Search

INTRODUCTION We looked at the association between Terry nails and liver cirrhosis in an ambulatory population from hepatology and gastroenterology clinics. METHODS We prospectively investigated the prevalence and determinants of Terry nails in 1,000 consecutive patients from hepatology and gastroenterology clinics at 2 institutions between May 2016 and February 2020. RESULTS A total of 117 subjects manifested Terry nails, with a 25.6% prevalence in patients with cirrhosis. When adjusted for age, heart failure, diabetes mellitus type 2, and chronic liver disease, cirrhosis was the only significant correlate (odds ratio 5.7 [95% confidence interval 3.3-9.8]), irrespective of liver disease etiology, with a strong association with hepatic fibrosis stage (P < 0.0001). DISCUSSION Sensitivity and specificity of Terry nails for cirrhosis (25.8%, 92.7%) was similar to palmar erythema but less than spider angioma.

Facial telangiectasia (FT) is a condition in which small dilated vessels visibly protrude on the surface of the skin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single-session pro-yellow laser in the treatment of FT and spider angioma (SA) to compare it with a limited number of studies conducted on this subject. In this pilot study, we reviewed 41 patients who admitted to our dermatology clinic with FT and SA and were treated by using pro-yellow laser. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated using the recorded clinical information and digital camera images. The improvement was graded as complete (90-100%), very good (75-89%), good (50-74%), moderate (25-49%), and weak (< 25%). Of the 41 patients included in the study, 37 (90.2%) had FT and four (9.8%) had SA. Twenty-two patients were female and 19 were male. Pro-yellow laser therapy was generally well tolerated by patients, and minimal pain occurred during the application. In 1-month follow-up, good, very good, or complete recovery was achieved in 51.4% of the FT patients. The new pro-yellow laser only has a yellow light wavelength. Its unique wavelength at 577-nm yellow light is ideal for vascular lesions. In this study, 51.4% of the patients with FT achieved good, very good, or complete improvement after a single session of 577-nm pro-yellow laser, and complete improvement was achieved in all the four patients with SA.

Spiders have long been admired for the beauty of their webs. They are celebrated in popular culture as well as in medical eponyms. This contribution provides the historical background for three spider-related eponyms: nevus araneus (spider angioma), arachnodactyly, and the arachnoid mater. Nevus araneus was first named and described by Sir Erasmus Wilson in 1842. Arachnodactyly was described in 1896 by Antoine Marfan using the term pattes d'araignée, which means spider legs. In 1902, Emile Charles Achard proposed the term arachnodactyly for this clinical finding. The arachnoid mater had been named in 1699 by Frederik Ruysch. The clinical management of spider bites from the only two dangerous venomous spiders within the United States, the black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) and the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa), is reviewed.

Lasers are fast becoming the vogue of dermatology ranging from ablative, nonablative, fractional photothermolysis to vascular lasers. There are a range of vascular lasers including potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP 532 nm), pulsed dye laser (PDL -595 nm), diode (810 nm), and Nd:YAG (1064 nm). PDL is a laser that emits yellow light using Rhodamine dye as it is lasing medium. Typical vascular lesions which are treated by PDL include port wine stain, hemangioma, telangiectasia, spider angioma, and rosacea. This article focuses on the use of PDL beyond primary vascular conditions. We review the evidence, or lack thereof, of the use of PDL in acne vulgaris, scars, striae, warts, molluscum, psoriasis, rejuvenation, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and miscellaneous dermatological sequelae.

For a patient with manifestations of nausea, abdominal distension, spontaneous splenic rupture, obvious liver enlargement, low red blood cells and platelets, yellow sclera, and spider angioma, Congo red staining of liver and spleen tissues indicated amyloidosis. After secondary factors were excluded, the patient was finally diagnosed as chronic liver failure, light chain amyloidosis, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis after cystic resection and splenectomy. This case suggests that for patients with chronic liver failure accompanied by spontaneous splenic rupture and hepatomegaly for unknown reasons, the possibility of amyloidosis should be considered after excluding other factors, such as viral liver disease, autoimmune disease, alcoholic liver disease, genetic metabolic liver disease and liver tumor, and etc. Considering the low clinical incidence rate and poor prognosis, relevant diagnosis depends on the biopsy results, and many patients were not confirmed until autopsy after death. Therefore, once amyloidosis is suspected, it is necessary to have communications with relevant patients and their families on the risks for examination, treatment methods and prognosis as soon as possible.

