Drug-Induced Rosacea-like Dermatitis

Rosacea is a common, chronic cutaneous disorder with a prevalence of 0.5-10%, predominantly affecting women. The disease presents with a heterogeneous clinical picture characterized by transient flushing, persistent facial redness, telangiectasias, and, in more severe clinical forms, the presence of inflammatory papules and pustules in the central third of the face. Although its pathophysiology is complex and still remains unknown, factors that exacerbate the disease are well defined. They include genetic predisposition as well as external factors such as exposure to UV light, high temperature, and diet. Besides these well-known factors, recent studies suggest that drugs and vitamins could also be possible factors inducing rosacea-like dermatitis or aggravating pre-existing rosacea. Although these are less common possible triggering factors, the aim of this article is to present the current knowledge on the association between use of certain drugs or vitamins and rosacea. </p

Erlotinib-induced Rosacea-like Dermatitis

Skin and skin adnexa toxicities are the most common side effects associated with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) and occur in most patients receiving this therapy. The majority of these cutaneous side effects are transient, reversible, and dose dependent. Although these symptoms are in general not severe, they significantly affect quality of life and can have a serious effect on treatment compliance as well as the treatment regimen. The most common early symptoms present as papulopustules on an erythematous base, usually localized in seborrheic areas. This clinical presentation is commonly described as “acneiform”, although these adverse reactions have clinical presentations, such as rosacea-like and seborrheic-like dermatitis. In this context, we report a case of a 77-year-old man with a medical history of planocellular lung cancer with ipsilateral pulmonary metastasis and mediastinum infiltration who received  erlotinib as a third-line therapy, presenting with centrofacial rosaceiform rash as a side effect associated with the use of EGFR-TKIs. The patient had a negative previous history of rosacea. Therefore, symptoms probably occurred as an adverse reaction due to the oncological therapy. Current terminology of early cutaneous adverse reactions caused by EGFR-TKIs refers to “acneiform” or “papulopustular” lesions, excluding less common side effects such as rosacea-like dermatitis  so these symptoms might be overlooked and misdiagnosed. Thus, we would like to emphasize the importance of developing a more accurate classification of terms in order to provide early detection of all possible cutaneous side effects, including less common ones, providing specific and timely treatment, and allowing continuation of drug therapy. </p

Rosaceiformni dermatitis uzrokovan piridoksinom

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory cutaneous disease of unknown etiology, characterized by remissions and exacerbations, presenting with centrofacial erythema and telangiectasias. It affects mainly adults around the age of 30 years and classically predominates in females. The pathophysiology of rosacea has not yet been fully understood. Risk factors are positive family history, very light skin phototype, sun exposure and consumption of spicy food or alcohol. Recently, there has been some evidence that some drugs or vitamins could be potential factors that can aggravate rosacea or induce rosacea-like symptoms. In this context, we present a 53-year-old female developing rosacea-like dermatitis due to a fixed combination of isoniazid and pyridoxine, which she was receiving along with rifampicin for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.Rosacea je kronična upalna bolest kože nepoznate etiologije, obilježena remisijama i egzacerbacijama te kliničkom slikom centrofacijalnog eritema i pojavom teleangiektazija. Javlja se u odrasloj dobi, pretežito u 30-tim godinama, nešto češće u žena. Patofiziologija rosaceje još uvijek nije do kraja razjašnjena. Čimbenici rizika za pojavu bolesti su pozitivna obiteljska anamneza, svijetli fototip kože, izlaganje sunčevoj svjetlosti te konzumacija alkohola, kofeina, toplih napitaka i začinjene hrane. Međutim, neka istraživanja ukazuju na to da određeni lijekovi i vitamini također mogu biti provocirajući čimbenici u nastanku rozaceje ili pogoršanju već postojeće bolesti. Predstavljamo 53-godišnju bolesnicu u koje se razvio rosaceiformni dermatitis nakon započinjanja terapije fiksnom kombinacijom izoniazida i piridoksina (Eutizon®B6) i rifampicina (Rimactan®) u sklopu liječenja tuberkuloze

FEAR OF BLINDNESS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CATARACT SURGERY

Background: Fear is a negative emotion induced by the threat of danger, pain and harm. Cataract surgery is one of the most performed surgeries in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate and analyze the predominant fears in patients undergoing cataract surgery. Subjects and methods: In this cross-sectional study 152 patients were examined. Self-designed questionnaires to examine emotions of the fear, anxiety, nervousness frequency gratitude was used and insecurity immediately before cataract surgery. We also examined what the greatest fear during the cataract surgery was. The fear of blindness was compared with other life fears such as cancer, memory loss, AIDS, stroke and heart attack. The presence of fear was compared in patients having had previous cataract surgery with those undergoing their first cataract surgery. Including criteria were adults with senile cataract. Excluding criteria was ocular co-morbidity, psychiatric disorders, inability to read, deafness and surgery under general anesthesia. Completed questionnaires were analyzed. Pearson\u27s chi-squared test was used. Results: Fear was the most frequent emotion before cataract surgery, present in 60.5% patients. Fear of blindness was the greatest fear during cataract surgery in 55.3% of patients. There was no statistically significant difference in fear in patients having undergone their first cataract surgery and patients before their second cataract surgery (p<0.05). Conclusion: Fear is the predominant emotion before cataract surgery which is in correlation to the leading life fear - fear of blindness. Good preoperative preparation and a trusting doctor-patient relationship are important for reducing the fear of the procedure

Pyridoxine Induced Rosacea-Like Dermatitis

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory cutaneous disease of unknown etiology, characterized by remissions and exacerbations, presenting with centrofacial erythema and telangiectasias. It affects mainly adults around the age of 30 years and classically predominates in females. The pathophysiology of rosacea has not yet been fully understood. Risk factors are positive family history, very light skin phototype, sun exposure and consumption of spicy food or alcohol. Recently, there has been some evidence that some drugs or vitamins could be potential factors that can aggravate rosacea or induce rosacea-like symptoms. In this context, we present a 53-year-old female developing rosacea-like dermatitis due to a fixed combination of isoniazid and pyridoxine, which she was receiving along with rifampicin for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis

FEAR OF BLINDNESS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CATARACT SURGERY

Background: Fear is a negative emotion induced by the threat of danger, pain and harm. Cataract surgery is one of the most performed surgeries in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate and analyze the predominant fears in patients undergoing cataract surgery. Subjects and methods: In this cross-sectional study 152 patients were examined. Self-designed questionnaires to examine emotions of the fear, anxiety, nervousness frequency gratitude was used and insecurity immediately before cataract surgery. We also examined what the greatest fear during the cataract surgery was. The fear of blindness was compared with other life fears such as cancer, memory loss, AIDS, stroke and heart attack. The presence of fear was compared in patients having had previous cataract surgery with those undergoing their first cataract surgery. Including criteria were adults with senile cataract. Excluding criteria was ocular co-morbidity, psychiatric disorders, inability to read, deafness and surgery under general anesthesia. Completed questionnaires were analyzed. Pearson\u27s chi-squared test was used. Results: Fear was the most frequent emotion before cataract surgery, present in 60.5% patients. Fear of blindness was the greatest fear during cataract surgery in 55.3% of patients. There was no statistically significant difference in fear in patients having undergone their first cataract surgery and patients before their second cataract surgery (p<0.05). Conclusion: Fear is the predominant emotion before cataract surgery which is in correlation to the leading life fear - fear of blindness. Good preoperative preparation and a trusting doctor-patient relationship are important for reducing the fear of the procedure