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Biomedical subjects

E Mahé

Publications and source records attributed to E Mahé.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Recurrent erysipelas: 47 cases.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence is a common complication of erysipelas (cellulitis). OBJECTIVES: Todescribe the characteristics of patients with recurrent erysipelas and thereby, identify potential risk factors and evaluate prophylaxis efficacy. METHODS: Data were retrospectively recorded from the files of 47 patients admitted to hospital between 1995 and 2003 for erysipelas recurrence. Studied variables included: general condition, regional and local factors, e.g. broken cutaneous barrier. Patient characteristics were used to construct tree-based models according to the classification and regression tree methodology. RESULTS: Our patients suffered a mean of 4.1 recurrences. Cutaneous barrier disruption was observed in 81%, mainly intertrigo (60%). Antibiotic prophylaxis was taken by 68% of the patients for 30.6 months. After 1 and 2 years, 84 and 72% of the patients, respectively, were recurrence-free. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that erysipelas recurrence has the same risk factors as single episodes and underlines the potential benefit of oral or parenteral antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent recurrences.

Adult↗

Results of a comprehensive hospital-based wound survey.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence, clinical aspects and management of wounds in a hospital. METHOD: A one-day survey was undertaken in our university hospital. All hospitalised patients (n=624) were examined. The clinical aspects, aetiology and management (pain, cleansing and primary dressing) of wounds were systematically evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 327 patients (52%) had 933 wounds (mean 2.8 per patient). The prevalence was higher in surgical departments (82%) than medical departments (37%), although wounds in the latter departments were larger, deeper, more painful and less numerous per patient. Pain at wound dressing changes was treated in 89% of cases; antiseptics were used for wound cleansing in 14% of cases; the primary dressing used was appropriate in fewer than 50% of cases in the medical departments. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the high prevalence of wounds in this hospital setting. Many problems with their management have been identified and measures will be taken to optimise care.

Adolescent↗

[EBV-associated cutaneous plasmocytoma in a renal transplant patient].

INTRODUCTION: Postransplant lymphoproliferative disorders are well known complications of solid organ transplant, usually associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). OBSERVATION: A 25 year old renal transplant patient presented with two subcutaneous nodules on the lower limb that appeared 3 years after a second renal transplantation. Biopsy of one nodule showed an EBV associated plasmocytoma located in the subcutaneous tissue. A complete systemic evaluation showed no evidence of extracutaneous involvement. The patient was treated with anti CD20 therapy (rituximab), and complete remission was achieved. DISCUSSION: Extranodular localisations of postransplant lymphoproliferative disorders are usually reported, but cutaneous localizations are rarely described. Histological presentation are various, but plasmocytoma-type is infrequent. Initial therapy of cutaneous EBV-associated postransplant lymphoproliferative disorders without extracutaneous involvement consists in reduction of the immunosuppression therapy and/or an antiviral treatment and prolonged surveillance. Treatment with monoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies (rituximab) is proposed.

Adult↗

[Hereditary cholestasis, an unusual etiology of pruritus in the infant].

INTRODUCTION: Pruritus in the infant is predominantly related to common dermatosis. General causes remain exceptional. We report two cases of pruritus in infants revealing anicteric cholestasis. OBSERVATIONS: Case no 1. A thirteen month-old boy had exhibited pruritus since the age of 2 months. The clinical examination was non-specific. Biological explorations revealed an isolated and moderate rise in total bilary acids. The search for mutations in the genes of a familial fibrogenic cholestasis was negative. The diagnosis retained was hypercholanemia. Treatment combined ursodesoxycholic acid and rifampicine, which controlled the pruritus and normalized the bilary acid levels. Case no 2. A twenty-one month-old boy had exhibited pruritus since the age of 2 months and delayed growth. The clinical examination was unspecific. The biological explorations revealed cholestasis with normal delta GT, moderate cytolysis and liposoluble vitamin deficiency. The hepatic biopsy was normal. The diagnosis retained was familial fibrogenic cholestasis. Treatment combined ursodesoxycholic acid and rifampicine, which controlled the pruritus and normalized the hepatic parameters. DISCUSSION: Non-dermatological isolated pruritus is rare in infants. These two observations illustrate two abnormalities in bilary acid transport. Hypercholanemia is a faulty canalization of bilary acids by the hepatocyte. Familial fibrogenic cholestasis is a default in the elimination of these bilary acids. Such pathologies must be evoked because specific treatment will treat the symptoms and avoid the evolution of familial fibrogenic cholestasis towards cirrhosis.

Cholestasis↗

[Kaposi-Juliusberg's syndrome complicating Darier's disease"].