To the Editor, A spider angioma or spider naevus is a type of telangiectasis found slightly beneath the skin surface, often containing a central arteriole and many small vessels which radiate outwards like a spider's web. Applying pressure to the center of the lesion leads to fading of the lesion. Spider angioma is a common presentation of liver cirrhosis, especially alcoholic cirrhosis. Spider angiomas are found only in the distribution of the superior vena cava, and are thus commonly found on the face, neck, upper chest and upper arm. Spider angioma is rarely observed on hand (1, 2). Here, we report a a very rare case with spider angioma on back of hand. A 54-year-old male patient admitted to our clinic with icterus and ascites. The patient had a diagnosis of alcoholic liver cirrhosis one month before. On physical examination, he had icterus and ascites. He had spider angiomas on his back, neck and on the back of his right hand, just proximal to second metacarpophalangeal joint (Figure 1). The patient’s Child Turcotte Pugh score (CTP) and model for end stage liver disease (MELD) scores were 12 and 22, respectively. Abdomen ultrasound showed cirrhosis with massive ascites. Endoscopy revealed grade 1 esophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy. The patient gave written consent regarding this article. Spider angioma appears frequently in alcoholic cirrhotic or noncirrhotic alcoholic liver diseases with deuteriation of liver functions. Although, the exact cause of SA is not known, there have been many theories of possible etiologic factors such as disturbance of sex hormones (increased level of luteinizing hormone, decreased level of testosterone and a higher estradiol/testosterone ratio), angiogenesis, vasodilation, alcohol abuse, hyperdynamic circulation state, and liver dysfunction[3, 4]. The number and size of SA are correlated with the degree of liver disease (1, 3, 4). Our patient was a heavy drinker and had alcoholic liver cirrhosis with high CTP and MELD score. Although, our patient had multiple telangiectasias, it is a very rare finding of SA, observed on back of hand.

Spider angioma is a benign vascular lesion reminiscent of a spider’s body characterized by peculiar dilatation of end vasculature. The lesion is characterized by a central spot and extensions which radiate outward like a spider’s body. Spider angiomas may appear as a solitary or multiple lesion that arises on the skin surface of the face, neck, chest, and arms; these lesions have been rarely observed in the sublingual mucosa and in the gut, and to date, they have never been reported in the nasal mucosa. In this article, we report a spider angioma of the nasal cavity found as an occasional finding during a narrow band imaging nasopharyngeal endoscopy in a 70-year-old male patient with hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis and a history of total laryngectomy in 2013 due to laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The lesion was located in the mucosa of the pavement of the posterior portion of the left nostril; it was painless and asymptomatic.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features of male patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) or hepatitis B cirrhosis (HBC) complicated by abnormal glucose metabolism. MethodsA total of 287 patients with liver cirrhosis who were admitted to Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital from January 2008 to September 2013 were selected. Among these patients, 74 had ALC and were all male, including 54 with abnormal glucose metabolism; the other 213 had HBC, including 97 with abnormal glucose metabolism (69 male patients and 28 female patients). A controlled study was performed for the clinical data of ALC and HBC patients with abnormal glucose metabolism, to investigate the association of patients′ clinical manifestations with the indices for laboratory examination, insulin resistance index, incidence rate of abnormal glucose metabolism, and Child-Pugh class. The t-test was applied for comparison of continuous data between groups, the chi-square test was applied for comparison of categorical data between groups, and the Spearman rank correlation was applied for correlation analysis. ResultsCompared with HBC patients, ALC patients had significantly higher incidence rates of abnormal glucose metabolism (730% vs 32.4%), hepatogenous diabetes (35.1% vs 14.6%), fasting hypoglycemia (27.0% vs 10.3%), and impaired glucose tolerance (31.1% vs 14.1%) (χ2=4.371, 3.274, 4.784, and 1.633, all P＜0.05). The Spearman correlation analysis showed that in ALC and HBC patients, the incidence rate of abnormal glucose metabolism was positively correlated with Child-Pugh class (rs=0.41, P＜005). Compared with the HBC patients with abnormal glucose metabolism, the ALC patients with abnormal glucose metabolism had a significantly higher incidence rate of Child-Pugh class A (χ2=7.520, P=0.001), and a significantly lower incidence rate of Child-Pugh class C (χ2=6.542, P=0.003). There were significant differences in the incidence rates of dim complexion, telangiectasia of the face, spider angioma, hepatomegaly, hepatorenal syndrome, malnutrition, ascites, jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding between the ALC and HBC patients with abnormal glucose metabolism (χ2=3.785, 2.651, 1974, 3.316, 3.771, 5.843, 7.251, 5.214, 5.778, 2.966, and 6.312, all P＜0.05). Compared with the HBC patients with abnormal glucose metabolism, the ALC patients with abnormal glucose metabolism had significantly higher levels of aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin, a significantly greater mean corpuscular volume, a significantly higher level of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and a significantly lower level of albumin (t=4.775, 7.887, 5.143, 6.124, and 5.210, all P＜0.05). There were significant differences in the fasting blood glucose level, insulin level 2 hours after meal, and insulin resistance index between the ALC and HBC patients with abnormal glucose metabolism (t=2.770, 6.331, and 3.770, all P＜0.05). ConclusionThe male patients with ALC or HBC gradually develop abnormal glucose metabolism with the deterioration of liver function, with individual etiology and features of liver cirrhosis, and the manifestations of abnormal glucose metabolism are not obvious. Related examinations should be performed for these male patients with liver cirrhosis of various causes, to confirm the existence of abnormal glucose metabolism.

