8 research outputs found
Treatment of widespread cutaneous larva migrans with thiabendazole
Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a characteristic eruption that is
caused by penetration and migration in the skin of nematode larvae. Both
animal and human hookworms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of
the condition, with Ancylostoma braziliensis and A. caninum being the
most common among them. CLM is quite common in tropical areas, but, due
to travelling, several cases have also been described in Europe. We
present a patient with CLM who presumably contacted the disease during a
holiday in Singapore. The patient was treated successfully with oral
thiabendazole
CONGENITAL SENSORY NEUROPATHY WITH ANHIDROSIS (HEREDITARY SENSORY NEUROPATHY TYPE IV)
Hereditary sensory neuropathies comprise a group of rare childhood diseases which are classified into four types. We present a Greek boy 11 years old with hereditary sensory neuropathy type IV (congenital sensory neuropathy with anhidrosis) whom we have followed up and studied during the last seven years. Our patient presented for the first time with recurrent hyperthermic episodes without sweating, and lack of pain sensation from the first months of life. Insensitivity to pain and thermal stimuli had resulted in burns on the extremities and self‐mutilation of the tongue, lips and fingertips. When he was five and seven years old respectively he had two painless fractures of the ankles which led to insoluble orthopedic problems. He also suffered from mental retardation, which was obvious from his first years of life. Sweat gland investigations showed significant hypohidrosis or anhidrosis although the sweat glands were normal microscopically. Hereditary sensory neuropathy type IV, although rare, is important for dermatologists because it must be differentiated from other anhidrotic syndromes, and in view of the poor prognosis of the condition. Copyright © 1992, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserve
Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita: treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins
Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a rare autoimmune bullous
disorder that is often difficult to treat. Few cases have been reported
and therapy consists mainly of combinations of systemic steroids,
immunosuppressants and, recently, administration of intravenous human
immunoglobulin (IVIg). We describe a case of EBA in which our
therapeutic choices were limited due to the patient’s poor general
condition, including extensive infection of the lesions and a history of
pulmonary tuberculosis. The patient was treated with IVIg at a dose of
400 mg/kg per day for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks. The treatment
was wen tolerated and the results were satisfactory. It seems that IVIg,
due to its possible immunomodulatory mode of action, can be an
efficacious therapeutic agent in this rare autoimmune disease