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Background: Psoriasis, a chronic, inflammatory skin disease, requires long-term therapy. Risankizumab is a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that specifically inhibits interleukin 23 by binding to its p19 subunit., Objective: The authors assessed the efficacy and safety of risankizumab compared with methotrexate in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis., Methods: IMMbrace was a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled study. Patients received subcutaneous risankizumab 150 mg at weeks 0, 4, and 16 plus oral placebo weekly, or oral methotrexate 5 mg weekly (with dose escalation up to 25 mg based on response and tolerability) plus subcutaneous placebo at weeks 0, 4, and 16. Primary efficacy endpoints were the proportions of patients who achieved ≥ 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI90) and static Physician's Global Assessment of clear/almost clear (sPGA 0/1) at week 28. Safety was also assessed., Results: Among 98 patients randomized (risankizumab, n = 50; methotrexate, n = 48), 95 completed the double-blind period. At week 28, significantly higher proportions of patients treated with risankizumab versus methotrexate achieved PASI90 (84.0% vs. 35.4%; p < 0.001); sPGA 0/1 was achieved by 90.0% and 64.6% of patients in the risankizumab and methotrexate groups (p ≤ 0.001). Risankizumab efficacy was maintained throughout week 112. Adverse event rates were similar in the two groups., Study Limitations: The sample size was small due to the difficulty of recruiting patients without methotrexate use., Conclusions: Risankizumab demonstrated superior efficacy over methotrexate at week 28; efficacy was maintained, and no new safety findings were observed through week 112., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest Dr. Cestari has served as a speaker, consultant, and/or investigator for AbbVie, Janssen‐Cilag, La Roche‐Posay, LEO Pharma, Novartis, Pierre‐Fabre, and Vichy. Dr. da Silva Souza has served as a consultant and/or investigator for AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen‐Cilag, LEO Pharma, and Novartis. Dr. Azulay-Abulafia has served as a consultant and/or investigator for AbbVie, Janssen‐Cilag, LEO Pharma, Lilly, Novartis, and Pfizer. Dr. Romiti has served as a consultant, speaker, and/or investigator for AbbVie, Bioderma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Galderma, Janssen‐Cilag, LEO Pharma, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB. Dr. Carvalho has served as a consultant, speaker, and/or investigator for AbbVie, AMGEN, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, Janssen‐Cilag, LEO Pharma, Lilly, and Novartis. Dr. de Castro has served as a consultant, speaker, and/or investigator for AbbVie, Janssen, Novartis, and Pfizer. Dr. Marques has served as a local investigator and received grants/research funding from Janssen. Dr. Antonio has served as a speaker and principal investigator for AbbVie, Janssen, and Novartis. Dr. Fabrício has served as a speaker for Abbott, AbbVie, Bayer, Bioderma, Biolab, Boticário, Galderma, Hypermarcas, Isdin, Janssen, La Roche‐Posay, LEO Pharma, Pfizer, and Stiefel/GSK, and has received sponsorship for scientific events from Abbott, AbbVie, Bayer, Bioderma, Galderma, Isdin, Janssen, La Roche‐Posay, LEO Pharma, MSD, Novartis, and Pfizer. He has participated in advisory boards for Bayer, Janssen, La Roche‐Posay, LEO Pharma, and MSD. Dr. Soliman, Dr. Wu, Dr. Sinvhal, Dr. Stakias, Dr. Song, and Dr. Kalabic are employees of AbbVie and may hold AbbVie stock, stock options, and/or patents. Dr. Martin is a former employee of AbbVie. Dr. Oyafuso has served as a consultant and/or investigator for AbbVie, Janssen‐Cilag, and Novartis., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Nail disorders are frequently a challenge to diagnose correctly only based on clinical findings. Moreover, biopsies may leave scars due to damage to the nail matrix. Currently, high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) with probes >15 MHz is the first-choice imaging technique to study the nail. Compared with other imaging tests such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, HFUS has the advantage of high-resolution imaging of the nail apparatus without exposure to radiation, contrast media, and the risk of claustrophobia of these other expensive imaging methods. Notably, the axial spatial resolution of HFUS is higher than computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging; therefore, it can better discriminate the anatomical alterations. Our objective is to review the main applications of HFUS of the nail through literature analysis and illustration of cases of the most frequent pathologies found in our experience, exemplifying why, how, and when HFUS could help diagnose nail diseases., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Isotretinoin has been used in the treatment of acne for decades through the reduction of sebaceous secretion. There are reports in the literature that isotretinoin may be associated with decreased skin thickness, especially in patients with thick nasal skin for whom rhinoplasty can be more challenging. The objective of this study was to quantify, through ultrasonography, the effect of the use of oral isotretinoin in patients undergoing rhinoplasty, pre- and postoperatively., Methods: Twenty-four patients participated in this randomized, single-blind controlled pilot clinical trial. The intervention group used oral isotretinoin (20 mg/day) for 2 months before rhinoplasty and for 4 months after. Both groups underwent rhinoplasty in the same plastic surgery department and were submitted to high-frequency (22 MHz) ultrasound evaluation of the epidermis and dermis on the nasal dorsum, nasal tip, and left nose wing at the beginning of the study and 6 months after rhinoplasty, with the aim of assessing changes in skin thickness., Results: Six months after rhinoplasty, a statistically significant reduction was observed in the thickness of the epidermis and dermis of the nasal dorsum and left nose wing, as well as of the epidermis of the nasal tip, but only in the intervention group. The results of the satisfaction questionnaire were better after rhinoplasty in both groups, with no statistical difference between them regarding the specific questions; however, the intervention group had significantly higher satisfaction scores than the control group., Conclusions: Isotretinoin was effective in reducing the thickness of the skin covering the nose of the evaluated sites., (© 2023 the International Society of Dermatology.)