INTRODUCTION: Kaposi-Juliusberg's syndrome is a severe herpes simplex virus cutaneous infection, accompanied by general signs. Darier's disease is a rare genodermatosis characterised by keratinisation disorders. OBSERVATION: In a 51 year-old patient suffering from Darier's disease since the age of 20, a diffuse vesicular eruption occurred following a herpes eruption on the lower lip. Culture of a vesicle revealed a type 1 Herpes simplex virus. The diagnosis of Kaposi-Juliusberg's syndrome was made. COMMENTS: Kaposi-Juliusberg's syndrome is a "classical" herpes complication of atopic dermatitis. It may also develop on other predisposing territories such as acantholytic dermatitis: pemphigus vulgaris, Hailey-Hailey's disease and Darier's disease. Although a rare complication and life threatening for the patient, Kaposi-Juliusberg's syndrome can now be treated efficiently with intravenous and subsequently oral aciclovir.

Acyclovir↗

CD30+ T-cell lymphoma in a patient with psoriasis treated with ciclosporin and infliximab.

There is a known relationship between the use of immunosuppressive therapies and the development of lymphoproliferative malignancies. These lymphomas are mainly B-cell nonHodgkin's lymphomas associated with Epstein-Barr virus. Most cases concern classical immunosuppressive treatments including ciclosporin and methotrexate. A relationship between the new antitumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha agents and lymphoproliferative malignancies is debated. Patients with psoriasis on immunosuppressive therapies, mainly ciclosporin, are considered to have a low risk of developing lymphoid proliferation. We report a patient with erythrodermic psoriasis treated with ciclosporin and infliximab who developed a CD30+ T-cell lymphoma. This lymphoma regressed after stopping these treatments. In this case, the anti-TNF-alpha agent may have played a role in association with ciclosporin in the development of the lymphoproliferative disorder. Whereas the combination of anti-TNF-alpha therapies with methotrexate has been well studied, their combination with ciclosporin has been evaluated only in a few patients. Psoriatic patients who may require anti-TNF-alpha treatment have often been or will be treated with ciclosporin. The combination of ciclosporin and anti-TNF-alpha warrants further investigation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

High frequency of detection of human papillomaviruses associated with epidermodysplasia verruciformis in children with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a T-cell-mediated immunological disease characterized by epidermal proliferation. The nature of the antigen(s) responsible for T-cell activation is still unknown. It has been suggested that the human papillomaviruses (HPVs) associated with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), including the oncogenic HPV5, may contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether EV-HPVs may play a role early in the disease, we searched for these viruses in children with psoriasis. The influence of clinical data on EV-HPV infection was investigated. METHODS: We studied scrapings of involved skin from 26 children aged 1.5-13 years with psoriasis. As controls, we analysed scrapings from 28 adults with psoriasis and 15 children with atopic dermatitis, as well as scrapings from normal skin of 28 adults with no known history of HPV infection. We searched for EV-HPV DNA sequences with a nested polymerase chain reaction method using degenerate primers specific for EV-HPVs and primers specific for HPV5 and HPV36, two EV-HPVs frequently detected in adults with psoriasis. RESULTS: Similar high prevalences were observed in children and adults with psoriasis for EV-HPVs (38.5% vs. 35.7%), HPV5 (46.2% vs. 46.4%) and HPV36 (15.4% vs. 25.0%). As in adults, we found several EV-HPV genotypes and HPV5 and HPV36 variants. A novel HPV36 subtype, HPV36b, was identified. Lower prevalences were observed in children with atopic dermatitis and in adults from the general population (6.7-10.1%). No correlation was observed between frequency of detection of HPVs and clinical data. It is noteworthy that HPV5 was identified in an 18-month-old girl and in a boy with psoriasis developing for only 1 week. CONCLUSIONS: The early detection of several EV-HPV genotypes in children further supports the link between psoriasis and EV-HPVs and suggests a putative role for these viruses in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Adolescent↗

[Seizures during interferon alpha therapy: three cases in dermatology].

