Biomedical subjects

Peter H Itin

Publications and source records attributed to Peter H Itin.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Reticular erythrokeratoderma: a new disorder of cornification.

Heritable disorders of cornification form a large, clinically and genetically heterogeneous group. Recent advances in molecular genetics provide for the first time the opportunity to reliably classify some of these disorders based on their underlying etiology. Many rare phenotypes, however, still remain unclassified and do not fit into established classification schemes. We report here a 12-year-old girl who developed an ichthyosis vulgaris-like skin disorder 6 months after birth. Several years later, the clinical features had changed considerably. The patient had developed streaks of hyperkeratotic, slightly scaling skin with underlying erythema distributed in a reticulate, occasionally annular pattern on the trunk and extremities. The lesions were stable and had not changed significantly in size or distribution over the ensuing years. Histopathologic and ultrastructural findings were nonspecific and there was no evidence for metabolic disorders. The partial clinical overlap with erythrokeratodermia variabilis prompted us to screen several connexin genes but no pathogenic mutations were identified. We believe that this disorder belongs to the group of erythrokeratodermas and represents a novel, previously unrecognized entity.

Child↗

PubMed2003

Arthritis and interstitial granulomatous dermatitis (Ackerman syndrome) with pulmonary silicosis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the case of a patient suffering from pulmonary silicosis associated with a rheumatoid factor negative, antinuclear antibody positive, symmetrical, nonerosive synovitis, and interstitial granulomatous dermatitis (IGD) and compare it with similar cases reported in the literature. METHODS: Literature search to identify published cases of IGD with arthritis and cases associated with silicosis. RESULTS: Thiry-eight cases of IGD with arthritis were found. These cases were associated with various conditions such as drug reactions, autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, or paraneoplastic syndromes for which no specific underlying cause was identified. The patient had skin lesions corresponding to the rope sign, as noted in other reports. Histology showed a histiocytic, granulomatous dermatitis, which, in association with arthritis, was first described by Ackerman et al. Circulating immune complexes or altered apoptosis have been discussed as mechanisms, although there is no experimental evidence to support either hypothesis. As in other cases, treatment had limited success. Most relief was achieved with hydroxychloroquine, dapsone, and corticosteroids. CONCLUSIONS: Arthritis and IGD associated with silicosis is a rare clinical entity that can be differentiated from other conditions. This condition should be considered when patients present with typical dermatologic features, such as the rope sign, and arthritis.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Identification of human papillomavirus DNA in cutaneous lesions of Cowden syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Cowden syndrome (CS) or multiple hamartoma syndrome is a cancer-associated genodermatosis inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. One of the diagnostic criteria is facial papules which are felt to be trichilemmomas, benign hair follicle tumors, which some consider to be induced by human papillomavirus (HPV). OBJECTIVE: To search for HPV in skin tumors, especially trichilemmomas, from patients with CS. METHODS: Skin lesions from patients with CS were classified histologically. Each tumor was then analyzed for HPV DNA by polymerase chain reaction with different primer sets; positive amplicons were typed by direct sequencing. RESULTS: Twenty-nine biopsies from 7 patients with CS were investigated. Only 2 of 29 tumors clinically suspected of being trichilemmomas were confirmed histologically. In addition, 3 sclerotic fibromas, also typical of CS, were found, as well as 1 sebaceous hyperplasia. The other 23 lesions showed histological features of HPV- induced tumors in various stages of development. HPV DNA was found in 19 of 29 cutaneous lesions. Tumors without any histological signs of HPV induction were negative for HPV DNA. Two tumors which were histologically classified as common warts contained HPV types 27 and 28. All the 17 other HPV types belong to the group of epidermodysplasia-verruciformis-associated types. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of cutaneous lesions in CS contain HPV DNA. They may have a variety of histological patterns. Trichilemmomas are not clinically distinctive and can be difficult to identify in CS patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Darier disease with paired segmental manifestation of either excessive or absent involvement: a further step in the concept of twin spotting.

