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Biomedical subjects

H Degreef

Publications and source records attributed to H Degreef.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica of Hallopeau-Siemens and squamous-cell carcinoma: a case report.

A 46-year-old patient suffering from Hallopeau-Siemens type epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica presented a large squamous-cell carcinoma of the left hand. No metastases were observed. The tumour was resected and the phalanxes were amputated. The wound was covered with autologous skin grafts. Squamous-cell carcinoma is extremely aggressive in these patients and surgery is the only effective therapy. This life-threatening complication should always be kept in mind and a biopsy taken of every chronic, non-healing ulceration and of each atypical lesion.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1996

Itraconazole in the treatment of tinea capitis.

Seventy-one patients with tinea capitis were treated with itraconazole (50 or 100 mg once daily) for a median period of six weeks in an open multicenter study. Many of the patients were children. Of those patients treated with itraconazole 100 mg, 93 percent showed a clinical response at the end of treatment. This increased to 94 percent two months later. The mycologic cure rate at the end of treatment was 57 percent. At the final visit this had increased to 89 percent. Patients taking 50 mg itraconazole also responded to treatment, but to a lesser degree: only 67 percent showed a clinical response at the final visit. The corresponding mycologic cure was 60 percent. Only one patient reported a side effect while taking itraconazole (papular eruption) and it is uncertain whether this was related to treatment. It was concluded that both treatment schedules were effective and safe for children with tinea capitis.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1995

Linear IgA dermatosis: a new cause of fever of unknown origin.

We describe a 60-year-old patient who presented with prolonged fever, weight loss, adenopathies and malaise. Two months later, an aphthous stomatitis and pharyngitis developed, together with ulcerations bilaterally in the groin. Two separate skin biopsies revealed the diagnosis of linear IgA dermatosis. This entity, which is well known to dermatologists but not to internists, should be added to the extensive list of disorders than can provoke the syndrome of fever of unknown origin.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMed1995

Inhibition of the metabolism of endogenous retinoic acid as treatment for severe psoriasis: an open study with oral liarozole.

Retinoids derived from retinol or beta-carotene are inactivated, among other ways, by enzymes belonging to the P450 cytochrome group. Liarozole, an imidazole-containing compound, is known to be a potent inhibitor of the cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of all-trans retinoic acid. As a result, increased levels of this retinoid are found in skin and plasma. Therefore, in the treatment of psoriasis, therapeutic effects may be expected with liarozole which are similar to those observed with synthetic retinoids. In an open study, oral liarozole was given at a daily dose of 75 mg b.i.d., for 12 weeks to 31 patients with severe psoriasis. After 1 month, this dosage could be increased to 150 mg b.i.d. if there was no improvement or only moderate improvement. Initially, the effect of liarozole was mainly on scaling. A decrease in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score of 45% at week 4, of 69% at week 8 and of 77% at week 12 was obtained, compared with baseline. A further decrease in the PASI score of up to 87% was observed in the 16 patients who were allowed to continue treatment for a maximum period of 12 months. An excellent or good improvement was noted in 77% of the patients within 12 weeks of starting treatment. This response rate had increased to 88% by the last follow-up visit. Nearly all patients (29 of 31) experienced adverse reactions, such as dry oral mucosa, headache and itching. These were mostly mild and transient, but four patients dropped out of the study because of an adverse event. Haematological, biochemical and cardiovascular parameters were not significantly influenced by liarozole. Six patients showed an increase in triglycerides, which normalized in three of four patients during further treatment. The results of this pilot study suggest that, at doses of 75-150 mg b.i.d., liarozole is an active antipsoriatic drug, and may be a useful addition to the existing therapeutic armamentarium. Controlled studies should be performed to compare liarozole with standard oral treatments.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Protein contact dermatitis: myth or reality?

Protein contact dermatitis is a dermatosis which usually presents as a chronic eczema with episodic acute exacerbations a few minutes after contact with the offending allergen. Patch tests with the responsible allergen are usually negative, and the diagnosis can only be made by means of scratch or prick tests with the allergen. Sometimes, specific IgE antibodies can be detected in the blood. As there is considerable confusion about this entity, we have reviewed the cases reported in the literature.

Dermatitis, Contact↗
PubMed1995

Contact allergy to imidazoles used as antimycotic agents.

The present article reviews the literature (up to 1994) on contact sensitivity to imidazoles and presents the results obtained from 15 patients observed at the Contact Allergy Unit in Leuven. The frequency as well as the cross-reaction patterns described are analyzed. Although allergic contact reactions may have been missed in the past (mainly because of problems with the correct choice of vehicle for patch testing), they seem to be relatively infrequent in view of their widespread use. The imidazole derivatives most frequently reported to be allergens are miconazole, econazole, tioconazole, and isoconazole. As far as cross-reactivity is concerned, statistically significant associations were found in the patient data between miconazole, econazole, and isoconazole; between sulconazole, miconazole, and econazole; and also between isoconazole and tioconazole. Patients sensitive to phenylethyl imidazoles (except ketoconazole) needing antimycotic therapy should be advised to use ketoconazole, clotrimazole, bifonazole, or, perhaps, the new flutrimazole. Clearly, non-imidazole antifungals can also be used.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The effect of acute and chronic photodamage on gene expression in human keratinocytes.