One of the most widely used cutaneous applications of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (laser) concerns the treatment of vascular lesions. During the past two decades, very significant advances in the application of laser technology in dermatology have occurred, with selective photothermolysis being the most important. This review focuses on the application of modern laser devices (Pulsed Dye Laser, or PDL; potassium titanyl phosphate laser, or KTP; diode laser; and neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser, or Nd:YAG), as well as the combination of laser and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of vascular lesions. In particular, both congenital (haemangiomas and port-wine stains) and acquired vascular lesions (facial and leg telangiectasias, rosacea, Poikiloderma of Civatte, spider angioma, pyogenic granuloma, and venous lakes) are discussed. The review of many recent research studies demonstrates that modern applications of lasers in dermatology constitute the finest method for the treatment of vascular lesions, combining the advantages of invasive therapy with the security offered by non-invasive therapy, while in certain cases they are the single and only choice for the treatment of these lesions.

Context Hepatopathies can significantly influence both veins and arteries, these changes may cause some cutaneous stigmas, such as spider angioma (SA) and some systemic vascular changes, such as those observed in hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). Based on this common pathophysiological root we can assume that the SA can be skin markers of HPS. Objective The objective of this study is to assess whether there is a relationship between the presence of SA and HPS. Methods Records of 40 patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent contrast echocardiography were evaluated, in which we researched the description of SA, physical examination, and other clinical and laboratory data. For diagnosis of HPS we use these signs of the disease: presence of liver disease (cirrhosis in the case), abnormalities in gas exchange by arterial blood gases, and evidence of pulmonary vasodilations by the contrast echocardiography. Results The SA were found in 21/40 (52.5%) patients and hepatopulmonary syndrome in 9/40 (22.5%). The HPS was observed in 8/21 (38.1%) of patients with SA and 1/19 (5.3%) patients were without this sign (P

