Cutaneous manifestations of thrombophilia

O escopo deste artigo é revisar os estados de hipercoagulabilidade sangüínea (trombofilias) mais provavelmente encontrados por dermatologista. Seus sinais cutâneos incluem o livedo reticular, necrose cutânea, ulcerações e isquemia digital, púrpura retiforme, além de úlceras nas pernas. Revisamos seu tratamento adequado, bem como ressaltamos as manifestações cutâneas que impõem pesquisa laboratorial de trombofilias e os exames indicados nessas situações.The aim of this article is to review the hypercoagulable states (thrombophilia) most probably found by dermatologists; their cutaneous signs including livedo racemosa, skin necrosis, digital ischemia and ulcerations, retiform purpura and leg ulcers; their appropriate treatment; to describe the skin manifestations that require laboratory tests for thrombophilias and the tests indicated in these clinical conditions

Clinical, dermoscopic and histopathological evaluation of the Meyerson nevus: case report

O nevo de Meyerson ocorre quando uma rara erupção eczematosa focal e transitória surge ao redor de lesões melanocíticas. O mesmo fenômeno também foi observado em lesões não melanocíticas. O caso relatado é o de um doente masculino, 25 anos, que há dois meses notara surgimento de eritema e prurido, circundando dois nevos, localizados no abdome. As lesões eram atípicas à dermatoscopia e procedeu-se à excisão cirúrgica dos dois nevos. O exame histopatológico revelou nevos melanocíticos compostos displásicos, envolvidos por espongiose e vesículas intraepidérmicas. O presente relato sugere que o fenômeno de Meyerson não modifica as características dermatoscópicas dos nevos.Meyerson nevi occur whenever a rare focal and transitory eczematous eruption arises around melanocytic lesions. The same phenomenon has also been observed in non-melanocytic lesions as well. Herein we report the case of a 25 year old, male patient, who had noticed, two months before, the arising of a pruriginous and erithematous halo around two nevi localized on his abdomen. The lesions were found to be atypical on dermoscopic examination and he was submitted to surgical excision of both nevi. Histopathological examination revealed displastic compound melanocytic nevi, surrounded by intraepidermical vesicles and spongiosis. Present report suggests that Meyerson phenomenon does not seem to alter dermoscopic features of nevi

Mycetoma em paciente HIV positivo

Os autores relatam um caso de actinomicetoma em pacientes HIV positivo. Apesar das infecções fúngicas oportunistas serem freqüentemente observadas em pacientes infectados pelo HIV, a associação com micetoma nunca foi descrita. O diagnóstico foi confirmado pelo exame micolígico direto de grãos obtidos da secreção e de exame anátomo-patológico. Não foi possível identificar o agente, mas as características sugerem tratar-se de actinomiceto. Os autores acreditam que a localização no membro superior possa estar relacionada com o uso de seringas e agulhas contaminadas para injeção de drogas EV.Although oportunistic fungal infections occur commonly in immunocompromised hosts, mycetoma has never been reported in association with HIV infection. The authors present a case that to their knowledge is the first reported case of mycetoma associated with HIV infection. Diagnosis was confirmed by direct examination of grains and histologic examination. Precise identification of the agent, an actinomycete, was not possible. The unusual site of infection may probably be related to the use of contaminated needless and sirynges for HIV drug injection

TOLL-LIKE RECEPTORS (TLR) 2 AND 4 EXPRESSION OF KERATINOCYTES FROM PATIENTS WITH LOCALIZED AND DISSEMINATED DERMATOPHYTOSIS

There are few studies on the role of innate immune response in dermatophytosis. An investigation was conducted to define the involvement of Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4 in localized (LD) and disseminated (DD) dermatophytosis due to T. rubrum. Fifteen newly diagnosed patients, eight patients with LD and seven with DD, defined by involvement of at least three body segments were used in this study. Controls comprised twenty skin samples from healthy individuals undergoing plastic surgery. TLR2 and TLR4 were quantified in skin lesions by immunohistochemistry. A reduced expression of TLR4 in the lower and upper epidermis of both LD and DD patients was found compared to controls; TLR2 expression was preserved in the upper and lower epidermis of all three groups. As TLR4 signaling induces the production of inflammatory cytokines and neutrophils recruitment, its reduced expression likely contributed to the lack of resolution of the infection and the consequent chronic nature of the dermatophytosis. As TLR2 expression acts to limit the inflammatory process and preserves the epidermal structure, its preserved expression may also contribute to the persistent infection and limited inflammation that are characteristic of dermatophytic infections

Cromoblastomicose: relato de 27 casos e revisão da literatura Chromoblastomycosis: study of 27 cases and review of medical literature

