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Biomedical subjects

A F Fransway

Publications and source records attributed to A F Fransway.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Allergic reactions to latex among health-care workers.

With the emergence of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic and the practice of protecting health-care workers from all body fluids, the use of rubber gloves has increased, as has occupational allergy to latex among health-care workers. During 1991, 49 Mayo Medical Center employees sought assessment and treatment of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, contact urticaria, contact dermatitis, asthma, or eczema thought to be related to exposure to latex. Most of these persons had a history of atopy and worked in areas where rubber gloves were used and changed frequently. Of the 49 subjects, 34 had positive results of skin tests to latex products, and the sera from 19 of 35 persons tested contained increased latex-specific IgE antibodies. Employees with sensitivity to latex (and co-workers in the immediate areas) should use vinyl gloves and should notify their own health-care providers of their sensitization. Changes in job assignment may be necessary for some persons.

Asthma↗
PubMed1992

Dermatologic manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have become major health problems in the United States, and patients with manifestations of these diseases are seen by physicians in all areas of medicine. Cutaneous manifestations develop in as many as 92% of HIV-positive persons. Familiarity with these manifestations facilitates early diagnosis and enhances the care of HIV-infected patients. The spectrum of mucocutaneous disorders in these patients includes an acute exanthem, multiple infections, neoplastic processes, and miscellaneous disorders. Herein we review the most common and the most specific dermatologic manifestations associated with HIV infection, which often are atypical, more severe, or less responsive to treatment than the corresponding diseases encountered in non-HIV-infected persons.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1992

Cutaneous reactions to granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) is a hematopoietic growth factor that stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes. We reviewed the cutaneous reactions that developed in 26 patients who received GMCSF as part of a chemotherapeutic protocol. RESULTS: Fourteen patients developed immediate localized angioedematous reactions at the subcutaneous GMCSF injection site, and 21 developed generalized cutaneous reactions. Four biopsy specimens were obtained from three patients who had generalized erythrodermic reactions. All specimens showed perivascular and periadnexal lymphocytic inflammation in the dermis, and two showed perivascular and periadnexal eosinophilia. Staining for eosinophil granule major basic protein showed infiltration by eosinophils and extracellular deposition of major basic protein in three specimens from two patients with eosinophilia. Extracellular deposition of neutrophil elastase and mast cell tryptase was minimal. CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous reactions are prominently associated with GMCSF administration. Eosinophils, known to release toxic products after being activated, may have a role in these skin reactions through stimulation by GMCSF.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Epicutaneous patch testing: current trends and controversial topics.

In the 20th century, epicutaneous patch testing has played an integral and central role in the assessment of allergic contact dermatitis and therefore in general dermatologic practice. After recent verification of the safety and accuracy of patch testing by the Food and Drug Administration, domestic distribution of testing materials has resumed for the first time in 5 years. Because of the importance of this procedure, it is timely to review current standards of epicutaneous patch testing with emphasis on proper use and interpretation, clinical applications, trends in allergic contact dermatitis, and selected controversial issues.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Patch testing in prurigo nodularis.

32 patients with prurigo nodularis evaluated at the Mayo Clinic from 1975 to 1987 have been patch tested for sensitivity to appropriate allergen series; 25 of these had relevant positive reactions and subsequent follow-up to 5 to 14 years was available for 11. 6 patients had persistent disease and 5 had resolution or marked improvement. 3 of these latter patients noted a strong positive correlation between improvement and avoidance of contact allergens. Screening for contact sensitivity may be helpful in the management of this refractory dermatosis, particularly if there is a coexistent dermatitis.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1988

Sensitivity to Kathon CG: findings in 365 consecutive patients.

In the period from 1983 through 1986, 365 consecutive patients suspected as having allergic contact dermatitis were tested for reaction to Kathon CG. This test was positive in 20 of these patients: irritant responses in 7 and allergic sensitivity in 13. Provocative use testing was positive in 1 of the 3 allergic patients tested. The characteristics of this group of patients include having a mean age older than that of the general population or of our population of dermatologic patients, having histories of long-standing dermatitis, and reporting exposure to various leave-on formulations. Our rate of positive tests, 3.6%, is similar to that reported by other investigators, although sensitivity testing results differ from center to center. It is recommended that, in certain clinical situations, caution be exercised in the unsupervised use of leave-on products containing Kathon CG.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Chronic dermatitis evolving to mycosis fungoides: report of four cases and review of the literature.

In four patients with long-standing chronic dermatitis, evolution into cutaneous T-cell lymphoma was observed. Two patients were men and two were women; they were aged forty-nine to sixty-five years at first presentation. Duration of dermatitis at admission was from two months to fifteen years, with the clinical and histologic diagnosis documented on initial examination. After another five to nine years, clinically and histologically verified mycosis fungoides occurred. In two patients, contact factors were verified as causative by results of patch testing; sensitivities documented included nickel, potassium dichromate, and formaldehyde. In a third patient, contact factors were implicated as causes, but patch testing was not performed. We propose that certain instances of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma may be caused by chronic antigenic immunostimulation with resultant malignant lymphocyte clonality.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

3 percent topical minoxidil compared with placebo for the treatment of chronic severe alopecia areata.

The efficacy of a 3 percent topical minoxidil solution (2,4-diamino-6-piperidinopyrimidine-3-oxide) in a propylene glycol-water-ethanol base applied twice daily for one year to half the scalp was evaluated in patients with severe chronic alopecia areata. A randomized, double-blind, bilateral comparison-controlled study design was used. Of the twenty-one patients, thirteen were women and eight were men; their ages ranged from nineteen to fifty-five years. All the patients had alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis, except for two who had lost two-thirds of their scalp hair. The mean disease duration was 11.5 years (range, one to forty years). Transient regrowth of sparse vellus hair occurred in twelve patients, bilaterally in eight, but it was not significant in any. No cosmetically acceptable results were achieved. No significant side effects were noted, except for a moderately severe bilateral dermatitis in one patient. The results indicate that 3 percent topical minoxidil solution is ineffective as treatment for severe chronic alopecia areata.

Administration, Topical↗