We identified genes involved in the normal response to acute UV damage, as they were modulated in cultured newborn keratinocytes by a single sublethal UV dose, appropriately filtered to mimic solar radiation. Their gene products encode proteins involved in the regulation of cell growth (proto-oncogenes c-myc and c-fos), a gene inducible by growth arrest and DNA damage (GADD153), the cytokine interleukin (IL) 1 alpha and beta and finally a differentiation-associated small proline-rich gene (SPR2). Because chronically sun-exposed skin is known to have altered immune responsiveness and a statistical predisposition to skin cancer, we then examined UV induction of these genes in cultured keratinocytes derived from habitually sun-exposed adult skin, and for the older donors in paired cultures derived from sun-protected site of the same donors. Aging alone increased the baseline expression of two differentiation-associated genes (SPR2 and IL-1 receptor antagonist) in cultures from sun-protected skin. In contrast, photoaging increased the UV inducibility of c-fos but decreased the baseline expression of the differentiation-associated genes IL-1 receptor antagonist and SPR2.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Acute myelomonocytic leukemia with skin localizations.

We present a case of acute myelomonocytic leukemia with skin localizations in which complete remission was obtained with aggressive chemotherapy. The importance of leukemia cutis in the differential diagnosis of the 'blueberry muffin baby' is discussed.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1994

Atopic dermatitis: triggering factors.

Atopic dermatitis is a hereditary disorder, frequently associated with allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. The disease may be influenced by many triggering factors such as irritants, aeroallergens, food, microbial organisms, sex hormones, stress factors, sweating, and climatologic factors. Moreover, it is important to be aware of contact allergy as a complicating factor. This review deals with recent clinical, experimental, and some therapeutic data on these triggering factors.

Dermatitis, Atopic↗
PubMed1994

Contact allergy to corticosteroids: the results of a two-centre study.

We report a comparative study of the patch-test results obtained with a corticosteroid series, added to the standard series, in two centres, one in Belgium and the other in the Netherlands. The frequencies of positive reactions to the corticosteroids differed considerably between the two centres, and we suggest several reasons for this.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1994

Combined allergy to human seminal plasma and latex: case report and review of the literature.

The case is reported of a young atopic woman with combined Type I and possible Type IV allergy to human seminal plasma, as well as Type-I allergy to latex. Clinical symptoms were swelling and a burning sensation on the vulva and in the vulvovaginal area during or after coitus, followed by vesiculation, lichenification and the development of generalized eczema. Diagnosis was confirmed by investigation (RAST, prick testing, histology). Literature on the subject is reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Clinical aspects of contact allergy to corticosteroids.

Because of their anti-inflammatory activity, corticosteroids generally mask the clinical signs of a contact dermatitis to a corticosteroid preparation. The lesions usually present as chronic dermatitis, and the patients mostly report not exacerbations but failures to respond to corticosteroid therapy. Moreover, masking also occurs with patch-test reactions obtained with corticosteroid preparations and the corticosteroid molecules themselves. These are important reasons why contact allergy to such preparations has frequently been missed in the past.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1993

[New antifungal agents in the treatment of superficial dermatomycoses].

New antifungals for topical and systemic treatment of superficial mycotic infections of the skin and nails have been developed in the last decade. Terconazole is a potent drug in treating topically vaginal candidiasis. Amorolfine belongs to the chemical class of morpholine derivatives and is topically active against a wide range of fungal infections. Also naftifine and terbinafine, two new allylamines, can be used in local therapy of superficial mycotic infections of the skin. Itraconazole and fluconazole are both new triazoles for systemic use. Itraconazole has a broader spectrum and a higher safety profile than ketoconazole, caused by a greater specificity for the fungal cytochrome P 450 14-alpha-demethylase. The pharmacokinetic properties result in shorter treatments, even in onychomycosis. The mode of action of fluconazole is the same as for the azoles. This drug was being studied particularly in systemic mycoses and mucosal candidiasis. The activity of orally terbinafine is directed mainly against dermatophytes. This drug offers new therapeutic possibilities in the treatment of onychomycosis, caused by dermatophytes.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1993

The new corticosteroids: are they effective and safe?

We cannot as yet fully answer the question of the safety of the new corticosteroids. Budesonide is frequently found to be an allergen now that it is being marketed, and it can certainly serve as a primary sensitizer. For the other new corticosteroids, too, we already had numerous positive tests even before they were marketed. This must be considered cross-sensitivity. We will have to wait to see whether or not they are primary sensitizers. For the pharmaceutical industry, there is one more challenge in the development of new corticosteroids: In addition to finding more effective corticosteroids with the fewest "classic" side effects, the industry will also have to identify the least sensitizing molecules.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1993

[Comment on the contribution by L. Weber: Yersinia exanthema].

Lutz Weber has described Yersinia exanthema, a distinctive dermatological disorder characterized by three or all of the following signs: 1. A typical erythema-multiforme-like eruption, particularly on the neck, shoulders, and arms, 2. Erythema nodosum, 3. Conjunctivitis, particularly on the nasal side of the conjunctiva, 4. Arthralgia. The case presented here concerns a patient who satisfied all of the criteria for Yersinia exanthema and in whom no infection could be demonstrated.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