Corticosteroids are potent drugs used in management of various inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The antiinflammatory effects of corticosteroids cannot however be separated from their metabolic effects. Children are more vulnerable to their side effects, particularly the effects on growth, immunity and adrenal suppression. It is essential for the treating physician to be aware of the side effects and the measures to be taken to minimize them. A side effect that is unique to children is growth suppression, which is helped by alternate day treatment. Administration of small doses of prednisolone (10-15 mg/day or < 0.5 mg/kg/day single dose) on alternate days, does not slow growth velocity significantly. The potency of dexamethasone and betamethasone in suppressing growth is nearly 18 times higher than that of prednisolone. There is some evidence that the administration of growth hormone can reverse these changes.

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Neutrophilic dermatoses comprises of non-infective dermatoses which are histopathologically characterized by neutrophil predominant infiltrate and clinically, respond promptly to corticsteroids. Conditions primarily with vasculitis though neutrophilic are excluded from this group. In this article we intend to briefly outline the approach to diagnose these conditions with histological perspective. The ambiguity regarding few recent dermatosis viz., rheumatoid neutrophilic dermatosis, bowel associated-dermatosis-arthritis syndrome etc. with regard to their inclusion in this group has also been highlighted.

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Background: Combination antibiotic regimens are effective in the treatment of actinomycetoma but many treatment schedules require supervised parenteral therapy for prolonged periods. We describe a schedule that includes parenteral medication in an initial, short phase followed by a longer phase of oral medication. Methods: Sixteen patients with clinically diagnosed mycetoma, who did not show any evidence of a fungal etiology, were treated presumptively for actinomycetoma. Evidence of actinomycotic infection was found on microscopy of granules / discharge and / or histopathological examination in eight (50%) patients. The treatment consisted of an intensive phase (Step 1) with gentamicin, 80 mg twice daily, intravenously and cotrimoxazole, 320/1600 mg twice daily orally for four weeks. This was followed by a maintenance phase with cotrimoxazole and doxycycline, 100 mg twice daily till all sinuses healed completely. The treatment was continued for 5-6 months. Results: Treatment response was assessed monthly. At the end of the intensive phase, there was a significant improvement in all 16 patients. Nine patients who continued the maintenance phase of the regimen had complete healing of sinuses with marked reductions in swelling and induration in 2.4 ± 1.7 months. Maintenance treatment was continued for a mean of 9.1 ± 4.3 months in these patients. Six patients have remained free of disease activity during a follow-up period of 11.1 ± 4.2 months after treatment was stopped. Two patients developed leucopenia and thrombocytopenia necessitating withdrawal of cotrimoxazole. Conclusion: This regimen was effective in treating actinomycetoma. The short duration of the phase requiring parenteral therapy makes it convenient to administer.

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Background : Renal itch is a relatively common and distressing problem for patients with chronic renal failure. Granisetron, is a potent and selective inhibitor of 5-HT3 receptors. There have been some studies about the effect of ondansetron in uremic pruritus and one case report has recently described relief of renal itch with granisetron. Aims : To evaluate the effect of Granisetron on uremic pruritus in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) and Hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: To study the prevalence of uremic pruritus, patients on CAPD and HD were asked to complete a pruritus questionnaire.Their replies were scored based on numerical scales. Pruritus was graded, according to the total points for each patient, as mild, moderate or severe. Fourteen patients with moderate to severe pruritus were enrolled in the trial. During treatment, patients received granisetron (1 mg tablet twice a day P.O), for a period of 1 month. They were asked to score the severity of pruritus twice a day. Results : Seventy seven percent of the patients responded to the treatment and at 1 ^st , 2 ^nd and 4 ^th week the mean values of the pruritus scores were 23, 16 and 8 points respectively. Before starting treatment the score was 31 points ( P =0.03). Weekly clinical and laboratory examination showed no important side effects. Conclusion : Granisetron might be an effective, safe and well tolerated drug for the treatment of uremic pruritus.

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Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is an unusual inflammatory reaction due to infectious and non-infectious causes occurring in human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. IRIS occurs after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. There are no reports of type I lepra reaction due to IRIS in published literature from India. We report two cases of HIV-infected males who presented with borderline tuberculoid leprosy in type 1 reaction after the initiation of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). Case 1 presented with multiple, tender, erythematous and hypoesthetic plaques on the trunk and extremities after 3 months of antiretroviral therapy. In case 2, type I lepra reaction was observed 2 months after the initiation of HAART.

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The Moore Federman syndrome (MFS) is characterized by short stature, stiffness of the joints, characteristic facies and ocular abnormalities. Herein, we report the case of a 45 year-old lady with short stature, thickening of the skin, stiffness of the joints, typical facies, iridodonesis and cataract since the age of 12 years. She had short digits and no family history of similar illness. To the best of our knowledge, this could be the fourth report of MFS.

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Background: Laboratory tests for the diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis lack adequate sensitivity and specificity and a trial of therapy is often used as a diagnostic test in difficult cases. However, the duration for which the trial should be undertaken is not clearly defined. Our previous study indicated that one month of therapy was adequate to detect a clinical response to treatment. However, about half the patients first reported after one month of treatment, some much later. Method: We therefore analysed the treatment records of 107 patients who received four-drug, short course, antitubercular therapy for a diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis in our hospital and who were asked to return for follow-up at biweekly intervals in the first month of treatment. Result: Twenty-one patients did not return for any follow-up visit, nine patients did not respond to treatment and treatment was stopped in one patient. Of the remaining 76 patients, 72 patients were recorded to have distinct clinical improvement within five weeks of starting treatment while only four patients showed improvement after 60-123 (8-17 weeks) days of therapy. Conclusion: These findings indicate that five weeks appears to be an adequate duration of a therapeutic trial in patients suspected to have cutaneous tuberculosis, with the exception of tuberculids and patients showing minimal clinical activity before treatment. Patients who have not responded by this time are unlikely to do so with further treatment and should have their diagnosis reviewed.

