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Churg-Strauss Syndrome (CSS) is a relatively rare entity characterized by asthma, transient pulmonary infiltrates, eosinophilia and systemic vasculitis. Oral ulceration is a possible clinical manifestation of some systemic vasculitides, such as Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) or giant cell arteritis, but has never been reported with Churg-Strauss syndrome. We report the first observation of a palatine ulceration in a 15-year-old girl with Churg-Strauss syndrome., Case Reports, Journal Article, FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

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SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

14th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (London, 12-16.10.2005). JEADV 2005 ;19 (Suppl 2 on CD ROM), FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Background: The atopy patch test (APT) was proposed to evaluate IgE-mediated sensitizations in patients with atopic eczema (AE). Objective: The prevalence and agreement with clinical history and specific IgE (slgE) of positive APT reactions was investigated in six European countries using a standardized method. Methods: A total of 314 patients with AE in remission were tested in 12 study centers on clinically uninvolved, non-abraded back skin with 200 index of reactivity (IR)/g of house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, cat dander, grass, and birch pollen allergen extracts with defined major allergen contents in petrolatum. Extracts of egg white, celery and wheat flour with defined protein content were also patch tested. APT values were evaluated at 24, 48, and 72 h according to the European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis (ETFAD) guidelines. In addition, skin-prick test (SPT) and sIgE and a detailed history on allergen-induced eczema flares were obtained. Results: Previous eczema flares, after contact with specific allergens, were reported in 1% (celery) to 34% (D. pteronyssinus) of patients. The frequency of clear-cut positive APT reactions ranged from 39% with D. pteronyssinus to 9% with celery. All ETFAD intensities occured after 48 and 72 h. Positive SPT (16-57%) and elevated sIgE (19-59%) results were more frequent. Clear-cut positive APT with all SPT and sIgE testing negative was seen in 7% of the patients, whereas a positive APT without SPT or sIgE for the respective allergen was seen in 17% of the patients. APT, SPT and sIgE results showed significant agreement with history for grass pollen and egg white (two-sided Pr >, SCOPUS: ar.j, FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

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(October 2001- September 2002), info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

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We found pre-established directives inadequate to cope with the current increase in anthropophilic tinea capitis in Brussels., Journal Article, SCOPUS: cp.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

(October 2001- September 2003), info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

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12th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (Barcelona, 15-18.10.2003)., FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

We report a case of recurrent vulvar ulcerations developed on vegetations associated with Crohn's disease. Lesions responded to low-dose thalidomide treatment. A biopsy revealed a neutrophilic infiltrate with rare giant cells. Vulvar manifestations were consistent with metastatic Crohn's disease or with a reactive neutrophilic dermatitis. Thalidomide reduces the activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha by accelerating the degradation of its mRNA. Nowadays, it has become a promising drug in a broad variety of disorders in which TNF-alpha seems to play a pivotal role, including inflammatory bowel diseases. This is the first case report presenting the efficacy of thalidomide in the treatment of vulvar involvement in Crohn's disease., Case Reports, Journal Article, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

We report the cases of 2 women presenting allergy to paraphenylenediamine (PPD). Both patients had a history of eczema that worsened following the ingestion of the antihistamine Polaronil® (dexamethasone/dexchlorpheniramine). This clinical presentation could be explained by cross-sensitivity to sulfanilic acid (4-aminobenzene sulfonic acid), a metabolite of sunset yellow (FD&C No. 6). Sunset yellow is an azo dye present in this tablet. Indeed, PPD-allergic subjects may suffer from cross-sensitivity to related compounds, especially to those that can be ingested such as azo dyes. Such compounds are used in some instances by the food and pharmaceutical industries, but their presence is often undisclosed. Copyright © 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel., SCOPUS: cp.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The efficiency of topical immunosuppressors in the treatment of atopic dermatitis is undebatable. These agents induce immunosuppression by inhibiting T cell activation and cytokine production. An intermittent treatment, with two applications per day, and photoprotection is recommended in adults and children aged more than two years. The precise position of the topical immunosuppressors in the treatment strategy of atopic dermatitis remains to be defined. Main side effects are irritative or allergic cutaneous reactions and cutaneous infections, no systemic side effects have been recorded. The consequence of long-terme topical immunosuppression and specially the possible development of skin cancers in UV exposed skin, is not well known and necessitates careful monitoring of patients. These treatments are contra-indicated during pregnancy, breast feeding, in erythrodermic states and with any alterations of the cutaneous barrier., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Background: Cosmetics have been used since the oldest known civilisations, and nowadays almost everybody resorts to beauty products. Objective: Considering the increasing incidence of contact dermatitis, the aim of the study is to determine the impact of allergy to cosmetics. Methods: From January 1998 to December 1999, 819 patients were subjected to epicutaneous tests for suspicion of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). The results were analysed retrospectively in the total population and in that of children under 16: the interest has been focused on cosmetics. Results: 297 patients (36.3%) with ACD to 1 or more cosmetic ingredients have been detected. 34 (48.6%) out of 70 children patch tested showed an ACD: cosmetics represented the first cause. Conclusion: For two decades, the incidence of ACD has been rising; two main reasons can be put forward: a rising product consumption and a more exhaustive allergen research in patch testing. Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel., SCOPUS: cp.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

