Use of granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis in dermatology (Review)

Adsorptive granulocyte and monocyte apheresis (GMA) is an extracorporeal treatment that selectively removes activated myeloid lineage leukocytes from peripheral blood. This technique consists of a column with cellulose acetate beads as absorptive leukocytapheresis carriers, and was initially used to treat ulcerative colitis. A literature search was conducted to extract recently published studies about the clinical efficacy of GMA in patients with different skin disorders, reporting information on demographics, clinical symptoms, treatment and clinical course. Dermatological diseases, in which GMA has been performed, include generalized pustular psoriasis, pyoderma gangrenosum, palmoplantar pustular psoriasis, Behcet's disease, Sweet's syndrome, adult-onset Still's disease, impetigo herpetiformis, reactive arthritis, acne and hidradenitis suppurativa syndrome, cutaneous allergic vasculitis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In most patients, GMA was started after the failure of conventional therapeutic options and it was helpful in the majority of cases. Based on the information summarized, GMA could be considered a valid non-pharmacological treatment option for patients with several dermatological conditions, which are difficult to treat with other pharmacological preparations

Pseudoporphyria Induced by Voriconazole in a 10-year-old Boy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract is missing (Short communication

Dimethyl Fumarate Treatment in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis: A 52-week Real-life Study

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory immune-mediated disease, with an estimated prevalence of 2–4% in Europe. Recently, a new oral formulation of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has been approved for treating adults with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis. The aim of this multicentre retrospective study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of DMF in a real-life setting, through collecting and analysing data from DMF-treated patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasi

Italian National Registry of Alopecia Areata: an epidemiological study of 699 Italian patients

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease that affects the hair follicles of the scalp and the rest of the body causing hair loss. Due to the unpredictable course of AA and the different degrees of severity of hair loss, only a few well-designed clinical studies with a low number of patients are available. Also, there is no specific cure, but topical and systemic anti-inflammatory and immune system suppressant drugs are used for treatment. The need to create a global registry of AA, comparable and reproducible in all countries, has recently emerged. An Italian multicentric electronic registry is proposed as a model to facilitate and guide the recording of epidemiological and clinical data and to monitor the introduction of new therapies in patients with AA. Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological data of patients with AA by collecting detailed information on the course of the disease, associated diseases, concomitant and previous events, and the clinical response to traditional treatments. Estimate the impact on the quality of life of patients. Results: The creation of the National Register of AA has proven to be a valid tool for recording, with a standardized approach, epidemiological data, the trend of AA, response to therapies and quality of life. Conclusions: AA is confirmed as a difficult hair disease to manage due to its unpredictable course and, in most cases, its chronic-relapsing course, capable of having a significant impact on the quality of life of patients