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Background: Histopathological evaluation of skin lesions is not feasible in many leprosy endemic areas. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a simpler tool compared to histopathology for the evaluation of the cytomorphology of skin lesions. Aims: To study the cytomorphology of leprosy lesions in fine needle aspirates and correlate it with the histopathology. Methods: Seventy leprosy patients diagnosed and classified according to Ridley Jopling scale were included. Fine needle aspirates were taken from the lesion followed by a skin biopsy from the same site for histopathological examination after H/E staining. Results: Borderline leprosy patients with Type I reaction showed significantly large numbers of giant cells, collagen and elastin in their smears as compared to those without reaction. The smears were more heavily cellular with fragmented collagen and elastin along with significant increase in neutrophils in patients with Type II reaction while foamy macrophages with fatty background were common in non-reactional lepromatous leprosy patients. A complete correlation between histopathological and cytomorphological findings was observed in 77.3% of cases. Conclusion: FNAC may be used as an alternative tool to assess leprosy lesions in areas where histopathological services are not readily available.

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Bullae occurring in lesions of morphea are uncommon. The cause of bullae formation in morphea is multifactorial, although lymphatic obstruction from the sclerodermatous process is considered the likeliest cause. Bullous morphea may be confused clinically with lichen sclerosus et atrophicus since both diseases may cause bullae in sclerodermatous plaques. A 69-year-old woman presented with a history of generalized morphea diagnosed 9 years earlier; and a 1-month history of pruritic bullae on her inframammary folds, axillary regions, lower abdomen, upper extremities and inguinal folds. Physical examination revealed multiple erythematous erosions, hemorrhagic vesicles and eroded bullae with slight scale or crusts overlying hypopigmented, indurated, shiny plaques. Skin biopsy revealed prominent edema in the papillary dermis, resulting in bulla formation and thickening of collagen fibers within the dermis. Direct immunofluorescence was negative. According to histologic and clinical features, the diagnosis of bullous morphea was established.

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There are very few reports of Behηet's disease from India. Familial aggregation of Behηet's disease has been reported with restricted geographical distribution. We report here familial Behcet's disease from India in two brothers aged 30 and 32 years. Both patients had recurrent oral and genital ulcers for approximately five years. They also had arthralgias on and off along with fever. Pathergy test was positive in both cases. Their younger brother and a sister had recurrent oral aphthous ulcers.

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A three month-old boy was brought by his mother with complaints of multiple reddish lesions on his trunk and face since birth. The patient had erythematous annular plaques with scaling on his extremities, palms and soles with periorbital erythema and edema giving the characteristic "eye mask" or "owl's eye" appearance. His mother did not have history of any illness. Hemogram, liver and renal function tests were within normal limits. A skin biopsy was suggestive of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Immunological work-up was positive for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) (1:40) with anti-Ro titers of 3.4 and 3.47 (>1.1 = clinically significant titre) in the mother and child respectively, although negative for anti-La antibodies. The child's electrocardiogram and 2D echocardiography were normal. We are presenting a case of anti-Ro-positive cutaneous lupus erythematosus with an uncommon skin manifestation.

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Background: Pemphigus autoantibodies have been reported in healthy relatives of pemphigus patients suggesting a genetic predisposition in the pathogenesis of the disease. Aims: To test for the presence of pemphigus autoantibodies in healthy relatives of Turkish patients of pemphigus. Methods: The study group comprised 45 pemphigus patients, 75 unaffected family members and 47 healthy individuals in the control group. Direct and indirect immunofluorescence techniques were performed to determine the presence of pemphigus autoantibodies. Results: By indirect immunofluorescence staining, circulating pemphigus autoantibodies were found in 26.7% of the relatives and in only two of the controls ( P value = 0.0001). A direct immunofluorescence technique revealed positive results in three (4%) of the relatives and none of the controls. Conclusion: The presence of pemphigus autoantibodies in clinically healthy relatives indicates that genetic predisposition is necessary but not sufficient for the development of clinical disease.

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Background: Intralesional sodium stibogluconate (SSG) has become first line therapy for localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL). Aims: This study compares the efficacy of intralesional SSG given alone with that of intralesional SSG combined with intramuscular SSG. Methods: Thirty-two patients aged between 5-56 years were included in the study. The first group received three injections of intralesional SSG on alternate days while the other group received three injections of intralesional SSG similar to the first group and the rest of the calculated dose as a simultaneous, intramuscular injection. Patients were followed up every four weeks to assess for cure/ the need for repeating the treatment. Results: Five patients from group 1 having small nodular lesions of < six months duration were cured after 1-2 treatment cycles. However, six patients with mucosal lesions, large lesions and lesions of > six months duration needed 3-5 treatment schedules. Most plaques and mucosal lesions in seven patients in group 2 cleared with two treatment cycles. Conclusion: Intralesional combined with intramuscular SSG appears more effective in LCL and gave qualitatively superior healing than intralesional SSG given alone

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A sixteen year-old male patient with no history of consanguinity in the family, reported with patchy, thickened lichenified plaques over the whole body. Some areas had normal skin while some were Blaschkoid lesions. The child had delayed milestones along with hypogonadism. Digital contracture with palmoplantar keratoderma was present. Histopathology showed characteristic vacuolar degeneration of the upper epidermis and suprabasilar keratinocytes with hyperkeratosis.

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