Superficial vascular lesions are a common dermatological diagnosis but are often difficult to treat. Numerous lasers (especially the dye laser) and intense pulsed light sources have been used, but there have been very few reports on the effectiveness of the potassium-titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser. We have extensive experience of this modality at our institution, and the purpose of this survey is to report on the safety and efficacy of the KTP laser. Using an in-house database, we retrospectively collected data from patients who had undergone treatment with the KTP laser for superficial vascular lesions. Patients of Fitzpatrick skin type I-IV were included. Exclusion criteria were Fitzpatrick skin type V, patients with obvious suntan and those on potentially phototoxic medications or minocycline therapy. Diagnoses included discrete or matted telangiectasia, strawberry naevus, spider angioma, rosaceal erythema, rosaceal telangiectasia, telangiectatic naevus, angioma, combined rosaceal erythema/telangiectasia, port-wine stain, venous lake haemangioma and hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia. Patients underwent an initial test treatment and further treatment at 6-week intervals as required. Clinical photographs were taken pre- and post-treatment, and outcome was graded by patient and physician. Adverse effects were recorded including scarring, hypo- or hyperpigmentation, marked swelling, blistering, scabbing and bruising. Six hundred forty-seven patients with 13 diagnoses on 9 different body sites were recorded. Four hundred eighty-six were female, and the median age was 39.5 years. Of the lesions treated, 33.7 % (n = 218) were discrete telangiectases and 31.8 % (n = 206) were spider angiomas. A 92.7 % of lesions were on the face. Four hundred thirteen (77.6 %) patients who had outcomes recorded at 6 weeks were graded as "clearance" or "marked improvement". Only 38 (5.8 %) patients experienced adverse effects, all of which were minor; the main adverse effect was swelling. Unlike the dye laser, there was only one case of bruising out of 647 patients. This is the largest survey of patients to have undergone KTP laser treatment reported in the literature. Our results show that the KTP laser is a safe and effective modality for the treatment of superficial vascular lesions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Superficial cutaneous vascular lesions (SCVLs) are quite common. Several types of lasers have been used to treat these lesions; however, there are no dedicated treatment guidelines and few studies in the literature addressed their treatment. AIMS: In this paper, we aimed to report our clinical experience with potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser treatment on different types of facial SCVLs including telangiectasia, spider angioma, and erythema. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from 146 patients with SCVLs, who had been treated with the 532-nm wavelength laser at our outpatient dermatology clinic. Treatment responses were graded as four groups: clearance (> 75% improvement compared with the previous session), marked improvement (50-75%), partial improvement (25-50%), and no response (< 25%). RESULTS: The rate of clearance plus marked improvement (favorable outcome) was 66.1% for telangiectasia group, 93.5% for spider angioma group, and 26.7% for erythema group. Mean number of treatments was 2.9 +/- 1.4 for telangiectasia group, 1.4 +/- 0.8 for spider angioma group, and 2.9 +/- 1.7 for facial erythema group. Only minimal adverse effects related to treatment procedure were detected in 5 out of 146 (3.4%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that KTP laser might be a safe and effective laser modality for SCVLs, which may be associated with physiological problems due to cosmetic concerns.

In 1983, selective photothermolysis dramatically transformed vascular surgery, reducing the adverse effects and increasing its efficacy. As a result, laser surgery is now considered the gold standard treatment for many congenital and acquired skin vascular disorders. In this paper, the authors analyze the main laser sources for vascular surgery, the general parameters regarding laser-tissue interactions that can influence the treatment (such as hemodynamic features, anatomical areas, vessel depth, and diameters), and other aspects important for a good laser practice. Afterward, the main indications for laser treatment in vascular cutaneous disorders are discussed, with particular reference to port-wine stain, hemangioma, facial telangiectasia, rosacea, spider angioma, venous lake, varicose leg veins, and leg telangiectasias.

Summary During pregnancy, the mother undergoes changes to sustain and enable normal growth and development of the fetus. Common physiological changes include linea nigra, fibroepithelial polyps, striae, spider angioma, palmar erythema and pruritis gravidarum. However, there are some changes that are purely pathological, and these are termed the pregnancy-specific dermatoses (PSDs). The PSDs occur during pregnancy or in the immediate postpartum period. They do not include the various benign conditions or pre-existing dermatoses and tumours that may present or worsen with pregnancy. They do include a number of distinct and identifiable conditions: atopic eruption of pregnancy (AEP), polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP), intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and pemphigoid gestationis (PG). These are a heterogeneous group of skin conditions characterized by pruritis and inflammatory changes. In addition, pruritis gravidarum is sometimes considered pathophysiological and thus part of this group, rather than a physiological process. Each of these conditions has a distinct, but not fully understood, pathogenesis. The mechanisms leading to PSD may be a reflection on the hormonal and immunological changes associated with pregnancy. AEP and PEP are benign conditions, and although they can cause distress to the mother, they are otherwise minor. However, ICP and PG are more serious conditions, and both carry the potential for serious risks to both the mother and the fetus. Thus, the pathophysiology of these latter two conditions is considered in more detail in the following article.