This publication is an update of the "Consensus on the therapeutic management of atopic dermatitis - Brazilian Society of Dermatology" published in 2019, considering the novel, targeted-oriented systemic therapies for atopic dermatitis. The initial recommendations of the current consensus for systemic treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis were based on a recent review of scientific published data and a consensus was reached after voting. The Brazilian Society of Dermatology invited 31 experts from all regions of Brazil and 2 international experts on atopic dermatitis who fully contributed to the process. The methods included an e-Delphi study to avoid bias, a literature search and a final consensus meeting. The authors added novel approved drugs in Brazil and the indication for phototherapy and systemic therapy for AD. The therapeutical response to systemic treatment is hereby reported in a suitable form for clinical practice and is also part of this updated manuscript., (Copyright © 2023 Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is an autoimmune disease with several clinical presentations. The chronic form predominantly presents as discoid rashes but may present with less common morphological findings that can sometimes make diagnosis difficult. Comedonic lupus is a rare and underdiagnosed variant, with unknown etiology and still poorly defined treatment., Methods: The report illustrates a series of five cases of patients diagnosed with comedonic lupus, and it reviews 18 cases previously published in the literature., Results: The clinical presentation is of comedonal lesions, mostly located on the face, making a differential diagnosis with other benign conditions such as acne vulgaris, Favre-Racouchot syndrome, and syringoma, emphasizing the importance of clinical practice and histopathology for diagnostic confirmation., Conclusions: There is scarcity in the literature regarding the condition and therapeutic possibilities for these cases of comedonic lupus., (© 2023 the International Society of Dermatology.)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Of all the therapeutic options available in Dermatology, few of them have the history, effectiveness, and safety of phototherapy. Heliotherapy, NB-UVB, PUVA, and UVA1 are currently the most common types of phototherapy used. Although psoriasis is the most frequent indication, it is used for atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and cutaneous sclerosis, among others. Before indicating phototherapy, a complete patient assessment should be performed. Possible contraindications should be actively searched for and it is essential to assess whether the patient can come to the treatment center at least twice a week. One of the main method limitations is the difficulty that patients have to attend the sessions. This therapy usually occurs in association with other treatments: topical or systemic medications. Maintaining the regular monitoring of the patient is essential to identify and treat possible adverse effects. Phototherapy is recognized for its benefits and should be considered whenever possible., (Copyright © 2021 Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Polymorphisms of the filaggrin 2 gene (rs 12568784 and rs 16899374) are associated with persistent atopic dermatitis in African American patients. Filaggrin 2 is a protein with a function similar to filaggrin and also encoded in the epidermal differentiation complex on chromosome 1q21., Objective: To evaluate the polymorphisms in the filaggrin 2 gene (rs 12568784 and rs 16899374) in children and adults with atopic dermatitis and to verify the association of these with the severity of the clinical picture, presence of other allergic diseases, and socio-demographic factors., Method: The study was carried out with patients and control group. Questionnaires were used to evaluate ethnicity, sex, age, family history, scoring, atopic dermatitis (SCORAD), among other parameters. Genotyping of the filaggrin 2 gene was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction., Results: Forty-eight patients and 83 controls were evaluated. No correlation was found between the variables studied in patients with atopic dermatitis and polymorphisms, no significant difference between the prevalence of polymorphisms in the patients and in the control group p>0.05., Study Limits: The exclusive use of self-reported ethnicity information and the sample size., Results: The results of this work can be an incentive for the study of the polymorphisms in atopic dermaititis, considering the characteristic of the Brazilian multi ethnic population., Conclusion: This is an unpublished work in Brazil and the first study in the world to have a control group to evaluate alterations in the gene of filaggrin 2., (Copyright © 2020 Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder that affects approximately 0.5-2% of the world's population, and 25% of cases begin before 10 years of age. Although prevalent, there are few studies on the characterization of childhood vitiligo., Objective: To evaluate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of