Background: The epidemiological association of lichen planus (LP) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been recorded from some countries and HCV RNA3 has been isolated from lesional skin in patients with LP and chronic HCV infection. The observed geographical differences regarding HCV infection and LP could be immuno-genetically related. Aim: To determine whether HCV has a causal relationship with LP. Methods: Histopathologically proved cases of LP were subjected to antibody to HCV test by the Third Generation Enzyme Immunoassay Kit for the detection of antibody to HCV (Anti-HCV) in human serum or plasma. They were routinely screened in the virology department by the reagent kit, HIVASE 1 + 2, adopting the "direct sandwich principle" for the assay to detect antibodies to HIV-1 and/or HIV-2. There were 150 age and sex matched controls (not suffering from LP) and HIV-I and II negative, and negative for HCV. Results: Of the 104 patients studied only 2 patients (1.92%) of generalized LP with disease duration of more than 3 months were found to be positive for antibodies to HCV. This was not a significant finding and no statistical methods, e.g. Chi square test etc. could be applied. Conclusion: Hepatitis C virus is not significant to the causation of LP in India.

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Background and Aims: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare proliferative disorder of histiocytes characterized by a proliferation of abnormal and clonal Langerhans cells. We retrospectively studied clinicopathologic features of this disorder in five cases. Methods: Clinical and histopathological findings of five cases of cutaneous LCH were reviewed based on the hospital records. Results: The age of patients ranged from 28 days to 5 years and M: F ratio was 1:1.5. Clinically, the diagnoses suggested were histiocytosis, varicella, transient neonatal pustular melanosis, keloid, sarcoidosis, seborrheic keratosis and LCH. The most common type of skin lesion was a generalized papular lesion. Histologically, all cases showed aggregates of large mononuclear histiocytes (Langerhans cells) with reniform, irregular, cleaved nuclei and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. There was multi-systemic involvement in two patients and single-system involvement in three patients. Conclusion: Cutaneous lesions may be the sole presenting feature of LCH. Diagnosis is based on demonstration of S-100 positive histiocytes.

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Objectives : To conduct a cross-sectional study to compare Dsg1 and Dsg3 antibody levels independently with severity of disease activity in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF). Methods : Blood samples from 44 patients with pemphigus (PV-38, PF-6) were analyzed using ELISA. The severity of skin and mucosal disease was graded using a score from 0 to 3. Results: A statistically significant correlation between increase in Dsg 3 antibody titres with severity of oral involvement and Dsg 1 titres with severity of skin involvement was found in both PV and PF patients ( p <0.01). However, we were unable to demonstrate a relationship between increased titres of Dsg1 and Dsg 3 antibodies with oral and skin involvement respectively. Conclusion : This study suggests that the severity of skin and oral disease in pemphigus is determined by the quantities of Dsg1 and Dsg3 antibodies respectively.

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A 40-year-old man presented with chronic nasal stuffiness and bloodstained discharge of 3 years' duration, along with a non-healing palatal ulcer since 2 months. Examination revealed a perforation in the midline on the hard palate and a superficial ulcer on the soft palate. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry suggested a diagnosis of extranodal nasal/nasal-type T-cell lymphoma. The patient was started on multiagent chemotherapy in the form of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone but succumbed after two cycles. Only one case of nasal T cell lymphoma presenting as nasal septal perforation, oronasal fistula and a concomitant palatal ulcer has been described. We report this case of a perforating palatal ulcer as a rare presentation of nasal lymphoma.

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Background: Patients with 1 to 5 skin lesions are arbitrarily categorized as belonging to the paucibacillary (PB) group for treatment purposes. With the decreasing prevalence of leprosy in India and modifications in leprosy program, the relevance of this grouping needs further study. Aims: To study a group of leprosy patients with 1 to 5 skin lesions and compare the clinical parameters with histopathological findings and bacteriological status of the skin and nerve to evaluate the relevance of this grouping. Methods: Seventy seven patients of leprosy with 1 to 5 skin lesions were included in the study. The number of skin lesions was recorded. Slit skin smears (SSS) and skin biopsies were taken in all patients and nerve biopsy was performed in 19 of them. The biopsies were evaluated for the type of pathology and AFB status. Results: In these 77 patients (single skin lesions, 42; two lesions, 18; three lesions, 10; four lesions, 5; and five lesions, 2 patients) the clinical classification was indeterminate leprosy (IL) in 4, tuberculoid leprosy (TT) in 4 patients and borderline tuberculoid leprosy (BT) in 69 patients. Skin smears were positive only in 1 patient. The histological diagnoses in the skin were IL in 13, TT in 3, BT in 48 and borderline lepromatous (BL) in 4 patients. Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) were found in 14 out of 77 skin biopsies. Of the 19 nerve biopsies, 17 showed histological features of BT leprosy; of these, 12 demonstrated AFB on Fite staining. The bacillary index of granuloma (BIG) ranged from 1+ to 2+. The clinico-histopathogical correlation was 63% in the BT group, with 4 patients of this group showing features of BL on histopathology. When the presence of AFB was assessed, the percentage of positivity was 1.3% in SSS, 18% in skin biopsies and 63% in nerve biopsies. Conclusion: Our results point to the non-homogeneous nature of this group of leprosy patients with 1 to 5 skin lesions, with varied bacteriological and histopathological features. The significance of MB type findings on histopathology in patients grouped as PB leprosy should be resolved so that these patients may be given the drug therapy and the duration of therapy they warrant.