Pregnancy affects the entire organs of the pregnant woman including the skin. These changes are sometimes important from either the medical or cosmetic point of view. The objective of this study is to evaluate the physiologic skin changes during pregnancy among patients of the postpartum ward in Shabih-Khani Hospital, Kashan. This is a cross sectional descriptive study of 180 patients in the postpartum ward. Simple random sampling was used. The exclusion criteria were being a foreigner, multiparity and gestational age below 20 weeks. A check-list containing 13 demographic questions and 21 questions concerning the skin changes was the tool. Trained interviewers visited the patients before discharge and completed the questionnaires; the resulting data were coded and fed into the SPSS 16 software package; subsequently, tables of frequency were obtained. The resulting data were fed into the SPSS 16 software package; subsequently, frequency (present) was reported. Most of the patients were in the age range of 20-29 years (63.9) at a gestational age of 36 weeks or higher. The observation included facial pigmentation 43.9 as well as spider angioma 11.7, palpebral edema 30, painful gingivitis 9.5, body pigmentation 97.2), striae 82.3), hyperhidrosis 80) and hirsutism 17.2). Acne was aggravated 26.7 and it was improved in 1.7. An increase in sebum and cutaneous fat was observed in 25. Considering the frequency of cutaneous changes during pregnancy, it is recommended to educate pregnant women about the necessary health care measures. © Medwell Journals, 2011.

Introduction: Lasers are a good therapeutic tool for congenital and acquired vascular lesions. Technological advances in lasers have reduced the adverse effects and increased the efficacy. Machines: Among the various lasers used for treating vascular lesions, pulsed dye laser (PDL) has the best efficacy and safety data. The other machines that are widely available are Nd:YAG laser and intense pulse light (IPL). Rationale and scope of guideline: Much variation exists in different machines and techniques, and therefore, establishing standard guidelines has limitations. The guidelines recommended here indicate minimum standards of care for lasers on vascular lesions based on current evidence. Physician Qualification: Laser may be administered by a dermatologist, who has received adequate background training in lasers during post-graduation or later at a center that provides education and training in lasers, or in focused workshops, which provide such trainings. He/she should have adequate knowledge of the lesions being treated, machines, parameters, cooling systems, and aftercare. Facility: The procedure may be performed in the physician's minor procedure room with adequate laser safety measures. Indications: PWS, hemangioma, facial telangiectasia, rosacea, spider angioma, pyogenic granuloma, venous lakes, leg veins. Contraindications: Absolute: Active local infection, photo-aggravated skin diseases, and medical conditions. Relative: Unstable vitiligo, psoriasis, keloid and keloidal tendencies, patient on isotretinoin, patient who is not cooperative or has unrealistic expectation. Patient Selection: Patient selection should be done after detailed counseling with respect to the course of lesions, different treatment options, possible results, cost, need for multiple treatments, and possible postoperative complications. Treatment Sessions: The number of treatments per lesion varies from 2 to 12 or more at 6-8 week intervals. All lesions may not clear completely even after multiple sessions in many cases. Hence, a realistic expectation and proper counseling is very important. Laser parameters: Laser parameters vary with area, type of lesion, skin color, depth of the lesion, and machine used. A test spot may be performed to determine individual specifications. Complications: Pain, edema, purpura, bleeding, scarring, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation/hypopigmentation, and atrophy changes.