childhood vitiligo., Methods: Transverse study conducted by reviewing data records of patients under the age of 18 in which disease onset occurred before 13 years of age., Results: Predominance of females (62%). The most common subtype was generalized vitiligo (53.8%). The average age of disease onset was 5.9 years. The most affected initial site was head/neck (44.22%). The Koebner phenomenon was present in 38.2%, emotional triggering factors in 67.0% of the patients, halo nevus in 17.4%, and associated autoimmune disease in 6.5% of the patients. Family history of vitiligo was observed in 16.9% of the patients, and stability was reported by 20.1% of patients. The presence of positive family history did not significantly influence the age of onset. We found a significant difference between segmental vitiligo (SV) and nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV) regarding the age of onset, Koebner phenomenon, hypothyroidism, anti-TPO antibodies, family history of psoriasis, and halo nevus., Conclusion: Childhood vitiligo has its own characteristics. Vitiligo different subtypes have distinct characteristics. Our study presents a great number of patients, helping to elucidate the peculiarities of childhood vitiligo in the Brazilian population., (© 2019 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Introduction: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated, chronic, inflammatory disease, which has a substantial humanistic and economic burden. This study aimed to assess the impact of this disease on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity, and direct and indirect costs from a societal perspective among Brazilian patients., Methods: This is a cross-sectional, observational, multicenter study, enrolling patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis according to physician evaluation. Data collection was performed from December 2015 to November 2016 through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire and five standardized patient-reported outcomes instruments. Direct costs were estimated by multiplying the amount of resources used (12-month recall period) by the corresponding unit cost. Indirect costs were grouped in two time horizons: annual costs (income reduction and absenteeism) and lifetime costs (demission and early retirement)., Results: A total of 188 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were included, with mean age of 48.0 (SD 13.1). "Anxiety and depression" and "pain and discomfort" were the most impaired dimensions, according to the EuroQol Five-Dimension-Three-Level (EQ-5D-3L). The highest effect was found for "symptoms and feelings" [mean (SD) 2.4 (1.7)] Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) subscale. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) presence and biologic-naïve status were associated with worse HRQoL. Presenteeism was more frequent than absenteeism, according to the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire-General Health (WPAI-GH) [17.4% vs. 6.3%], while physical demands and time management were the most affected Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) subscales [means (SD) 23.5 (28.5) and 17.7 (24.9), respectively]. The estimated annual cost per patient was USD 4034. Direct medical costs accounted for 87.7% of this estimate, direct non-medical costs for 2.4%, and indirect costs for 9.9%., Conclusions: Results evidenced that moderate to severe plaque psoriasis imposes substantial costs to society. Our data showed that this disease negatively affects both work productivity and HRQoL of Brazilian patients. Subgroups with PsA and biologic-naïve patients presented lower HRQoL, showing the impact of this comorbidity and the relevance of biologics in psoriasis treatment., Funding: Novartis Biociências S.A.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects 1.3% of the Brazilian population. The most common clinical manifestations are erythematous, scaling lesions that affect both genders and can occur on any anatomical site, preferentially involving the knees, elbows, scalp and genitals. Besides the impact on the quality of life, the systemic nature of the disease makes psoriasis an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, especially in young patients with severe disease. By an initiative of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, dermatologists with renowned clinical experience in the management of psoriasis were invited to form a work group that, in a partnership with the Brazilian Medical Association, dedicated themselves to create the Plaque Psoriasis Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines. The relevant issues for the diagnosis (evaluation of severity and comorbidities) and treatment of plaque psoriasis were defined. The issues generated a search strategy in the Medline-PubMed database up to July 2018. Subsequently, the answers to the questions of the recommendations were devised, and each reference selected presented the respective level of recommendation and strength of scientific evidence. The final recommendations for making up the final text were worded by the coordinators.

