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Background: Urticarial vasculitis (UV) should be differentiated from chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in patients initially presenting with recurrent wheals, although criteria for differential diagnosis remain ill‐defined. Objectives: To set the goals, define criteria and unmet needs in UV diagnosis and differential diagnosis with CSU, and explore the possibility of coexistence of both diseases. Methods: Thirteen experts experienced in UV research participated in a Delphi survey of European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology taskforce. This Delphi survey involved three rounds of anonymous responses to n = 32 questions with the aim to aggregate the experts' opinions and to achieve consensus. Urticaria specialists (n = 130, most from Urticaria Centers of Reference and Excellence) evaluated the consensus statements and recommendations in the fourth and final round. Results: The panel agreed that essential criteria to guide a skin biopsy in patients with recurrent wheals should include at least one of the following features: wheal duration >24 h, bruising/postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, and systemic symptoms. Leukocytoclasia and fibrin deposits were identified as a minimum set of UV histological criteria. As agreed by the panel members, CSU and normocomplementemic UV (NUV) may coexist in some patients. Conclusions: The use of established criteria for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of UV in patients with recurrent wheals can help guide the diagnostic approach and prompt earlier treatment. Further studies should investigate whether CSU and NUV are different entities or part of a disease spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: Background and objective: Dermatophyte infections of the skin and nails are common worldwide and vary between geographical areas and over time. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological profile of dermatophytes in Germany with a focus on comparing children with adults. Patients and methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, mycological dermatophyte culture results in the period 01/2014 to 12/2016 were analyzed according to identified pathogen, age and gender of patients, and type of disease. Results: Of 1,136 infections (children: n = 88, adults: n = 1,048), 50.8 % were clinically classified as onychomycosis, followed by tinea pedis (34.6 %), tinea corporis (16.2 %), tinea manus (16.2 %), tinea capitis (2.5 %), and tinea faciei (1.2 %). The most frequent pathogen was Trichophyton (T.) rubrum (78.6 %), followed by T. interdigitale (14.3 %), T. benhamiae (3.2 %), T. mentagrophytes (2.1 %), and Microsporum canis (1.7 %). The fungal spectrum differed particularly in tinea corporis and tinea capitis between children and adults with a more diverse pathogen spectrum in children. Trichophyton tonsurans was rarely identified as cause for tinea corporis (2.7 %) or tinea capitis (3.3 %). Conclusions: Differences in pathogens and frequency of fungal infections between age groups should be considered for optimal selection of the appropriate therapeutic regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Para‐phenylenediamine, a dye frequently added to henna tattoos to create the black color, is a potent contact allergen. Severe contact dermatitis may arise within days even after the first application. Our objective was to develop a method for rapid and complete removal of para‐phenylenediamine‐containing black henna tattoos from the skin, an important problem many physicians are confronted with, but for which no simple method exists. Methods: A database search revealed polyethylene glycol 400, described in removal of ortho‐phenylenediamine from contaminated skin. We therefore investigated its use in removal of the structurally related ortholog para‐phenylenediamine present in black henna tattoos. Results: A protocol was established involving repeated cycles of rinsing of the skin with polyethylene glycol 400 solution. In 5 patients, one of whom had already developed a severe blistering contact dermatitis and another a mild erosive dermatitis, black henna tattoos were successfully removed. Removal was completed in a single session of 1 hour or less, depending on tattoo size, with a maximum of 6 rinse cycles. Conclusions: We provide a simple and safe method for rapid and effective removal of black henna tattoos. This procedure requires no special equipment and can be applied in virtually any setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a group of genetic diseases characterized by recurrent, painful and potentially lethal tissue swelling. The most common form results from mutations in the SERPING1 gene, leading to reduced function of complement 1 inhibitor (C1‐INH). Rarer forms with normal C1‐INH may arise from mutations in the coagulation factor F12 gene, but mostly the genetic background is unknown. Recently, a novel HAE mutation in the plasminogen (PLG) gene was shown. Patients and methods: We analyzed the various clinical manifestations of HAE in 14 related patients using clinical data, biochemical analysis for C1‐INH and C4 as well as gene sequencing. Results: Patients' symptoms were assigned to two different forms of HAE. In ten patients suffering from swelling of the lips or tongue but not of the extremities, a mutation in the PLG gene (c.988A>G) was found whereas in the only four patients with swelling of the gastrointestinal tract and extremities, a mutation in the SERPING1 gene (c.1480C>T) was