TOPICAL CORTICOSTEROIDS BUT NOT CALCINEURIN INHIBITORS INDUCED ATROPHY AFTER FOUR WEEKS

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive, in vivo technique for real-time imaging of the epidermis and superficial dermis at the cellular resolution. We performed a pilot study focusing on the evaluation of the effect of topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors on the epidermis of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). The effect was assessed by RCM. A total of 45 patients with AD took part in the study. Patients were selected according to the standardized protocol and divided into two groups. Twenty-three patients used methylprednisolone aceponat topically on the skin with lesions of AD once a day for three months (group A). Twenty-one patients applied topical tacrolimus on the skin with lesions of AD twice a day for three months (B). RCM imaging was performed on the day of intiating the study (T0), then after one (T1), two (T2) and three months (T3). In group A, there was a visible decrease of the stratum corneum and the epidermis thickness which was statistically significant. In comparison, in group B, such changes were not noted and the differences between the groups in time course were statistically significant. In group A, an increase in the percentage of blurred keratinocytes in the stratum spinosum was also recorded, especially between the first (T0) and the second visit (T1). RCM is a useful method for evaluating the changes in epidermis due to the different topical treatment in patients with AD

TOPICAL CORTICOSTEROIDS BUT NOT CALCINEURIN INHIBITORS INDUCED ATROPHY AFTER FOUR WEEKS

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive, in vivo technique for real-time imaging of the epidermis and superficial dermis at the cellular resolution. We performed a pilot study focusing on the evaluation of the effect of topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors on the epidermis of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). The effect was assessed by RCM. A total of 45 patients with AD took part in the study. Patients were selected according to the standardized protocol and divided into two groups. Twenty-three patients used methylprednisolone aceponat topically on the skin with lesions of AD once a day for three months (group A). Twenty-one patients applied topical tacrolimus on the skin with lesions of AD twice a day for three months (B). RCM imaging was performed on the day of intiating the study (T0), then after one (T1), two (T2) and three months (T3). In group A, there was a visible decrease of the stratum corneum and the epidermis thickness which was statistically significant. In comparison, in group B, such changes were not noted and the differences between the groups in time course were statistically significant. In group A, an increase in the percentage of blurred keratinocytes in the stratum spinosum was also recorded, especially between the first (T0) and the second visit (T1). RCM is a useful method for evaluating the changes in epidermis due to the different topical treatment in patients with AD

Supplementary Material for: Are Anti-TNF-α Agents Safe for Treating Psoriasis in Hepatitis C Virus Patients with Advanced Liver Disease? Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors represent an effective treatment for severe psoriasis in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. The literature reports mainly on short-term treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis with minimum-to-moderate activity with an acceptable safety profile. We report the first 2 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arising in HCV psoriatic patients with advanced liver disease during long-term treatment with etanercept. Our first patient, known to have had HCV infection for 41 years, developed an HCC after 21 months of therapy with etanercept (50 mg/week). The second patient, HCV+ for 20 years, was treated for 58 months with the same therapy, and despite no signs of liver function impairment was diagnosed with HCC. Both of them presented with cirrhosis, which was diagnosed 9 and 5 years earlier, respectively. It remains to be clarified whether there is any connection between psoriasis treatment with anti-TNF-α agents and the development of HCC in HCV-infected patients. Further long-term, follow-up studies and registries of HCV patients with mild/moderate activity may contribute to clarify this issue