Interest has increased in comorbidities associated with psoriasis and their effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to investigate HRQoL and the prevalence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity and dyslipidemia. In a cross-sectional design, patients diagnosed with plaque psoriasis answered an interview and standardized questionnaires (Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire [DLQI], 36-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-36] and EuroQol Five-Dimension Questionnaire Three-Level version [EQ-5D-3L]). Physical examination and several tests to assess desired outcomes were performed by a dermatologist and a rheumatologist during three visits. The prevalence of MetS and PsA was 50.0% and 41.8%, respectively. Dyslipidemia was the most prevalent (74.5%) secondary comorbidity, followed by hypertension (61.8%), obesity (52.5%) and T2DM (30.9%). The mean (standard deviation) DLQI score was 6.5 (6.9), and mean physical and mental SF-36 measures were 45.2 (10.4) and 45.5 (12.3), respectively, and for EQ-5D-3L, mean utility index and EQ-VAS scores were 0.68 (0.27) and 72.7 (19.7), respectively. PsA and MetS are important comorbidities; a reduced HRQoL is noted among plaque psoriasis patients with these comorbidities, emphasizing the relevance of diagnosis and treatment beyond the care of skin lesions., (© 2018 AbbVie Farmaceutica Ltda. The Journal of Dermatology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Pustular, erythrodermic, and extensive plaque psoriasis are responsible for systemic complications. Systemic capillary leak syndrome is the complication with greater progression to death and occurs due to vascular changes., Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate vascular changes through the expression of CD34 and ICAM-1 in plaque, pustular, and erythrodermic psoriasis., Methods: The sample consisted of seven patients with erythrodermic psoriasis, 24 with moderate-severe plaque psoriasis, 14 with mild plaque psoriasis and 13 with pustular psoriasis. Patients were submitted to physical examination and skin biopsy for histopathological examination and immunohistochemical analysis with anti-CD34 and anti-ICAM-1 antibodies. Subsequently, tissue fragments were organized by groups using the Tissue Macroarray (TMA) technique to perform immunohistochemistry., Results: In 58 patients, analysis of vessels using anti-CD34 demonstrated vascular immunostaining in superficial dermis and between dermal papillae. There were more blood vessels in erythrodermic psoriasis, followed by plaque psoriasis. In erythrodermic psoriasis, there were small and few tortuous blood vessels with great dilatation, while plaque psoriasis presented larger vessels that were less dilated and more tortuous. There was an intense and localized expression of ICAM-1 in endothelial and lymphocytic cells in all groups, with significant differences., Conclusions: Vascular alterations are important in psoriasis, with an increase in the number of blood vessels and ICAM-1 overexpression, especially in erythrodermic form. Therefore, vascular changes and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecules could help to diagnose the erythrodermic form of psoriasis., (© 2018 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Psoriasis is a chronic disease, characterized by erythematous scaly lesions, presented in eight different forms: plaques, guttate, pustular, erythrodermic, inverse, nail and scalp psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis. Its development depends on genetic factors, external stimulus and immune response alteration.1 Proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-12 and 23 may also be involved. In the worst cases, systemic complications linked to endothelial alterations may occur. A literature review was conducted for a better understanding of what roles VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule) have, among other cytokines, in systemic capillary leak syndrome, involved in erythrodermic and pustular psoriasis, the most unstable forms of the disease.