FUNDAMENTOS: A cromoblastomicose é uma micose subcutânea que acomete principalmente homens trabalhadores rurais, sendo cada vez mais observada em outras atividades profissionais. O fungo penetra na pele após inoculação, e o agente mais frequentemente isolado é a Fonsecaea pedrosoi. OBJETIVOS: Este estudo visa a avaliar os pacientes com cromoblastomicose admitidos no departamento de dermatologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo no período de 1997 a 2007. MÉTODOS: É um estudo retrospectivo, utilizando a revisão de prontuários, e inclui 27 pacientes. Analisaram-se os tratamentos prévios e os atuais instituídos, o tempo entre o aparecimento das lesões e o diagnóstico, a idade, o gênero, a profissão, a procedência, a localização das lesões e os agentes isolados em cultivo. RESULTADOS: Vinte e dois pacientes eram procedentes do estado de São Paulo. Os demais eram procedentes da Bahia e Rondônia. A maioria dos pacientes estudados eram trabalhadores rurais (37%). Os homens foram os mais acometidos (85%). A maior parte dos pacientes apresentava lesões nos membros inferiores (59,2%). Em 52% dos casos foi isolado o fungo F. pedrosoi. O exame anatomopatológico mostrou corpos escleróticos em 92,5% dos casos. CONCLUSÃO: Os dados encontrados estão concordantes com os da literatura, sendo este o segundo estudo retrospectivo sobre as características dos doentes portadores de cromoblastomicose no âmbito do estado de São Paulo publicado na literatura indexada.<br>BACKGROUND: Chromoblastomycosis is a subcutaneous mycosis that occurs mainly in rural workers although is being more commonly found among people working in other sectors. The fungus penetrates the skin after its inoculation and the most frequently isolated agent is the Fonsecaea pedrosoi. OBJECTIVES: This study aims at evaluating patients suffering from chromoblastomycosis admitted into the Department of Dermatology of the University Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of São Paulo State during the ten-year period from 1997 to 2007. METHODS: It is a retrospective study and the medical report cards of 27 Brazilian patients diagnosed as suffering from Chromoblastomycosis from 1997 to 2007 at the Dermatology Department of the Medical School, University of Sao Paulo were reviewed. The following items were analyzed: previous therapeutic approaches; treatment implemented by the group; length of time between the appearing of the lesion and diagnosis; age; gender; profession; origin; site of lesions; isolated agents found in culture and histopathology. RESULTS: Twenty two patients were from the state of Sao Paulo whereas the others came from the states of Bahia and Rondonia. 37% of them were rural workers. Men were more frequently infected (85%). Lesions were more commonly found on the lower limbs (59.2%). In 52% of the cases the isolated agent was the dematiaceous fungus Fonsecaea. pedrosoi. Biopsies showed sclerotic bodies in 92.5% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Data found are in accordance with medical literature on the subject. The disease had been previously studied in our institution in 1983 by Cucé et al. This present study is the second retrospective one about the characteristics of patients suffering from chromoblastmycosis which has been published in indexed medical literature in the state of Sao Paulo

Chromoblastomycosis: study of 27 cases and review of medical literature

BACKGROUND: Chromoblastomycosis is a subcutaneous mycosis that occurs mainly in rural workers although is being more commonly found among people working in other sectors. The fungus penetrates the skin after its inoculation and the most frequently isolated agent is the Fonsecaea pedrosoi. OBJECTIVES: This study aims at evaluating patients suffering from chromoblastomycosis admitted into the Department of Dermatology of the University Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of Sao Paulo State during the ten-year period from 1997 to 2007. METHODS: It is a retrospective study and the medical report cards of 27 Brazilian patients diagnosed as suffering from Chromoblastomycosis from 1997 to 2007 at the Dermatology Department of the Medical School, University of Sao Paulo were reviewed. The following items were analyzed: previous therapeutic approaches; treatment implemented by the group; length of time between the appearing of the lesion and diagnosis; age; gender; profession; origin; site of lesions; isolated agents found in culture and histopathology. RESULTS: Twenty two patients were from the state of Sao Paulo whereas the others came from the states of Bahia and Rondonia. 37% of them were rural workers. Men were more frequently infected (85%). Lesions were more commonly found on the lower limbs (59.2%). In 52% of the cases the isolated agent was the dematiaceous fungus Fonsecaea. pedrosoi. Biopsies showed sclerotic bodies in 92.5% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Data found are in accordance with medical literature on the subject. The disease had been previously studied in our institution in 1983 by Cuce et al. This present study is the second retrospective one about the characteristics of patients suffering from chromoblastmycosis which has been published in indexed medical literature in the state of Sao Paulo

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis-like Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: A Series of Three Patients

Toxic epidermal necrolysis-like lesions have been described in the setting of lupus erythematosus, and have been considered as a specific hyperacute variant of cutaneous lupus erythematosus, with features different from classical drug-related toxic epidermal necrolysis. We report here a series of three patients with lupus erythematosus who presented with severe worsening of their cutaneous disease in a toxic epidermal necrolysis-like fashion. We compared these cases with cases reported previously. Based on this discussion, we speculate that some of these patients may have classical drug-related toxic epidermal necrolysis rather than lupus erythematosus-related toxic epidermal necrolysis