Search

Background Because there is an increased inflammatory response to trauma, particularly of the skin, in patients with Behcet's syndrome (BS), an alteration in wound healing in BS is expected. The aim of this study was to investigate the healing features of punch biopsy wounds in BS and acne vulgaris (AV) patients used as controls. Method Full-thickness skin punch biopsies (4 mm) were taken from the hairless sites of the non-dominant forearms in 20 BS and 20 AV patients. Each patient was examined on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10, and the biopsy wound area and induration were marked on sterile glass slides. Other inflammatory changes, such as suppuration and pain, were also recorded. No antiseptic solutions or ointment, except saline, were used. Results The wound area healed similarly in both groups (p > 0.05). Thirteen (65%) BS patients had erythematous haloes around the wound on the first day. The number of patients presenting inflammatory changes reached 18 (90%) on the second day in the BS group. The area of erythema around the wound in BS patients was significantly greater than that in AV patients (5; 25%). It gradually decreased day by day. Purulent changes were observed in four BS patients on day 1, and induration around the biopsy wound in six patients on day 2. Only one patient with AV had suppuration, which appeared on the second day, while no AV patient displayed induration. Conclusion Biopsy-induced trauma may cause increased inflammation in BS, but wound healing is not altered.

Scleredema adultorum is a rare skin disorder reported to occur usually following streptococcal infections. It has characteristic clinical and histopathologic findings; however, associated hyperkeratosis is not known. We report a 6-year-old girl with scleredema adultorum and hyperkeratosis. The patient's disease had a benign course. To our knowledge, this patient is the first reported with scleredema adultorum associated with hyperkeratosis.

Behcet’s syndrome (BS) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown causes(s), which characteristically involves the skin, the oral and the genital regions, the eye and the central nervous sytem. Involvement of the kidneys and the peripheral nervous system are distinctly rare. Among the vasculitides, BS is notable for its predilection for the venous side of the vascular tree [1].

Follicular atrophoderma has been associated with a variety of findings. In our patient's family the disease was present in the mother and all of her living children. Scrotal tongue was also found in all but one child. We think that follicular atrophoderma is probably inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.