The term autoimmune/autoinflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) or Shoenfeld's syndrome refers to a wide group of immune-mediated diseases triggered by external agents. Several substances, such as vaccine adjuvants, squalene and silicone implants, are implied in the pathogenesis of ASIA syndrome. Treatment and prognosis of this complex condition are not completely known due to lack of good quality evidence. After a brief introductory literature review on ASIA, we report here two cases of patients that developed rapidly progressive systemic sclerosis clinical features after multiple intramuscular local injections of a substance recommended by a non-medical professional called ADE. ADE is an oily vitamin complex for veterinary use, and it was used in these cases for cosmetic muscular definition and enhancement purpose. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to describe the relation between injections of ADE and the development of ASIA with severe systemic sclerosis phenotype. Further investigation is needed to better understand the pathophysiology and to provide the basis for the treatment of this condition.

Objective: identify nursing diagnoses in patients with immune-bullous dermatosis., Method: a quantitative and descriptive research, carried out in three institutions located in Rio de Janeiro and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, using the Client Assessment Protocol in Dermatology during a nursing consultation. Simple descriptive statistics was used for data analysis., Results: 14 subjects participated in the study, nine with a diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus two and three of bullous pemphigoid. The age ranged between 27 and 82 years, predominantly females (11). 14 nursing diagnoses were discussed and identified from a clinical rationale in all study participants, representing the most common human responses in this sample. The application of the Assessment Protocol in Dermatology facilitated the comprehensive assessment, in addition to providing the identification of diagnostics according to the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International., Conclusion: the nursing diagnoses presented confirm the necessity of interdisciplinary work during the care for this clientele. For better description of the phenomena related to the client in question, it is suggested the inclusion of two risk factors related in three diagnoses of this taxonomy. It is worth noting the contribution of the findings for the care, education and research in nursing in dermatology., Objetivo: identificar diagnósticos de enfermagem em clientes com dermatoses imunobolhosas., Método: pesquisa quantitativa e descritiva, realizada em três instituições localizadas no Rio de Janeiro e no Mato Grosso do Sul-Brasil, aplicando o Protocolo de Avaliação do Cliente em Dermatologia, durante consulta de enfermagem. Utilizou-se a estatística descritiva simples para análise dos dados., Resultados: participaram do estudo 14 sujeitos, nove com diagnóstico médico de pênfigo vulgar, dois de foliáceo e três de penfigoide bolhoso. A idade variou entre 27 e 82 anos, predominando 11 pessoas do sexo feminino. Foram discutidos 14 diagnósticos de enfermagem identificados a partir do raciocínio clínico, em todos os participantes do estudo, representando as respostas humanas mais frequentes nesta amostra. A aplicação do Protocolo de Avaliação do Cliente em Dermatologia facilitou a avaliação integral, além de propiciar a identificação dos diagnósticos de acordo com a North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International., Conclusão: os diagnósticos de enfermagem apresentados ratificam a necessidade do trabalho interdisciplinar durante atendimento a esta clientela. Para melhor descrição dos fenômenos relacionados à clientela em questão, sugere-se a inclusão de dois fatores de risco/relacionados em três diagnósticos desta taxonomia. Cabe ressaltar a contribuição dos achados para o cuidar/educar/pesquisar em enfermagem em dermatologia., Objetivo: identificar los diagnósticos de enfermería en pacientes con inmuno dermatosis ampollosa., Método: investigación cuantitativa y descriptiva, realizada en tres instituciones ubicadas en Río de Janeiro y Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, utilizando el Protocolo de Evaluación del Cliente en Dermatología en la consulta de enfermería. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva simples para el análisis de datos., Resultados: 14 sujetos participaron en el estudio, nueve con diagnóstico de pénfigo vulgar, dos de pénfigo foliáceo y tres de penfigoide ampolloso. La edad osciló entre 27 y 82 años, predominio femenino con 11 mujeres. Se discutieron 14 diagnósticos de enfermería identificados desde el razonamiento clínico, en todos los participantes en el estudio, que representa las respuestas humanas más comunes en esta muestra. La aplicación del Protocolo de Evaluación de Dermatología facilitó la evaluación global, además de proporcionar la identificación de los diagnósticos de acuerdo con la North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International., Conclusión: los diagnósticos de enfermería presentados confirman la necesidad del trabajo interdisciplinario en el servicio a estos clientes. Para una mejor descripción de los fenómenos relacionados con los clientes en cuestión, se sugiere la inclusión de dos factores de riesgo/relacionados en tres diagnósticos de esta taxonomía. Vale la pena señalar la contribución de los hallazgos para el cuidado/educación/investigación en enfermería en dermatología.