Background: The present study was conducted to assess the spectrum of cutaneous changes in chronic liver disease and to assess any correlation between the skin findings and the type of the liver disease.Methods: A total of 100 patients above 18 years of age suffering from chronic liver disease with cutaneous manifestations and attending the Gastroenterology and Dermatology and Venereology department of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati, India during the period from June 2016 to May 2017 were included in the study.Results: Out of 100 cases, there were 84 males (84%) and 16 females (16%) with the male to female ratio of 5.25:1. Alcoholic liver disease comprised 62% of the patients in the study, other causes being cryptogenic liver disease (14%), chronic hepatitis infection (12%), Wilson’s disease (2%), autoimmune hepatitis (2%), hepatocellular carcinoma (2%), methotrexate induced liver disease (1%) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (1%). Most common skin finding was xerosis (62%). Other key findings included nail changes (60%), pigmentary changes (55%), hair changes (50%), jaundice (40%), cutaneous infections (31%), pruritus (27%).Conclusions: Patients with chronic liver disease can have a wide spectrum of cutaneous manifestations the most important being xerosis, nail changes, pigmentary changes, hair changes, jaundice, infections, pruritus and spider angioma. These changes can give a clue to the presence of the underlying liver disease and its severity. Hence, identifying these signs earlier can lead to prompt diagnosis and effective management of the underlying condition, thereby preventing its complications.

A 16-year-old male teenager presented with multiple, erythematous, progressively increasing red spots on the face, trunk and oral cavity for 3 years. On examination, there were multiple telangiectasias over the lip and buccal mucosae, soft and hard palates, face and the trunk (figure 1A–C). The patient also had multiple dilated superficial veins over the abdomen with umbilical eversion (figure 1D). On dermoscopic evaluation, these telangiectasias showed a large …

To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of vascular anomalies, and determine which therapy is safe and effective. The data of vascular anomalies pediatric patients who arrived at Beijing children's Hospital from January 2001 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively, including the influence of gender, age, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment options, and outcomes. As to infantile hemangiomas, the outcomes of different treatments and their adverse reactions were compared. As to spider angioma and cutaneous capillary malformation, the treatment effect of 595 nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) is analyzed. A total number of 6459 cases of vascular anomalies were reclassified according to the 2014 ISSVA classification system. Among them, the gender ratio is 1:1.69, head-and-neck involved is 53.3%, the onset age within the first month is 72.4%, the age of initial encounter that younger than 6 months is 60.1%. The most common anomalies were infantile hemangiomas (42.6%), congenital hemangiomas (14.1%), and capillary malformations (29.9%). In treating infantile hemangiomas, laser shows the lowest adverse reactions rate significantly. Propranolol shows a higher improvement rate than laser, glucocorticoids, glucocorticoids plus laser, and shows no significant difference with propranolol plus laser both in improvement rate and adverse reactions rate. The total improvement rate of 595 nm PDL is 89.8% in treating spider angioma and 46.7% in treating cutaneous capillary malformation. The improvement rate and excellent rate of laser in treating cutaneous capillary malformation are growing synchronously by increasing the treatment times, and shows no significant difference among different parts of lesion that located in a body. Vascular anomalies possess a female predominance, and are mostly occurred in faces. Definite diagnosis is very important before treatment. In treating infantile hemangioma, propranolol is recommended as the first-line agent, and systemic use glucocorticoids should be considered when associated with serious complications. The 595 nm PDL is effective in managing superficial vascular malformations in childhood, and could attempt to increase the treatment times to improve the outcomes.

That cirrhosis is characterized by increased liver stiffness was recognized some millenniums ago. Generations of physicians have tried hard to feel it when examining a patient with an enlarged liver. A hard liver, an enlarged spleen, the presence of abdominal collaterals and spider angioma, and the finding of a reduced platelet count, low albumin and prolonged PT were the hallmarks for the diagnosis of cirrhosis in compensated patients until the advent of modern imaging methods. It took until 2003 to translate the ‘‘feeling’’ that a liver was hard into an objective, numerical measurement, easy to obtain in a totally non-invasive way [1]. This has thereafter been proved useful in assessing the presence of significant fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis [2] and in suggesting the presence of cirrhosis [2,3]. This concept can be extended in the sense that increased liver stiffness is likely to reflect the structural abnormalities that are responsible, by and large, for the increased hepatic vascular resistance that leads to portal hypertension in cirrhosis [4]. This is supported by the recent observation by Carrion et al. [5] that liver stiffness measurement reflects both the extent of fibrosis and the elevation of hepatic venous pressure gradient in recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation. Altogether these observations suggest that increased liver stiffness can be a useful surrogate of fibrogenesis and of increased portal pressure in cirrhosis. If this is so, then it is logical to ask the question of whether liver stiffness may represent a non-invasive surrogate for complications of portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis.

