GENERALISED GRANULOMA ANNULARE SUCCESSFULLY TREATED WITH PENTOXIFYLLINE

Generalised granuloma annulare (GA) is a chronic disease of unknown aetiology and is recalcitrant to many treatment regimes. Some investigators have suggested that an immune medicated vasculitis may be involved in the pathogenesis of GA. We describe a patient with a ten year history of generalised GA, who showed dramatic clearing of the majority of papules after four weeks of treatment with pentoxifylline. This drug has shown promising results in the treatment of many dermatologic disorders including necroboisis lipoidica diabeticorum, leukocytoclastic vasculitis and Raynaud's phenomenon. Pentoxifylline is thought to reduce blood viscosity via effects on all major blood components, and its clinical effectiveness in generalised GA lends support to a model of immunemedicated vasculitis in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Thus, pentoxifylline offers a well-tolerated and effective alternative to the treatment options available for patients with granuloma annulare.     

PIGMENTED BASAL CELL CARCINOMA SUCCESSFULLY TREATED WITH 5% IMIQUIMOD CREAM

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant skin tumor, amongst which the nodular, nodulo ulcerative and superficial types comprise nearly 80% of all BCCs. Topical Imiquimod, an immune response modifier has been found to be effective in superficial and nodular types of BCC with histological clearance rates of up to 100%. We report our experience of treatment a large pigmented BCC on the face with topical Imiquimod 5% cream.     

RECURRENT IMPETIGO HERPETIFORMIS WITH DIABETES AND HYPOALBUMINEMIA SUCCESSFULLY TREATED WITH CYCLOSPORINE, ALBUMIN, INSULIN AND METFORMIN

We report the case of a patient with recurrent impetigo herpetiformis associated with diabetes mellitus, hypoalbuminemia, and hypocalcaemia; who was refractory to corticosteroids. Cyclosporine along with other supportive measures proved to be life-saving with maintenance of pregnancy.     

BOWENOID PAPULOSIS OF THE GENITALIA SUCCESSFULLY TREATED WITH TOPICAL TAZAROTENE: A REPORT OF TWO CASES

Bowenoid papulosis is a rare condition of the genital area caused by human papilloma virus. Clinically, it resembles viral wart and histopathologically Bowen''s disease. We herein report two male patients presenting with multiple flat papules on the penis and scrotum. The second patient was HIV-positive. Histopathology showed features of bowenoid papulosis. Both the patients were treated with topical tazarotene gel 0.05%. Lesions cleared within 2 weeks in both the patients.Second patient had recurrences that cleared after retreatment with tazarotene.     

VITILIGO TREATED WITH ACTH

Six of 20 patients with extensive vitiligo treated with ACTH experienced repigmentation at the end of 15 weeks. However, depigmentation recurred when the treatment was stopped.