Background: The current options for the treatment of acne vulgaris present many mechanisms of action. For several times, dermatologists try topical agents combinations, looking for better results., Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of a topical, fixed-dose combination of adapalene 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel for the treatment of acne vulgaris in the Brazilian population., Methods: This is a multicenter, open-label and interventionist study. Patients applied 1.0 g of the fixed-dose combination of adapalene 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel on the face, once daily at bedtime, during 12 weeks. Lesions were counted in all of the appointments, and the degree of acne severity, overall improvement, tolerability and safety were evaluated in each visit., Results: From 79 recruited patients, 73 concluded the study. There was significant, fast and progressive reduction of non-inflammatory, inflammatory and total number of lesions. At the end of the study, 75.3% of patients had a reduction of >50% in non-inflammatory lesions, 69.9% in inflammatory lesions and 78.1% in total number of lesions. Of the 73 patients, 71.2% had good to excellent response and 87.6% had satisfactory to good response. In the first week of treatment, erythema, burning, scaling and dryness of the skin were frequent complaints, but, from second week on, these signals and symptoms have reduced., Conclusion: The fixed-dose combination of adapalene 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel is effective, safe, well tolerated and apparently improves patient compliance with the treatment.

Background: Health care demand due to animal bites is frequent, especially in the emergency department (ED). In addition to the physical trauma caused by bites, one should be concerned with infectious diseases that can be transmitted. The range of the lesions depends on the animal species. Bites of Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (capybaras) in humans are relatively uncommon. Capybaras are docile animals; however, their large rodent incisive teeth could cause serious injury. Localized care, antibiotic therapy when necessary, careful examination of the structures, tetanus and rabies immunization as indicated, and follow-up are recommended for wild animal bites. The authors hereby describe and discuss the medical management of a case of multiple lesions from capybara bites on the right thigh of a man., Case Report: A 54-year-old male patient was admitted to the ED with a compression bandage soaked with blood after being bitten by a capybara. At the clinical examination, the patient had two lacerating wounds and multiple abrasions on the anterior face of the right thigh. Rabies prophylaxis was administered and the wounds were irrigated and closed with sterile dressings. Oral amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium for 7 days was administered to the patient. The patient was followed up; 3 months after the attack he returned to his previous level of activity without any complication. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: We recommend that practitioners and physicians should provide prompt attention due to potentially significant morbidities, particularly rabies. The adequate care of the wound will allow better aesthetic and functional results to victims of wild animal bites., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a multicentric vascular neoplasm, with cutaneous and extracutaneous involvement. Different clinical and epidemiological variants have been identified. The classic form is manifested mainly in elderly men with indolent and long-term evolution, with lesions localized primarily in the lower extremities. We present two cases of classic Kaposi's sarcoma (CKS) in two female patients with extensive, exuberant skin involvement and rapid evolution, with good response to radiotherapy.