Spider angioma is a common sign in patients with liver cirrhosis, but the pathogenesis is still unclear. Alcohol and hyperestrogenemia are both possible etiologies. This study was designed to investigate the relationship of spider angiomas in patients with liver cirrhosis to alcohol, liver function test results, and plasma levels of sex hormones.Eighty-two patients with liver cirrhosis and 18 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. The number, size, and location of the spider angiomas were recorded for all subjects. Plasma levels of estradiol and testosterone were measured.Cirrhotic patients had significantly higher estradiol/testosterone ratios (26.8 +/- 5.1 x 10(-3) versus 8.8 +/- 2.0 x 10(-3); P = 0.002) than healthy controls. Twenty-seven (33%) of the 82 cirrhotic patients had spider angiomas. Cirrhotic patients with spider angiomas were younger (56 +/- 3 versus 66 +/- 1 years; P = 0.002) and had higher serum bilirubin levels (3.3 +/- 0.6 versus 1.7 +/- 0.2 mg/dl; P = 0.002), longer prothrombin time (16.8 +/- 0.8 versus 14.8 +/- 0.4 sec; P = 0.01), and higher prevalence of alcoholism (41% versus 20%; P = 0.04) than those without. Stepwise logistic regression showed that alcoholism and serum bilirubin level were the only significant and independent predictors associated with the presence of spider angiomas in cirrhotic patients (odds ratio = 3.5; 95% confidence interval = 1.2-10.8; P = 0.03, and odds ratio = 2.8; 95% confidence interval = 1.3-5.7; P = 0.006, respectively).Alcoholism and impaired liver function are important predictors of the presence of spider angiomas in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND. Up to now, vascular diseases were treated with various lasers, such as argon, pulsed dye, and copper vapor lasers, which can lead to side effects like hypopigmentations, hyperpigmentations, and scarring. We treated patients with vascular lesions with an incoherent intense light source, the PhotoDerm VL-flashlamp. OBJECTIVE. The aim of the study was to test the effectiveness and safety of the PhotoDerm VL for vascular skin lesions. METHODS. One hundred and twenty patients with facial or leg telangiectasias, spider nevi, erythrosis interfollicularis, and senile angiomas were treated with the PhotoDerm VL. RESULTS. In 73.6% of patients there was an immediate clearing, and in 84.3% a clearing after 1 month was found of leg telangiectasias up to 1 mm in diameter. Facial telangiectasias and erythrosis interfollicularis colli showed clearance up to 90%. Spider nevi and senile angiomas often only needed to be treated once. CONCLUSION. From our experience we conclude that the PhotoDerm VL is an excellent device to treat vascular lesions as there were hardly any side effects seen, however, the user needs a sufficient experience to get good results.

One hundred children aged < or = 12 years with spider nevi of the face have been treated with the SPTL-1 laser. The laser emits pulsed light at a wavelength of 585 nm, with a pulse duration of 450 microseconds. The series included 37 boys and 63 girls. Patients whose spider nevi were previously treated with other methods were excluded. In 97 cases the lesions were completely removed, but 29% of them required more than one treatment session. Six months later, two patients had mild recurrence of the nevi, which required further treatment. No signs of scarring or of textural or permanent pigmentary changes have been noted.