identified. In two cases this was additional to PLG c.988A>G. Conclusions: This unique finding of two different HAE‐specific mutations in a large family not only explains the divergent phenotypes but also supports a genotype‐phenotype correlation showing that abdominal attacks and swelling of the extremities are common with HAE‐C1‐INH but unusual with HAE‐PLG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: Background and objectives: Proper management of infantile scabies is indispensable in order to prevent prolonged duration and spread of the disease. Data are still lacking that support topical treatment with permethrin 5 % cream in infants under two months of age, and application remains off‐label for this age group. Patients and methods: We identified infants younger than two months who suffered from scabies in order to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical treatment with permethrin cream in this age group. Diagnosis of scabies was based on the typical symptoms and pathognomonic features as determined with dermoscopy. We analyzed the efficacy and safety of the therapies that were applied. Results: Seven scabies patients under two months of age were treated with permethrin 5 % cream. Topical therapy was repeated up to three times in four patients due to incomplete resolution or recurrence of skin lesions. Conclusions: Permethrin therapy was well tolerated in all seven infants, even when conducted several times. Our results confirm that the use of permethrin 5 % cream in children younger than two months of age is safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmune bullous skin disorders are induced by autoantibodies against distinct adhesion complexes of the epidermal and dermal-epidermal junction. Since most of these disorders are characterized by a severe, potentially lethal course,they require long-term immunosuppressive treatment to reduce the de novo synthesis of pathogenic autoantibodies by B lymphocytes. Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against CD20 on B lymphocytes, has shown promise in several case reports or cohort studies in the treatment of paraneo-plastic pemphigus,refractory cases of pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus and in other autoimmune bullous disorders.Treatment with rituximab leads to depletion of pathogenic B-cells which may last up to 12 months resulting in a reduction of plasma cells secreting pathogenic autoantibodies.Rituximab is usually administered in an adjuvant setting at a dose of 375 mg/m2 i.v.in weekly intervals for four consecutive weeks in addition to the standard immunosuppressive treatment.The present consensus statement of German-speaking derma-tologists,rheumatologists and oncologists summarizes and evaluates the current evidence for the use and mode of application of rituximab in autoimmune bullous skin disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mast cells are important players in innate immunity and mediate allergic responses. Upon stimulation, they release biologically active mediators including histamine, cytokines and lysosomal hydrolases. We used permeabilized rat basophilic leukaemia cells as model to identify R-SNAREs (soluble NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein)) mediating exocytosis of hexosaminidase from mast cells. Of a complete set of recombinant mammalian R-SNAREs, only vesicle associated membrane protein (VAMP8)/endobrevin consistently blocked hexosaminidase release, which was also insensitive to treatment with clostridial neurotoxins. Thus, VAMP8, which also mediates fusion of late endosomes and lysosomes, plays a major role in hexosaminidase release, strengthening the view that mast cell granules share properties of both secretory granules and lysosomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lippert U, Zachmann K, Henz BM, Neumann C. Human T lymphocytes and mast cells differentially express and regulate extra- and intracellular CXCR1 and CXCR2. CXCL8 plays a major role in cell recruitment to sites of inflammation. Apart from neutrophils, little is known, however, about the cellular distribution and regulation of CXCL8 receptors in cells involved in acquired and adaptive immune responses. In previous studies, we have demonstrated the extracellular expression and function of CXCR1/2 on mast cells and also detected an intracellular pool of CXCR1/2. Here, we have addressed the question of receptor regulation during stimulation of human mast cells (HMC-1 cell line) and have studied T cells in comparison. Cell permeabilization was performed to detect both surface and possible intracellular receptor pools. HMC-1 cells stained positive for both receptors on the cell surface (CXCR1, 50%; CXCR2, 51%) and also after cell permeabilization (CXCR1, 86%; CXCR2, 74%). Similarly, T cells exhibited both cell-surface receptor expression (CXCR1, 30%; CXCR2, 23%) and higher total receptor expression (CXCR1, 50%; CXCR2, 36%), although overall values were lower than that in HMC-1 cells. On immunoblot, molecular weights of extra- and intracellular receptors on mast cells were the same, excluding altered receptor glycosylation. On stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore, a time-dependent decrease of surface-membrane receptors was observed in both cell types, while total receptor remained the same, suggesting that receptor shedding is not involved. The kinetics of membrane receptor internalization and replenishment differed for the two cell types. Furthermore, receptor internalization was associated with decreased F-actin polymerization, a basic