in life habits and appropriate drug therapy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular morbi-mortality.     

银屑病与炎症性肠病的共同发病通路及靶向药物

 目前银屑病与炎症性肠病被认为是慢性系统性炎症性疾病,并且越来越多的证据表明两者互为共患病。它们在病理生理机制上有许多重叠,因而靶向这些共同发病通路的药物成为当前治疗这两种共患病的热点。本文综述银屑病与炎症性肠病中共同发病通路,包括细胞外的肿瘤坏死因子、IL-23、IL-17信号通路,以及细胞内的JAK-STAT通路、cAMP信号通路、ROR-γT/Th17轴,简要总结靶向这些共同发病通路的新兴药物,以期为临床治疗两种共患病提供一定思路。     

Fumars?ureestertherapie bei einer jungen Patientin mit ausgepr?gter Cheilitis granulomatosa

Granulomatous cheilitis is a rare granulomatous inflammation of the lips of unknown origin; mainly young adults are affected. So far, there is no generally effectual treatment available for this disfiguring dermatosis. We show the efficacy of a treatment with fumaric acid esters reporting the case of a 14-year-old girl with granulomatous cheilitis resistant to previous therapy. Our successful therapy consisted of fumaric acid esters according to the therapeutic schedule for psoriasis and showed a good tolerance subjectively and objectively.     

Psoriasis: to treat or to manage?

The recognition of psoriasis as a systemic disorder with characteristic skin symptoms and associated diseases has changed treatment concepts substantially. The complexity of psoriasis disease not only requires appropriate therapy but also weight‐loss and smoking cessation programmes as well as trigger factor elimination. The term ‘management’ may better reflect the aim for a holistic approach of disease control. Comorbidity and the presence of psoriatic arthritis are important denominators for drug selection. However, there is a lack of prospective data substantiating a benefit of associated diseases by antipsoriatic therapy. Securing success using treatment goals helps to establish an efficacious therapy and to control inflammation. A regular scoring of disease severity, patients’ quality of life and assessment of other clinically relevant conditions are mandatory to closely follow the disease course. There is debate whether an early treatment may modulate the future course of psoriasis. Concepts of minimal disease activity have not been implemented in psoriasis yet. There is a lack of evidence how long any treatment should be given and when and how to terminate. Finally, outcome tools should specifically be tailored for psoriasis to evaluate disease‐related items as well as the benefit of management from the patient's perspective.     

Topical valrubicin application reduces skin inflammation in murine models

Background Valrubicin is a cytostatic anthracycline analogue, lacking toxicity by skin and tissue contact, and represents a new drug with potential for topical treatment of psoriasis and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC); the beneficial effects have been partly explained by its antiproliferative and proapoptotic characteristics. Objectives To assess the effect of valrubicin on skin inflammation as inflammation also plays a key role in psoriasis and NMSC. Methods The effect of topical valrubicin treatment on skin inflammation in vivo was addressed in skin inflammation mouse models, where 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate was used to induce irritant contact dermatitis. An acute and a chronic model were included, to investigate the effect of valrubicin in short‐term inflammation and in more persistent inflammation. Inflammation‐associated ear oedema was evaluated by measuring ear thickness, infiltration of neutrophil cells, and expression of inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐6. Results Topical valrubicin treatment effectively reduced the inflammatory response in the acute and the chronic models. Conclusions The present data document an anti‐inflammatory effect of valrubicin, and may suggest an interesting new role for valrubicin in other debilitating skin diseases in which inflammation is a significant factor.     

Cutaneous Adverse Effects of Lithium

Acneiform eruption, psoriasis, folliculitis, and maculopapular eruption have been described as adverse reactions to lithium therapy. In controlled studies, patients treated with lithium developed more cutaneous reactions, particularly acne and psoriasis, than patients receiving other psychotropics, with a prevalence in lithium-treated patients as high as 45%. Male patients taking lithium are more susceptible to developing cutaneous reactions than their female counterparts. Lithium tends to worsen or precipitate cutaneous conditions that are characterized by the pathological findings of neutrophilic infiltration. As lithium-related cutaneous adverse effects can be distressing to patients and may affect medication compliance, attention should be paid to skin problems in patients receiving lithium therapy. Management without cessation of lithium therapy is usually feasible except in some patients with psoriasis that is resistant to treatment. Paradoxically, therapeutic effects of topically applied lithium have been noted in seborrheic dermatitis and recurrent herpes infections.     

儿童银屑病

银屑病是一种T淋巴细胞介导的慢性炎症性皮肤病,上呼吸道感染、情绪应激、创伤、药物易激发儿童银屑病。各型银屑病均可见于儿童,其症状较轻或临床表现不典型时诊断较困难。治疗时要注意选择合适的方法,充分考虑药物的安全性和有效性,根据患儿的年龄、病情和药物的不良反应采用个体化治疗方案。一般局部治疗即可控制病情,中重度的各型银屑病需考虑系统治疗。     

New generation biologics for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. State of the art and considerations about the risk of infection

Psoriasis is a chronic immune‐mediated disease characterized by inflammation of skin (psoriasis) or joints (psoriatic arthritis) or both, resulting from a dysregulation in particular of the T helper (Th)17 functions. There is no available cure for psoriasis, and a life‐long treatment is needed to control signs and symptoms. Research interest is high around the newest biological drugs approved for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and especially drugs blocking the IL‐23/IL‐17 axis. Our aim is to review the new biological drugs for the treatment of psoriasis and their adverse effects, focusing on the risk of infections.     

Colonoscopy in patients with psoriasis before the initiation of treatment with biological agents

Psoriasis may lead to subsequent colorectal cancer, since chronic systemic inflammation is the common etiologic factor in both psoriasis and colorectal cancer. It is a matter of dispute whether biological agents used in the treatment of psoriasis cause predisposition to colorectal cancer as a result of their immunosuppressive effect. Medical records of psoriasis patients who underwent colonoscopy before biological agents were reviewed. Colonoscopy was performed in all patients who were aged 50 years and older and in patients younger than 50, if they had positive fecal occult blood test results. The study included 95 patients between the age of 34 to 84. Colonoscopy results revealed tubular adenoma in 16 (16.8%) patients, hyperplastic polyps in 7 (7.4%) patients, villous adenoma in 1 (1.1%) patient, and tubulovillous adenoma in 1 (1.1%) patient. Two patients were diagnosed with colon cancer detected by a former colonoscopy, which was recommended by their dermatologist before the biological agent treatment plan. These results revealed that adenomatous polyps which can evolve to colon adenocarcinoma were the most frequent polyp type in patients with psoriasis. We suggest that routine colonoscopy should be performed before the initiation of biological therapy in psoriasis patients who are aged 50 years old and over.