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease characterized by suprabasal blisters with acantholysis, which has a fatal course in a large number of untreated patients. Systemic corticosteroid therapy is considered first-line therapy. Adjuvant treatment with the goal of sparing corticosteroids include, among others, dapsone. This drug is not without side effects and its use requires clinical and laboratory control. We present a patient with PV initially managed with suboptimal dose of prednisone, evolving into drug-induced hepatitis after introduction of dapsone.

Bed bugs are hematophagous insects which due to their morphological and biological characteristics are able to easily adapt themselves to human households. The authors describe two cases of dermatitis caused by bed bug bites in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Patients presented linear lesions in the usual "breakfast, lunch and dinner" arrangement, suggesting this diagnosis. A visit to their dwellings showed infestation of insects identified as Cimex hemipterus. The knowledge of these insects by the dermatological community will contribute to an accurate diagnosis as well as subsidize the dissemination of information aiming for prevention.

Sialolithiasis is the presence of calculus within the ductal system of a salivary gland. Among the diagnostic methods are inspection, palpation, checking the amount of saliva secreted and the identification of a sialolith. The authors present the case of a 37-year-old female patient with edema of the submandibular area and a bulging sublingual caruncle due to a calculus that obstructed the salivary gland ostium.

American cutaneous leishmaniasis is in full geographic expansion in Brazil and it is considered among the infectious and parasitic diseases of utmost importance worldwide, not only by its frequency, but mainly by therapeutic difficulties, deformities and sequelae that may result. In the state of Rio de Janeiro, the first autochthonous case of American cutaneous leishmaniasis was registered by Rabello in 1913. The authors report two cases of the disease in the region around the Cemetery São Francisco Xavier, in the Caju neighborhood, Rio de Janeiro city, and emphasize the need for actions that aim to early diagnosis and treatment of American cutaneous leishmaniasis cases.

Aspergillosis is an infection caused by saprophytic fungi of the genus Aspergillus, which typically occurs in immunosuppressed individuals, but has also been reported in immunocompetent patients. The main routes of entry are the respiratory tract, skin, cornea, and ear, and the infection may be localized or disseminated by contiguity or vascular invasion. We report a severe case of rhinosinusitis with cutaneous involvement, caused by invasive aspergillosis, in an immunocompetent user of inhaled cocaine. Invasive aspergillosis related to cocaine abuse has not yet been reported in the literature. After itraconazole treatment and surgical debridement, complete clinical remission was achieved. Nasal reconstruction with a skin graft over a silicone prosthesis resulted in a satisfactory esthetic outcome.

Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis of Gougerot and Carteaud is a dermatosis that despite showing characteristic clinical signs is often poorly recognized and diagnosed. The authors present a case with extensive skin involvement, discuss its association with obesity and describe dermoscopic findings making the histopathological correlation.