INTRODUCTION: Interferon alpha has many side effects. Among them the risk of occurrence of seizures is not well known by dermatologists. We report three cases of seizures that occurred in patients treated with interferon alpha in two dermatological diseases: mycosis fungoides and melanoma. OBSERVATIONS: A 68 year-old man, treated for mycosis fungoides, and two men aged 47 and 52 years, treated for melanoma, were under interferon alpha. After 11 months, 3 weeks and 9.5 months, respectively, the three patients had seizures without any past history of epilepsy. Anamnesis and assessment of each patient (brain CT, biological results) suggested the responsibility of interferon alpha. After withdrawal of the treatment, no relapse was observed after 3 months, 6 months and 1 year later, respectively. DISCUSSION: Seizures during treatment with interferon alpha have already been reported. According to the series their prevalence would be of 1 to 4 p. 100. Their pathophysiology is not well known, but apparently interferon alpha lowers the epileptogenic threshold by affecting the central nervous system either directly or through cytokines or neuromediators. The risk of occurrence of seizures must be known by the prescribing physician who must systematically search for past history of epilepsy or risk factors for seizures. This rare but existing side effect raises the problem of information to be supplied to the patient by the prescribing physician.

Aged↗

[Cutaneous necrosis is predictive of cancer in adult dermatomyositis].

INTRODUCTION: Adult dermatomyositis is associated with cancer in 15 p. 100 to 50 p. 100 of cases and, hence, investigations should be systematically performed to search for cancer. A number of predictive factors have been reported. The aim of our study was to search for predictive factors of cancer, among adults with dermatomyositis. METHODS: We prospectively assessed 26 adults presenting with dermatomyositis, hospitalised in our department of dermatology from January 1993 to June 2000. The parameters assessed were: association with a cancer, age, gender, cutaneous necrosis, muscular weakness, electromyographic abnormalities, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and muscular enzyme levels. RESULTS: Mean age was of 52 years and sex ratio (M/F) was of 0.53. Cancers were diagnosed in eight cases (31 p. 100) (mean age: 59.5 years; sex ratio=1; cancer localization: lung (2), breast (2), ovary, endometrium, bladder, and melanoma). Five patients in the cancer group had cutaneous necrosis and only 2 in the without cancer (p=0.01; PPV=71.4 p.100). Elevation of muscular enzyme was also associated with cancer. CONCLUSION: Our report demonstrates that cutaneous necrosis is closely associated with cancer and it suggests that in selected patients with dermatomyositis and cutaneous necrosis, more exhaustive and repeated investigations should be performed to search for cancer. The interest of elevation in muscular enzyme as a predictive factor of cancer is discussed.

Adult↗

[Cutaneous lymphangitic carcinomatosis and acquired ichtyosis associated with prostatic carcinoma].

BACKGROUND: Prostatic adenocarcinoma is exceptionally associated with cutaneous lesions. We describe a patient with cutaneous lymphangitis and paraneoplastic ichtyosis related to prostatic cancer. CASE REPORT: A 92 year-old man had been treated for five years for a prostatic carcinoma. An angiomatous lesion developed with in 3 months near the right breast. Physical examination revealed axillary node enlargement, a large skin angiomatous lesion, and ichtyosis. The skin biopsy of the angiomatous skin lesion demonstrated its prostatic origin with carcinomatous metastases in the lymphatic vessels. The ichtyosis was considered as paraneoplastic. DISCUSSION: Cutaneous metastases from prostatic carcinoma are rare. Less than 1 p. 100 of cutaneous metastases are of prostate origin despite the high frequency of this cancer in the general population. The clinical aspects - angiomatous lesion and paraneoplastic ichtyosis - are exceptional.

Aged↗

[Pyoderma gangrenosum].

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Rare cause of cutaneous ulceration, pyoderma gangrenosum is among the group of neutrophilic dermatites characterized by the richness of the mature neutrophilic polynuclear dermal infiltrate. The primary lesion is a pustule sitting on an inflammatory base; extremely painful, it rapidly ulcerates. The lesion rapidly extends to more than 10 cm in diameter, has a regular, sharp border and a peripheral roll of flesh exhibiting purulent channels on the inside and a red granulous surface often covered with a pustular coating. Little is known of this disease. CONCOMITANT AFFECTIONS: In more than 50% of cases, pyoderma gangrenosum is associated with other diseases, which must be systematically searched for. These may be digestive, essentially inflammatory enterocolitis with frequent development of peristomal ulceration, rheumatismal affections notably rheumatoid arthritis, hematological affections (benign monoclonal gammapathy, chronic myeloid hemopathy). FROM A PARACLINICAL POINT OF VIEW: There are no specific examinations. A cutaneous biopsy should be performed in all cases, notably to eliminate other causes of ulceration. Since concomitant disease can be subsequently revealed, it is essential to renew the paraclinical investigations, even after the disease has healed. NO CODIFIED TREATMENT: Treatment of the cause, if it can be cured, may be sufficient to permit regression of the lesions. Local treatments to provoke budding and hence avoid surinfection are mandatory. In the progressive and extensive forms, systemic treatment, notably high dose corticosteroids, is indicated. Surgery, a priori, is excluded.

Biopsy↗