-
The American Journal of Dermatopathology Apr 2024Mucha-Habermann disease (MHD) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by polymorphous eruptions of erythematous, necrotic macules that have been reported for... (Review)
Review
Mucha-Habermann disease (MHD) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by polymorphous eruptions of erythematous, necrotic macules that have been reported for similarities to cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Febrile ulceronecrotic MHD (FUMHD) represents a severe variant of MHD, marked by ulcers, hemorrhagic bullae, and systemic symptoms. Herein, we report a case of a severely atypical lymphomatoid expression of FUMHD associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). A previously healthy 21-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with a rapidly progressive necrotic papular rash. Physical examination revealed right orbital swelling, bilateral hemorrhagic auricular bullae, and multiple ulcerative purpuric papulonodules on the trunk, face, and extremities. Biopsy indicated a dermal and subcutaneous infiltrate of atypical CD8 + lymphocytes with loss of CD5 and reduction in CD7 expression, along with features of lymphomatoid vasculitis. A diagnosis of a severely atypical lymphomatoid expression of FUMHD was made. The patient also met 7 of 9 HLH-2004 criteria, leading to a diagnosis of HLH. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography, flow cytometry, and rheumatologic workup were unremarkable. Treatment with an eight-week course of etoposide and dexamethasone for HLH led to rapid clinical improvement. Over time, her skin lesions regressed and eventually scabbed over to leave hyperpigmented scars, confirming the diagnosis of MHD. She has remained stable, off therapy for 4 years. Although potentially fatal, FUMHD often exhibits favorable outcomes and may resolve without recurrence, as in our patient. FUMHD should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with cutaneous CD8 + necrotizing angiocentric lymphoproliferative disease complicated by HLH.
Topics: Female; Humans; Young Adult; Blister; Fever; Herpes Simplex; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic; Necrosis; Pityriasis Lichenoides; Skin Neoplasms; Skin Ulcer
PubMed: 38457671
DOI: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000002619 -
International Journal of Dermatology Feb 2024Plaque psoriasis is relatively straightforward to identify. When diagnostic concerns arise in atypical cases, a biopsy is needed. It is widely accepted that the Munro...
BACKGROUND
Plaque psoriasis is relatively straightforward to identify. When diagnostic concerns arise in atypical cases, a biopsy is needed. It is widely accepted that the Munro microabscess and the spongiform pustule of Kogoj are diagnostic pathological features. However, the diagnostic dilemma is likely to arise in cases without these specific pathological changes and typical clinical features. This study aimed to investigate clinical and pathological clues in distinguishing atypical plaque psoriasis from its mimics.
METHODS
We evaluated the clinicopathological features of 20 cases of atypical plaque psoriasis and 40 cases of psoriasis mimics as controls including pityriasis rosea (n = 10), pityriasis lichenoides chronica (n = 8), and subacute dermatitis (n = 22).
RESULTS
A retrospective analysis of the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with atypical plaque psoriasis and controls was performed. Pathologically, there were significant differences between the two groups in the types of parakeratosis (P = 0.046), epidermal capture of extravasated erythrocytes (P = 0.011), focal basal liquefied degeneration (P = 0.017), types of inflammatory cells (P = 0.000), and depth of inflammation (P = 0.000). Clinically, we found the presence of scales and crusts was significantly different between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
This study offers insight into the clinicopathological features of atypical plaque psoriasis. These differential diagnostic features, compared with its mimics, are proposed to assist the clinician in the diagnosis and treatment of atypical plaque psoriasis.
PubMed: 38366678
DOI: 10.1111/ijd.17063 -
Pediatric Dermatology 2024Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease (FUMHD), a lymphocyte-mediated inflammatory skin disorder, is considered a severe variant of pityriasis lichenoides et...
Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease (FUMHD), a lymphocyte-mediated inflammatory skin disorder, is considered a severe variant of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta that can lead to a fatal outcome if not managed in a timely fashion. Children with FUMHD can have systemic complications involving various organs. The scarcity of reported cases and the absence of well-designed studies or randomized clinical trials to evaluate different therapeutic modalities pose a major challenge in treating this potentially life-threatening disorder. We report a five-year-old child with FUMHD and seizures treated unsuccessfully with a combination of systemic steroids, methotrexate, dapsone, and oral erythromycin, who improved rapidly and achieved disease control with just a single infusion of low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin.
Topics: Humans; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Pityriasis Lichenoides; Child, Preschool; Male; Immunologic Factors; Fever
PubMed: 38234081
DOI: 10.1111/pde.15516 -
Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology Dec 2023Recent advances in medical genetics elucidated the background of diseases characterized by superficial dermal and epidermal inflammation with resultant aberrant... (Review)
Review
Recent advances in medical genetics elucidated the background of diseases characterized by superficial dermal and epidermal inflammation with resultant aberrant keratosis. This led to introducing the term autoinflammatory keratinization diseases encompassing entities in which monogenic mutations cause spontaneous activation of the innate immunity and subsequent disruption of the keratinization process. Originally, autoinflammatory keratinization diseases were attributed to pathogenic variants of CARD14 (generalized pustular psoriasis with concomitant psoriasis vulgaris, palmoplantar pustulosis, type V pityriasis rubra pilaris), IL36RN (generalized pustular psoriasis without concomitant psoriasis vulgaris, impetigo herpetiformis, acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau), NLRP1 (familial forms of keratosis lichenoides chronica), and genes of the mevalonate pathway, i.e., MVK, PMVK, MVD, and FDPS (porokeratosis). Since then, endotypes underlying novel entities matching the concept of autoinflammatory keratinization diseases have been discovered (mutations of JAK1, POMP, and EGFR). This review describes the concept and pathophysiology of autoinflammatory keratinization diseases and outlines the characteristic clinical features of the associated entities. Furthermore, a novel term for NLRP1-associated autoinflammatory disease with epithelial dyskeratosis (NADED) describing the spectrum of autoinflammatory keratinization diseases secondary to NLRP1 mutations is proposed.
Topics: Humans; Psoriasis; Inflammation; Mutation; Immunity, Innate; Keratosis; Guanylate Cyclase; Membrane Proteins; CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; Interleukins
PubMed: 38103162
DOI: 10.1007/s12016-023-08971-3 -
Journal Der Deutschen Dermatologischen... Dec 2023
PubMed: 38082509
DOI: 10.1111/ddg.15253_g -
Frontiers in Medicine 2023Since the early 1990s, Ultraviolet (UV) A1 phototherapy has been described as an effective and safe treatment of a multitude of skin disorders. However, after...
The realistic positioning of UVA1 phototherapy after 25 years of clinical experience and the availability of new biologics and small molecules: a retrospective clinical study.
BACKGROUND
Since the early 1990s, Ultraviolet (UV) A1 phototherapy has been described as an effective and safe treatment of a multitude of skin disorders. However, after 30 years, its use has remained limited to few dermatological centers.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the changes over the years and the current position of UVA1 phototherapy through a Real-World Evidence (RWE) study at a single tertiary referral center.
METHODS
We reviewed the medical files of 740 patients treated between 1998 and 2022. Treatment results were collected, efficacy was assessed by a grading scale and acute adverse effects were registered.
RESULTS
We treated patients with 26 different diseases. We registered marked improvement (MI) or complete remission (CR) in 42.8% of patients with morphea, 50% with Urticaria Pigmentosa, 40.7% with Granuloma annulare and 85.7% with skin sarcoidosis. Good results were obtained also in the treatment of chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD), Eosinophilic Fasciitis, Sclero-atrophic Lichen, skin manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis of HIV+ patients. Systemic Sclerosis, Romberg's Syndrome, Bushke's Scleredema, Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy, REM Syndrome, Follicular Mucinosis, Pretibial Myxedema, Scleromyxedema, pemphigus foliaceus, chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus, erythroderma of Netherton Syndrome and Necrobiosis Lipoidica were no or poorly responsive. In clinical indications where UVA1 was used as a second line phototherapy after narrow-band (NB)-UVB, we saw good MI or CR rates in Mycosis Fungoides (57% of patients), Atopic Dermatitis (33.9%), Pitiryasis Lichenoides chronica (50%), Pityriasis Lichenoides et varioliformis acute (75%) and Lymphomatod Papulosis (62.5%). Short-term adverse events were uncommon and mild.