For the first time, we describe a case of type 2 segmental Darier disease with concomitant band-like areas of healthy skin. This clinical observation gives a further hint for the understanding of type 2 segmental manifestations in autosomal dominant diseases. We had observed a 17-year-old patient with Darier disease since the age of 13 years. On the frontal aspect of his body, the lesions were found to be diffusely and rather symmetrically disseminated. On the back, however, a band-like pattern of pronounced involvement with concomitant streaks of healthy skin, both following the lines of Blaschko, was noted. Type 2 segmental manifestation of autosomal dominant disorders can be explained by the assumption that the individual carries a germline mutation that gives rise to a diffuse, nonsegmental distribution of the disease. In addition, a postzygotic mutation occurring at an early developmental stage would result in loss of heterozygosity and give rise, in a segmental area, to a homozygous or hemizygous state of the mutation. This would explain the enhanced severity of the segmental lesions. Theoretically, an early event of mitotic recombination should give rise, simultaneously, to a clone of cells that are homozygous for the corresponding wild-type allele, and for this reason paired segmental areas of either excessive or absent involvement, in the form of twin spotting, should occur on the background of an ordinary, nonsegmental phenotype, as exemplified by Happle and König in a case of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis of Brocq. These authors stated that, in autosomal dominant skin disorders, segmental areas of healthy skin will usually be difficult to recognize. This may explain why such a twin spot phenomenon has so far not been encountered in Darier disease.

Acitretin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acquired leukoderma in congenital pigmented nevus associated with vitiligo-like depigmentation.

We report a 6-year-old boy who developed depigmentation within a congenital melanocytic nevus at the age of 3 years. During the following months a halo phenomenon and vitiligo-like lesions distant from the nevus appeared. A thorough search for malignant melanoma was negative. A second patient, a 45-year-old woman, had a large congenital nevus on the trunk with marked satellitosis. At the age of 20 years, partial regression of the large nevus occurred and, in addition, halos developed around almost all smaller nevi. Repeated searches for associated malignant melanoma were negative. We review the rare cases of halo congenital nevi and emphasize that depigmentation is not necessarily associated with malignant degeneration.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nail changes in genodermatoses.

Nail changes may be marker lesions for complex systemic disorders and herald associated syndromes. Knowledge of the anatomy, embryology and biochemical properties of the nail apparatus is essential for understanding the pathogenesis of hereditary nail disorders. In the last few years significant progress has been made in the field of clinical and molecular pathology of human diseases. A considerable number of the genes responsible for genodermatoses have been identified. The homeobox master control genes, genes encoding for transcription factors, genes encoding for the maintenance of telomeres, or for structural molecules, such as the similarly evolutionary highly conserved a-helical rod domains of keratins, are involved in the embryogenesis and normal functioning of nails. Using nail changes in selected genodermatoses with a known genetic background, we try to elucidate the genesis of inherited nail disorders and review the resultant clinical manifestations.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cowden disease or multiple hamartoma syndrome--cutaneous clue to internal malignancy.

Cowden disease (CD) #158350, also known as multiple hamartoma syndrome, is a multisystemic cancer predisposition disorder, inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Mucocutaneous lesions are the most constant features: facial papules, acral keratoses and oral papillomatosis. The most common associated cancers are breast, thyroid and endometrial carcinomas. The CD gene locus has been mapped to chromosome 10q22-23. Subsequently the tumor suppressor gene PTEN was located to this chromosomal region and soon after germline mutations in the PTEN gene were demonstrated in CD patients. Somatic PTEN mutations have been found in a variety of sporadic cancers. So CD is an important clinical and genetic model for carcinogenesis. We recently observed four cases of CD and reviewed the literature on CD over the last 40 years, in particular the clinical and histopathological features, genetics, and diagnostic criteria. Based on these data we propose a possible management of CD patients. With increased knowledge and awareness of the typical mucocutaneous lesions an earlier diagnosis and an appropriate cancer surveillance of these patients might be possible.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Anetoderma and borreliosis: is there a pathogenetic relationship?

A 32-year-old man simultaneously developed anetoderma and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans on his left arm and showed a positive serology for borreliosis with ELISA and Western Blot tests. In addition, a 45 year-old man is presented with anetoderma without any associated systemic or cutaneous diseases, with B. afzelii confirmed as a singular causality through serology (ELISA, Western Blot) and amplification of B. afzelii-specific DNA from the skin by PCR. These two observations highly suggest that anetoderma can be the result of an infection with B. afzelii. We conclude that in patients with anetoderma a serological investigation for Borreliosis should be performed.

Adult↗