prerequisite for cell migration. These findings demonstrate for the first time the expression of extra- and intracellular CXCR1/2 receptors on T cells and delineate the dynamics of CXCR1/2 receptors on mast cells and T cells. Furthermore, they suggest a cell-type-specific and finely tuned regulation of chemokine responses at the receptor level in the context of inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ständer S, Moormann C, Schumacher M, Buddenkotte J, Artuc M, Shpacovitch V, Brzoska T, Lippert U, Henz BM, Luger TA, Metze D, Steinhoff M. Expression of vanilloid receptor subtype 1 in cutaneous sensory nerve fibers, mast cells and epithelial cells of appendage structures. The vanilloid receptor subtype 1 (VR1)/(TRPV1), binding capsaicin, is a non-selective cation channel that recently has been shown in human keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo. However, a description of VR1 localization in other cutaneous compartments in particular cutaneous nerve fibers is still lacking. We therefore investigated VR1 immunoreactivity as well as mRNA and protein expression in a series ( n = 26) of normal ( n = 7), diseased ( n = 13) [prurigo nodularis (PN) ( n = 10), generalized pruritus ( n = 1), and mastocytosis ( n = 2)], and capsaicin-treated human skin ( n = 6). VR1 immunoreactivity could be observed in cutaneous sensory nerve fibers, mast cells, epidermal keratinocytes, dermal blood vessels, the inner root sheet and the infundibulum of hair follicles, differentiated sebocytes, sweat gland ducts, and the secretory portion of eccrine sweat glands. Upon reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, VR1 was detected in mast cells and keratinocytes from human skin. In pruritic skin of PN, VR1 expression was highly increased in epidermal keratinocytes and nerve fibers, which was normalized after capsaicin application. During capsaicin therapy, a reduction of neuropeptides (substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide) was observed. After cessation of capsaicin therapy, neuropeptides re-accumulated in skin nerves. In conclusion, VR1 is widely distributed in the skin, suggesting a major role for this receptor, e.g. in nociception and neurogenic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary An 11-month-old boy was brought to our clinic with superinfected, sharply-defined, symmetrical, erythematous macules and vesicles, some with yellowish-brownish crusts, on the cheeks, fingers, and in the diaper region. The suspected impetigo contagiosa had failed to respond to both topical antiseptic therapy and systemic antibiotics. Because of the unusual clinical picture and course, we measured the serum zinc level. A significantly reduced level of 2 μmol/l (normal range 9.2-18.4 μmol/l) was identified. Initial skin lesions had appeared one week after weaning (5th week after birth). Since the age of 8 months the infant had also had recurrent diarrhea. Two weeks after zinc-histidine substitution, the diarrhea ceased and skin lesions slowly disappeared. Molecular genetic testing for the SLC39A4 (zinc transporter) gene revealed compound heterozygosity for the previously unidentified mutations c.1465_1474+4del (p.?) and c.295G>A (p.Ala99Thr). The parents are healthy heterozygous gene carriers. The same compound heterozygosity was later detected in the newborn brother of our patient shortly after birth. A zinc deficiency could therefore be identified and treated before symptoms occurred. The inherited autosomal recessive zinc transporter deficiency is termed acrodermatitis enteropathica. Lifelong zinc substitution is recommended. A differential diagnosis can be difficult because bacterial and fungal superinfection is common in zinc deficiency. Precise diagnosis requires testing family members for the gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically disrupts health care around the globe. The impact of the pandemic on chronic urticaria (CU) and its management are largely unknown., Aim: To understand how CU patients are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; how specialists alter CU patient management; and the course of CU in patients with COVID-19., Materials and Methods: Our cross-sectional, international, questionnaire-based, multicenter UCARE COVID-CU study assessed the impact of the pandemic on patient consultations, remote treatment, changes in medications, and clinical consequences., Results: The COVID-19 pandemic severely impairs CU patient care, with less than 50% of the weekly numbers of patients treated as compared to before the pandemic. Reduced patient referrals and clinic hours were the major reasons. Almost half of responding UCARE physicians were involved in COVID-19 patient care, which negatively impacted on the care of urticaria patients. The rate of face-to-face consultations decreased by 62%, from 90% to less than half, whereas the rate of remote consultations increased by more than 600%, from one in 10 to more than two thirds. Cyclosporine and systemic corticosteroids, but not antihistamines or omalizumab, are used less during the pandemic. CU does not affect the course of COVID-19, but COVID-19 results in CU exacerbation in one of three patients, with higher rates in patients with severe COVID-19., Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic brings major changes and challenges for CU patients and their physicians. The long-term consequences of these changes, especially the increased use of remote consultations, require careful evaluation., (© 2020 The Authors. Allergy published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)