CONCLUSION
Over the past decade, the annual number of treated patients has progressively declined for several reasons. Firstly, UVA1 phototherapy has taken a backseat to the cheaper and more practical NB-UVB phototherapy, which has proven effective for common indications. Secondly, the emergence of new, safe, and effective drugs for conditions such as atopic dermatitis, GVHD, and connective tissue disorders. Finally, our research has shown that UVA1 therapy is often ineffective or minimally effective for some rare diseases, contrary to previous case reports and small case series. Nonetheless, UVA1 continues to be a valuable treatment option for patients with specific skin disorders.
PubMed: 38076241
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1295145 -
Qatar Medical Journal 2023Acute urticaria is urticaria with or without angioedema that is present for less than six weeks, while chronic urticaria is present for more than six weeks. Pityriasis...
BACKGROUND
Acute urticaria is urticaria with or without angioedema that is present for less than six weeks, while chronic urticaria is present for more than six weeks. Pityriasis lichenoides (PL) is a benign cutaneous inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Acute PL typically resolves within a few weeks, while chronic PL lasts several months. The skin rash of PL may resemble the rash of other conditions, so the distinction is essential and depends on history and physical examination and is confirmed by skin biopsy.
CASE REPORT
A 64-year-old gentleman presented with seven days history of generalized itchy skin (hives). Individual lesions last 24-48 hours and do not leave pigmentation or scarring. No systemic involvement. No specific triggers, with two previous similar episodes 30 years and 20 years ago. Levocetirizine, 5 mg tablet, was prescribed, and he was instructed to increase the dose to 4 tablets daily if needed. On reassessing the patient after ten days, he did not respond well. The rash was different from the initial one, with individual lesions lasting for five days or more, so he was referred to a dermatologist for a skin biopsy. Basic investigations were normal. Performing skin biopsy is needed to exclude other pathologies. Skin biopsy showed pathological changes of lichenoid dermatitis compatible with pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA). He has been treated with azithromycin 250 mg daily for three weeks with rapid and complete resolution without scaring.
CONCLUSION
Urticarial rash may mimic the skin rash of other conditions. Detailed serial history and physical examination are warranted to exclude other diagnoses. Skin biopsy is needed when diagnosing conditions other than urticaria are suspected.
PubMed: 38025325
DOI: 10.5339/qmj.2023.sqac.7 -
The Eurasian Journal of Medicine Oct 2023
PubMed: 37887072
DOI: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2023.23026 -
Journal Der Deutschen Dermatologischen... Dec 2023
Topics: Humans; Pityriasis Lichenoides; Methotrexate; Nail Diseases; Nails, Malformed; Pityriasis
PubMed: 37847905
DOI: 10.1111/ddg.15253 -
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology Jan 2024Diagnosis of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) is based on the characteristic pattern of lesions in different stages of development, ranging from...
Diagnosis of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) is based on the characteristic pattern of lesions in different stages of development, ranging from erythematous maculopapules to papules with a crusted and/or necrotic centre. However, it may raise the differential diagnosis with other entities. It is therefore not uncommon to have to perform skin biopsies to reach a diagnosis, including in infants. In this study, we report the cases of three patients with PLEVA, highlighting the correlations between the clinical, dermoscopic and histological features. Observation of the dermatoscopic findings described, such as punctate or glomerular vessels and erythematous globules surrounding a homogeneous orange or crusty central area, may allow for a rapid diagnosis, avoiding the need for invasive techniques.
Topics: Infant; Humans; Pityriasis Lichenoides; Dermoscopy; Skin; Diagnosis, Differential
PubMed: 37847066
DOI: 10.1093/ced/llad350