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A case of early congenital syphilis is reported in order to emphasize that syphilis is still present nowadays and that detection of syphilis in pregnant women is primordial for the prevention of this disease., Case Reports, Journal Article, SCOPUS: cp.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Case Reports, Journal Article, SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

We report a case of a cutaneous Mycobacterium chelonae infection on the dorsum of the forearm of a patient undergoing chronic hemodialysis. The infection showed a linear and distal extension. This unusual distal dissemination was apparently secondary to a venous reflux, a circulatory repercussion of the patient's arteriovenous fistula., Case Reports, Journal Article, SCOPUS: cp.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

SCOPUS: cp.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, skin disorders) is a rare multisystemic disease associated with plasma cell dyscrasia. A 68-year-old woman with chronic renal insufficiency and arterial hypertension included in her medical history was admitted to the hospital with confusion, somnolence and asthenia. She presented ascites, hepatosplenomegaly, leg oedema, distal dysesthesias, leuconychia and multiple nodular purple red angiomas on the trunk, upper limbs and fingers. Hypothyroidism was revealed in the laboratory investigations and monoclonal IgG peak in immunoelectrophoresis. Electromyography showed both demyelinisating and axonal degenerative neuropathy. The diagnosis of POEMS syndrome was based on the dermatopathological examination of a cutaneous angioma; histology revealed features of glomeruloid angioma, a specific marker of this syndrome., Case Reports, Journal Article, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

SCOPUS: ar.j, FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

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Eccrine syringofibroadenoma (ESFA) is a rare eccrine tumor. We report the case of a 70-year-old woman who had presented a pincer nail deformity on the toes for 55 years and a left painless subungual tumor for 2 years. Histologic examination revealed branching anastomosing strands of epithelial cells with ductal structures in a fibrovascular stroma. The luminal cells showed positive staining for carcinoembryonic antigen, as in acrosyringeal cells and cells of dermal ducts. To our knowledge, our case is the first with a subungual location. In the context of chronic trauma due to a pincer nail, it may be classified in the reactive subtype recently described., Case Reports, Journal Article, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Background. Experimental data suggest that there is an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cells in atopic dermatitis (AD) skin compared to allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). This imbalance (Th2 and Th1 predominance, respectively) implies the production of different cytokines in these two conditions leading to different expression of adhesion molecules on skin endothelial cells. Objective. The expression of VCAM-1 (IL-4/Th2-dependent) and ICAM-1 (INF-γ/IL-1) on dermal vessels was compared in six patients with AD and six patients with ACD. The effect of cetirizine, a highly selective H1-receptor antagonist on the expressions was studied. Methods. Six patients with AD were challenged with Dermatophagoides pteronyssimus (DPT patch tests applied to clinically normal skin) and six patients with ACD challenged in the same way with allergens of the European standard series. Skin biopsies at challenged sites were performed before and 6, 24 and 48 h after challenge. The experiment was carried out under double-blind cross-over conditions during a 4-day treatment with a placebo and cetirizine. Results. In AD patients, the scores for both VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were high before and after challenge. In ACD patients, the ICAM-1 score was high at each experimental time, but the VCAM-1 score, which was significantly lower before challenge, increased at 6, 24 and 48 h after challenge. The administration of cetirizine significantly reduced the VCAM-1 expression in AD patients at each experimental time. Conclusion. It is concluded that the increased VCAM-1 expression in AD patients compared to ACD may reflect greater IL-4 and/or IL-13 production in situ. The study also confirms the existence of a modulating effect of cetirizine in vivo on adhesion molecule expression., SCOPUS: ar.j, FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Hereditary progressive mucinous histiocytosis is a rare autosomal dominant non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis. We describe a sporadic case of this syndrome in a 64-year-old woman who had multiple dark-red dome-shaped papulonodules located mainly on the back of her hands, forearms and thighs. Light microscopy revealed a circumscribed upper dermal aggregate of ovoid or spindle-shaped histiocytes with abundant mucin deposition. Iron deposits and numerous mast cells were scattered throughout the tumour but giant cells were rare. Electron microscopy revealed a high number of zebra bodies and myeloid bodies in the cytoplasm of the histiocytes. Immunohistochemistry showed positive labelling with alpha-1 antitrypsin, Factor XIIIa and CD68, while CD1a, CD34 and S100 protein were negative. The differential diagnosis of histiocytic syndromes is discussed., Case Reports, Journal Article, FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Myosin Va is an actin-associated motor protein involved in organelle transport such as melanosomes and neuron synaptic vesicles and has always been proposed as the candidate gene for the autosomal recessive Griscelli-Pruniéras syndrome, one of the silvery hair syndromes, which is a lethal disease combining immunodeficiency and neurologic and pigmentary abnormalities. Thus far, two mutations in the myosin Va gene have been described to be associated with this syndrome. One of these mutations was a homozygous mis-sense mutation causing an arginine to cysteine alteration at codon 1246. Because we also found this particular substitution after mutation analysis of a Griscelli patient, we checked its relevance in a control group of 124 unrelated healthy individuals and found it to be present, even in homozygous state, in normal unaffected individuals. It is clear that this arg1246cys substitution is a polymorphism occurring in the human population and not occurring in association with Griscelli syndrome. Distinguishing a polymorphism from a bona fide mutation is of utmost importance and has major ethical implications with regard to prenatal genetic counseling in affected families., Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Several arguments are raised attributing to aeroallergens an important role in atopic dermatitis. The aeroallergens that penetrate the epidermis could be fixed by IgE on the Langerhans cells and then induce a cellular mediator reaction comparable to that of allergic contact eczema. Patch tests have been developed to evaluate the role of aeroallergens (dust mites, animal dander, etc.). Preventive anti-dust mites measures in the home of atopic patients are recommended. Eviction of domestic animals (cat, dog, etc.) or avoidance measures for animal dander in the home can produce improvement in atopic dermatitis. Oral specific immunotherapy is being validated as a treatment for this disease., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Tinea capitis is rare in adults, although a few cases have been described in HIV-infected patients. We present two cases in black African adults who were HIV positive. In one, the condition led to the diagnosis of HIV infection. It is possible that the rarity of tinea capitis in HIV-positive adults could be related to increased colonization of their scalp by Pityrosporum (Malassezia) spp. In patients well controlled with an antiviral therapy, the treatment of tinea capitis seems no more difficult than in non-immunosuppressed patients. There is possibly a relation between clinical presentation and degree of immunodeficiency., Case Reports, Journal Article, SCOPUS: ar.j, FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

