霍奇金病继发皮肤病变伴EBV编码的潜伏膜蛋白染色阳性1例报道

霍奇金病皮肤受累在H IV阳性患者少见。尽管这些病例中大多数的发病机制与Epstein-Barr病毒(EBV)相关,但很少有研究来证实霍奇金病皮肤受累的病毒致癌基因。作者报道1例H IV阳性男性患者,伴有侵袭性霍奇金病和特殊皮肤受累。皮损和淋巴结取样发现对EBV编码的潜伏膜蛋白呈阳性反     

Livedo reticularis associated with interferon α therapy in two melanoma patients

We report two patients who developed intense livedo reticularis clearly related to the administration of interferon alpha 2b as an adjuvant therapy for melanoma. Histological studies showed scattered perivascular infiltrates without vasculitis. Laboratory tests excluded any underlying condition. Resolution of the symptoms was observed in both patients when interferon alpha was withdrawn. These cases highlight the occurrence of livedo reticularis as an uncommon side-effect of interferon alpha treatment.     

Secondary extension of Hodgkin's disease to the skin with positive staining for EBV-encoded latent membrane protein

Cutaneous involvement with Hodgkin's disease in HIV-positive patients is infrequent. Although the large majority of these cases are pathogenetically linked to Epstein-Barr virus, demonstration of viral oncogenes in skin involvement of Hodgkin's disease has rarely been performed. We report an HIV-positive male with aggressive Hodgkin's disease and specific cutaneous involvement. The presence of Epstein-Barr virus in cutaneous and lymph node samples could be demonstrated by a positive reaction to the Epstein-Barr virus latent-encoded membrane protein.     

Plasma trough levels of mycophenolic acid do not correlate with efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil in psoriasis

BACKGROUND: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been shown to be effective for systemic treatment of psoriasis. MMF is the prodrug of mycophenolic acid (MPA), the pharmacologically active compound. The measurement of plasma MPA levels could be useful for optimizing therapeutic management using MMF. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether plasma trough levels of MPA correlate with the efficacy and safety of oral MMF in the treatment of patients with psoriasis. METHODS: Six patients (four women and two men, mean age 58 years) with severe chronic plaque-type psoriasis were treated with oral MMF 1 g twice daily. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), routine laboratory examinations and plasma MPA trough levels, measured by an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay (EMIT), were determined at 2 weeks and 1, 3, 5 and 7 months. RESULTS: All the patients experienced a marked improvement within the first 15 days and continued to do so for 5-7 months. Two patients achieved complete remission. MMF was well tolerated. MPA levels showed a wide intra- and interindividual variability. There was no significant correlation between MPA trough levels and the reduction of the PASI or the presence of adverse effects, but a good correlation with therapeutic compliance. CONCLUSIONS: The monitoring of MPA trough levels with EMIT appears to be a poor predictor of efficacy or toxicity. In contrast, it is a useful tool to evaluate the degree of therapeutic compliance.     

Pustular acral erythema in a patient with acute graft-versus-host disease

Acral erythema is a well-known side-effect of chemotherapy treatment but it is not common in patients undergoing bone marrow transplant. We report a post-transplant patient with clinical and histological acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) who concurrently developed acral erythema presenting as painful, well-defined and self-limiting palmar erythema with pustules. A skin biopsy from the palm showed abnormal keratinocyte maturation and eccrine squamous syringometaplasia. This case illustrates the difficulties in establishing the differential diagnosis of cutaneous eruptions in patients undergoing bone marrow transplant.     

Osseous metaplasia in the setting of nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy

BACKGROUND: Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD) is a new skin-fibrosing disorder associated with renal dysfunction. It is marked by the acute onset of induration involving the upper and lower limbs, and it is characterized by distinctive histopathologic findings. METHODS: We report the case of a patient on hemodialysis who presented initially with the characteristic clinical and pathological features of NFD. The patient progressively developed painful hyperkeratotic spicules on both thighs and bone metaplasia was confirmed. RESULTS: Histological studies were performed at different stages of the disease showing an evolution from the well-known initial phase of NFD, characterized by thickening of the dermis, increased number of fibroblast-like cells, and mucin deposits, to an end stage characterized by the presence of dermal ossification. CONCLUSIONS: We report the exceptional finding of bone metaplasia in the setting of a case of NFD.