Background: Melasma is an acquired, irregularly patterned, light to dark-brown hypermelanosis, with symmetric distribution mostly over the face. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics and factors related to melasma in Brazilian patients., Methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study performed in Brazil. Investigators examined and questioned 953 patients over 18 years of age on clinical characteristics and other factors related to their melasma., Results: Melasma was more prevalent in women (97.5%) and in Fitzpatrick skin phototypes II (12.8%), III (36.3%), and IV (39.7%). Skin phototypes II and III and family history of melasma had early onset of the disorder when compared with skin phototypes IV, V, and VI (P<0.0001). Similar results were also observed when these same groups were compared with the absence of family history (P<0.0001). Extra-facial melasma was more frequent in postmenopausal women compared with those who were not experiencing menopause (14.2% vs. 3.5%, P<0.0001)., Conclusions: Data suggested that the age of melasma onset are related to skin phototypes and family history. Additionally, extra-facial melasma was more common in menopausal women. This is the first study on the epidemiology of melasma in Brazil involving a large sample of the population. These data can be a source of new relevant research on the cause and development of melasma., (© 2013 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Over the last few centuries, the expansion of urbanization brought bats closer to urbanized areas, increasing the risk of accidents by bat bites. The morphology of bat bites can be varied, usually having an elliptical shape, about 0.5 cm along its greatest length, and the characteristic corkscrew bite pattern. The authors present the case of a patient who was repeatedly bitten by vampire bats for two months. A polymerase chain reaction was performed in the cutaneous nerves at the base of the hair follicles which showed negativity towards the rabies virus. The authors highlight the public health importance of this case, and discuss the morphological characteristics of these hematophagous bat bites.

A 57-year-old woman presented with periorbital ecchymoses, laxity in skin folds, polyneuropathy and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. A skin biopsy of the axillary lesion demonstrated fragmentation of elastic fibers, but with a negative von Kossa stain, consistent with cutis laxa. The diagnosis of primary systemic amyloidosis was made by the presence of amyloid material in the eyelid using histopathological techniques, besides this, the patient was also diagnosed with purpura, polyneuropathy, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and monoclonal gammopathy. She was diagnosed as suffering from multiple myeloma based on the finding of 40% plasma cells in the bone marrow, component M in the urine and anemia. The patient developed blisters with a clear content, confirmed as mucinosis by the histopathological exam. The final diagnoses were: primary systemic amyloidosis, acquired cutis laxa and mucinosis, all related to multiple myeloma.

Linear Darier is a rare variant of Darier's Disease. The keratotic papules follow Blaschko's lines, characterizing the cutaneous mosaicism. We report the case of a 42-year-old woman who presented with small, linearly distributed, reddish-brown papules on the left mammary region, from the left flank to the hypogastrium and on the pretibial area of the left leg. Histologically, suprabasal acantholysis and dyskeratotic cells were seen, confirming the diagnosis.

Objectives: Netherton's syndrome (NS) is a rare autosomal recessive condition, first described in 1958, which involves a complex immunological dysfunction, ichthyosiform dermatitis, and erythroderma, characteristic defects of the hair shaft and atopy. Recurrent bacterial infection in the skin of patients with NS is frequent., Methods: This paper represents the first case report of leprosy and concurrent NS., Discussion: This case merits discussion among doctors in endemic and non-endemic areas to evaluate the chronic use of systemic corticosteroids as a risk factor for leprosy. The present patient came from an endemic area of leprosy and was treated chronically with systemic corticosteroids for erythroderma. This treatment, along with the immunodeficiency related to the syndrome and caused by a genetic mutation in SPINK5, may be a facilitating factor for the infection., (© 2013 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Melasma is a common disorder of hypermelanosis that affects mainly young and middle-aged women of Fitzpatrick's phototypes III-V. The disease significantly impacts their lives. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy, a spreading technology for the noninvasive evaluation of the skin up to the papillary dermis, provides real-time en face images with cellular resolution. We present a case of melasma with in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy findings closely correlated to the histopathological features described in the literature.

Pityriasis Amiantacea, also known as pseudotinea amiantacea, is a clinical syndrome which affects the scalp, having a reaction pattern reported to occur in several inflammatory dermatoses. The authors seek to establish the correlation between its clinical, dermoscopic and light microscopy features through the analysis of scale- encrusted hair tufts submitted to histological processing.

The present paper reports a case of benign cephalic histiocytosis in a 15-month baby boy, who developed multiple papules bilaterally in the malar region with no other associated manifestations. Histopathology revealed a papillary dermal pattern, while immunohistochemistry was negative for S100 and CD1a and positive for CD68. Therefore, diagnosis was established as non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis, based on the clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical features present.