Patients with vascular spiders and angiomas, especially on exposed sites, demonstrate considerable psychological morbidity and therefore request treatment. Traditionally, electrosurgical modalities have been used to treat such lesions, but more recently lasers have been introduced. This open study assesses the efficacy of these two treatment modalities, scoring patients' preference and psychological morbidity before and after treatment. All patients had two vascular spiders or angiomas. One lesion was randomized for treatment with the hyfrecator, whilst the other lesion was treated with the potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) vascular laser. The end-point of the study was either clearance of lesions or a maximum of three treatments at 2-month intervals. In this first comparative study, we demonstrate that both therapeutic modalities were effective in treating these lesions and in significantly reducing the post-treatment psychological morbidity score. However, on average, only one treatment with the KTP laser was required to achieve clearance compared with two treatments with the hyfrecator. This would result in less clinic visits. In addition, patients favoured the KTP laser because of the lack of side-effects. Both the KTP vascular laser and the hyfrecator were able to clear vascular spiders and angiomas, but the KTP laser was superior as fewer treatment episodes were required and patients preferred this treatment modality because of the lack of side-effects.

As the largest organ in the body, the skin may reveal the first manifestations of internal disease. The astute clinician can often use dermatologic findings to diagnose an underlying systemic disease. This chapter outlines some of the most important skin manifestations of internal disease. Common yet clinically important systemic diseases will be reviewed, and their most notable skin findings will be delineated.

Recent published studies evaluating the long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for superficial cutaneous vascular lesions have limited subjects and optimal treatment parameters have not been established. To determine the efficacy and safety of the long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser on superficial cutaneus vascular lesions and analyse retrospectively our experience of a 3-year period are the aims of this study. Over the 3-year period, 255 patients were treated [189 female and 66 male; median age 35 (range 7–65) years; Fitzpatrick skin types II-V]. Twenty-six patients with spider angioma, 130 with facial telangiectasia, and 99 with leg telangiectasia were treated. A long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser was used. A test dose was performed at the initial consultation and thereafter patients were reviewed and treated at 4-week intervals for 5 months. Of those patients who completed treatment and followup, 26/26 (100%) of spider angiomas, 125/130 (97%) of facial telangiectasia, and 80/99 (80,8%) of leg telangiectasia markedly improved or cleared. We suggest that the long pulsed Nd:YAG laser is a safe and effective treatment for common superficial cutaneous vascular lesions. However, it is not the first choise to use to treat superficial vessels on the face where depth is not the concern.

A 66-year-old woman with hepatitis C related liver cirrhosis presented to our hospital for dyspnoea and cyanosis. Tachypnoea, low grade fever, clubbed fingers, palmar erythaema, spider angioma, wheezing and severe hypoxaemia were found. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with acute exacerbation was diagnosed and she recovered after bronchodilator and antibiotic treatment. However, dyspnoea and hypoxaemia recurred with widened alveolar–arterial gradient, which was unusual in COPD. A pulmonary function test showed moderate obstructive ventilatory defect and chest high resolution CT scan disclosed some dilated vessels over the left lower lung. Interestingly, platypnoea and orthodeoxia were observed, therefore hepatopulmonary syndrome was suspected and was confirmed by contrast echocardiography, lung perfusion scan and 100% oxygen administration. Her dyspnoea improved gradually after oxygen use. She was followed in our clinic for 3 years and her respiratory condition on home oxygen remained stable, as did the liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a novel noninvasive imaging technique for in vivo evaluation of cutaneous lesions at near-histologic resolution. The applicability of RCM for various neoplastic and inflammatory skin diseases has been shown, but a descriptive evaluation of different vascular lesions has not yet been performed. OBJECTIVES To define specific RCM criteria for congenital and acquired vascular lesions and to determine whether these criteria may assist in their differential diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seven patients with a clinical diagnosis of vascular lesion, including spider angioma, venous lake, cherry angioma, pyogenic granuloma, port wine stain, angiokeratoma, and lymphangioma, participated in this study. Skin sites were systematically analyzed using RCM, and biopsy was obtained for clinically indeterminate lesions. RESULTS For each entity, characteristic RCM criteria could be identified and selected parameters correlated well to established histopathologic findings. The most relevant criteria included the diameter of the vessels and degree of vascular tortuosity or dilation. Additional findings such as flow velocity, inflammation, and disruption of the epidermal architecture could be documented. CONCLUSION The findings of this preliminary evaluation indicate that RCM may aid in the noninvasive characterization of inflammatory, proliferative, and ectatic vascular malformations in vivo.