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Objective: Determine the characteristics of pruritus in a selected population of patients with positive hepatitis C virus serology., Patients and Methods: In a retrospective study, we re-examined outpatient reports for patients who consulted for pruritus from January 1993 to April 1996 and were followed in a hepatology unit for hepatitis C infection. The following data were collected: age, sex, risk factors, HIV and HBV serologies, duration of pruritus and diagnosis, ALAT, gamma GT and total bilirubin, METAVIR score, HCV RNA PCR, search for cryoglobulins, antiviral and dermatology treatments. There were 1,060 patients followed in the hepatology unit during this period, including 327 with cirrhosis., Results: Twenty-seven patients were retained for study, 16 men and 11 women, mean age 53 years. None of the patients had HIV infection, 7 had a past history of hepatitis B infection (positive for anti-Hbc antibodies). Median duration of pruritus prior to consultation was 3 months (95 p. 100 CI: 3 months-2 years). Pruritus was associated with non-specific lesion in 19 cases (70 p. 100: 95 p. 100 CI: 51-85 p. 100). There were excoriated eczema-like lesions in 11 cases (41 p. 100: 95 p. 100 CI: 15-49 p. 100). Other causes were urticaria in 5 cases (18 p. 100: 95 p. 100 CI: 7-36 p. 100), including 1 case of urticarial vasculitis with cryoglobulinemia, 2 cases with atopic dermatitis, and 1 case of primary biliary cirrhosis. In four cases, lichen planus was associated. Skin biopsies were obtained in 10 patients and showed eczema-like alterations in 9 and urticarial vasculitis in 1. Mean ALAT and gamma GT levels were 2.6 N (95 p. 100 CI: 1.9 N-3.3 N) and 2.2 N (95 p. 100 CI: 1.4 N-3 N) respectively, including 11 cases without cholestasis (normal gamma Gt). PCR was positive in 13 cases out of 15. Cryoglobulinemia was found in 10 cases out of 24. At consultation, 3 patients were given ursolvan, 7 interferon, 1 ursolvan with ribavirin, and 3 an interferon-ribavirin combination. Dermatology treatment associated antihistamine agents, emollients, and corticosteroids. This population of hepatology patients referred for pruritus comprised 2.5 p. 100 of all patients (95 p. 100 CI: 1.7-3.6 p. 100). Among them, 1.8 p. 100 (95 p. 100 CI: 1.1-2.7 p. 100) had eczema-like lesions associated with cutaneous xerosis., Discussion: Pruritus in our patient population was generally associated with non-specific excoriations, prurigo or xerosis in 19 cases (70 p. 100). As only ambulatory patients were retained for analysis, this is not a comprehensive population and the percentage of non-specific pruritus, evaluated at 1.8 p. 100, is probably an underestimation. Cholestasis cannot explain alone these manifestations since 11 patients had normal gamma GT levels. Several etiologies could be involved: a direct effect of HCV, interferon. A prospective study should allow an estimation of frequency, risk factors and possible impact on quality of life.

Objectives: To describe muco-cutaneous manifestations of dengue fever, assessing their incidence and histopathological aspects., Patients and Methods: During a dengue 2 epidemic, occurring in Guadeloupe in 1994, all patients admitted with a confirmed diagnostic of dengue fever were assessed for dermatological changes by 2 clinicians; 5 patients underwent skin biopsy with immuno-fluorescence staining., Results: Among 39 adult inpatients (Sex ratio 1.1, medium age 41 years) none presented a severe form of the disease, whereas 18/39 (46 p. 100) had some muco-cutaneous changes, associating rash (13 cases (33 p. 100)), mucous membranes involvement (7 cases (18 p. 100)), or minor haemorrhages (6 cases (15 p. 100)). The rash appeared macular, discrete, itching, troncular with peripheral extension, rather than maculo-papular (morbiliform) as usually described. Apart from cases which minor haemorrhagic changes, significatively associated with marked thrombocytopenia (medium 37 x 10(9)/1), dengue cases either with or without muco-cutaneous changes had similar clinical (duration, severity) or biological (neutro-lympho-thrombocytopenia, transaminases) features, and evolution. Histological changes appeared non specific (minor lymphocytic dermal vasculitis, non contributive immuno-fluorescence)., Discussion: Clinical and histological features of the rash are unspecific and inconstant: they do not allow an easy and accurate diagnosis. Complete clinical, epidemiological (very recent travel in endemic areas) or biological data should be collected, and early virological or later serological confirmation is needed. As well as travel facilities are growing, the dengue area is extending: dengue fever should therefore be considered in every traveller with fever and rash.

Introduction: Congenital rubella, which should disappear with widespread vaccination and mandatory obstetrical care, can occur as a purpuric eruption in the newborn. We report a case of blueberry muffin baby., Case Report: An infant delivered after an "uneventful" pregnancy presented a generalized "purpuric" eruption and had axial hypotonia. Histology of a biopsy showed evidence of cutaneous erythropoiesis. The complete workup led to the diagnosis of congenital rubella., Discussion: Cutaneous erythropoiesis is a well defined clinical and histological entity. There are several causes including infection and hematology disorders. Metastasis of a neuroblastoma, which must be eliminated by early biopsy, is the main differential diagnosis., Conclusion: Blueberry muffin rash is never idiopathic. The prognosis depends on the cause. Physicians should remember that congenital rubella has not yet been completely eradicated in France.

Introduction: The prevalence of mucocutaneous herpetic infection is especially high in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In these patients, 8 p. 100 of the chronic or recurrent herpetic lesions are due to a mutant strain., Case Report: A case of very large (900 cm2) genital chronic herpetic infection is reported in a patient with AIDS (stade C3-CDC/WHO 1993). It was characterised by an acyclovir resistant strain which emerged after several anterior treatment with acyclovir. A treatment with foscarnet was administered and clinical improvement was observed as early as the fourth day, with complete reepithelialization 50 days later., Discussion: We discussed essentially the pathogenicity of the herpetic infections due to mutant strains in immunocompromised patients and on the therapeutic modalities. At the present time, foscarnet is the treatment of choice for acyclovir-resistant mucocutaneous herpes simplex.

Introduction: Skin lesions induced by cytomegalovirus are rare and usually non-characteristic., Case Report: A 32-year-old women with AIDS developed about twenty unpainful ulceronecrotic lesions on the extension aspect of the members and the trunk. Histology examination and in situ hybridization favoured cytomegalovirus infection of the skin., Discussion: Despite the exceptional nature of this case, this particular clinical presentation should be recognized as it could be useful for early diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in immunodepressed subjects.