A 49-year-old man presented with a tumoral lesion of the tip of the nose which had been manifest for 2 months. Within a few weeks, the tumour increased in size and became infiltrated. The biopsy showed a squamous cell carcinoma. Treatment consisted of a radical surgical excision., Case Reports, Journal Article, SCOPUS: cp.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Standardized skin surface biopsy (SSSB) is an appropriate method for measuring the density of Demodex folliculorum (Dd). Nevertheless, the observation of a clinical case demonstrates that, contrary to what was presumed before, a single SSSB can fail to collect the complete biotope of the mite. This could give rise to false negative results regarding the measurement of Dd., SCOPUS: ar.j, FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

A standardized skin surface biopsy was performed in 34 patients suffering from skin diseases with high Demodex folliculorum density (Dd) >5 D/cm2 before, during and after topical treatment. The patients were randomized into six comparable groups to study six topical treatments metronidazole 2%, permethrin 1%, sublimed sulphur 10%, lindane 1%, crotamiton 10% and benzyl benzoate (BB) 10%. Their acaricidal activity was measured according to three criteria: (i) for each treatment, decrease of Dd to under the normal threshold (≤5 D/cm2); (ii) for each treatment, a significant decrease in Dd: and (iii) comparison of the relative difference in Dd between treatments. These three criteria converged to establish the acaricidal activity of BB on D folliculorum: the efficacy of crotamiton was demonstrated by the second criterion. An important irritating effect was observed wit BB and sulphur., SCOPUS: ar.j, FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

We report a case of acne neonatorum developed in a boy since birth. His mother and his aunt had different signs of hyperandrogenism including acne and hirsutism. This case illustrates the correlation between acne neonatorum and familial hyperandrogenism. It shows the importance of the family history and the eventual clinical and serological presence of hyperandrogenism in the mother when confronted with acne neonatorum., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Case Reports, Letter, FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome is a rare, inherited, autosomal recessive disease. Diagnosis is based on a triad of signs: oculocutaneous albinism, a hemorrhagic tendency due to a platelet disorder, and an accumulation of lipopigments in different organs, particularly the medullary macrophages. We describe a child with the characteristic findings of this syndrome, which often goes unrecognized because of the discrete nature of the cutaneous and hemorrhagic manifestations. This diagnosis is important because of the risk not only of hemorrhage but also of granulomatous colitis and long-term pulmonary fibrosis., Case Reports, Journal Article, FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Acitretin (Ro 10-1670 or Neotigason), a free acid and the main metabolite of etretinate (Ro 10-9359 or Tigason), is the most recent of the retinoids used orally in the treatment of psoriasis and numerous other dermatoses exhibiting disorders of keratinization. In the majority of cases, its side-effects are similar to those of hypervitaminosis A., Case Reports, Journal Article, FLWIN, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Seven children with severe, rapidly evolving alopecia areata (AA) were treated with pulse Steroid therapy (PST). AA had been present for 3-44 weeks and involved more than 30% of the scalp. One patient had alopecia totalis. Intravenous methylprednisolone (5 mg/kg twice a day) administered for 3 days. No serious side effects were noted. At the 12-month follow-up, complete regrowth had occurred in 5 patients (71%). The patient with alopecia totalis had no regrowth. PST appears to be a promising and safe treatment for extensive, recent-onset AA in children. No response is to be expected in alopecia totalis or long-standing AA., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published