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Protozoan infections of the skin, particularly cutaneous amoebiasis, are rare in HIV-positive patients. We report a case of amoebiasis cutis in an HIV-positive truck driver with a history of frequent unprotected sexual exposures. He presented with multiple painful ulcers and sinuses with purulent discharge, necrotic slough and scarring in the perianal and gluteal region for the last 2 years. He was positive for HIV-1 and -2. Cutaneous biopsy revealed numerous Entamoeba histolytica in the trophozoite form, in addition to an inflammatory infiltrate and necrotic debris. He responded well to oral metronidazole and chloroquine. Amoebiasis cutis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of perianal ulcers, particularly in HIV-positive patients.

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Unilateral defect of pectoral muscle and ipsilateral syndactyly constitute Poland syndrome. Absence or hypoplasia of the breast and nipple, axillary hair loss and dermatoglyphic abnormalities have also been reported in this syndrome. The primary defect could be in the development of the proximal subclavian artery with early deficit of blood flow to the distal limb and the pectoral region, resulting in partial loss of tissue in those regions. However, the association of congenital hemangioma with Poland sequence has not been observed so far. Such an association is being reported here in a 1-year-old infant, second-born of nonconsanguineous parents, who also had polydactyly instead of the documented syndactyly.

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A 40-year-old previously healthy lady presented with nasal obstruction and localized plaques over the right arm. She developed complete nasal obstruction due to a mass in the right nasal cavity and skin lesions that ulcerated to present as ecthyma gangrenosum like lesions. Patient's condition deteriorated fast and she developed icterus with fatal outcome within 4 weeks of developing skin lesions. Nasal and skin biopsy revealed angiocentric T-cell lymphoma, which on immuno-phenotyping revealed CD-3 positive; and CD-20, CD-30, ALK and EMA negativity. She was seronegative for HIV. Final diagnosis of CD-3 positive extranodal T-cell lymphoma of nasal type was made. Extranodal T-cell lymphomas are very aggressive NHLs with poor prognosis. Prognosis depends on histology, stage of the disease and sites of involvement. NK/T cell lymphoma of nasal type is common with EBV association. Skin involvement is rare and is also an indicator of poor prognosis.

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Posterior uveitis is not a documented feature of Reiter's disease. We describe here a patient of Reiter's disease, who after a bout of dysentery in January 2002 developed macular edema of the right eye with visual acuity of 6/36. In December 2002, she was found to have phlyctenular conjunctivitis. In June 2004, when she reported with scaly plaques over both palms, repeat ophthalmological examination revealed macular degeneration of the right eye. The simultaneous occurrence of Reiter's disease and macular degeneration in this patient may be fortuitous but the immunological basis of both diseases suggests a possible association.

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A 37-year-old female presented with a fungating cauliflower-like growth over the right inguinal region with fracture of the right distal femur. Clinical examination revealed an asthenic individual and showed a large fungating protuberant mass over right inguinal region and right knee. Investigations revealed pancytopenia, massive splenomegaly with right iliac lymphadenopathy on ultrasonography of abdomen and a soft tissue mass over upper end of femur and fracture of distal femur on radiological examination. CT scan showed multiple deposits in the lungs with splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. Fine needle aspiration cytology showed poorly cohesive cellular aspirate with spindle and round cell population with no pigment. Biopsy showed replacement of the dermis by coalescent nests of malignant melanocytes. S-100 antigen was found to be positive. The patient was diagnosed as a case of amelanotic malignant melanoma in Stage III disease and treated with general measures, stabilization of the fracture site followed by oncological management.

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Background: Banana leaf is used in many centers in India during the care of patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and other extensive blistering disorders. Sepsis is an important cause of death in TEN patients and use of banana leaf may be a source of such infection. Aims: We conducted this study to detect the bacterial flora of the banana leaf and to examine various methods of rendering the leaf aseptic. Methods: Five pieces of banana leaf, 2 x 2 cm in size, were cultured separately in blood agar as follows: One piece was heated over a flame and one was soaked in boiling water and one was autoclaved. Methylated spirit was applied over one piece and ignited. One piece was placed on the media, 'as is.' The Petri dishes were incubated examined after 48 h. Results: All the pieces except the autoclaved specimen of the leaf grew coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) when aseptic precautions were not maintained and aerobic spore bearers when all aseptic measures were subsequently instituted during the procedure. Conclusion: We recommend measures to prevent possible transmission of bacterial infection by the leaf. Autoclaved and aseptically handled banana leaves may be used to reduce chance of infection in the treatment of TEN.

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