Daniela Boccardi

Birthmarks and transient skin lesions in newborns and their relationship to maternal factors: A preliminary report from northern Italy

Background: A total of 620 healthy term neonates, randomly selected among babies born at the San Paolo Hospital in Milan (Italy), were examined to study the relationship between birthmarks and transient cutaneous lesions in newborns of different ethnic groups. Methods: Information on sociodemographic factors and on physiopathological variables of the pregnancy was collected. Multiple logistic analyses were performed to assess associations between diagnosed skin lesions and various factors. Odds ratios (OR) as a measure of association and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Results: A positive association was found between reduced hypoderm and pregnancy illness (OR = 2.78), hypertrophy genitalia and use of drugs (OR = 1.86) and illnesses in pregnancy (OR = 1.61). Hyperpigmentation in the genital area and Mongolian spot showed significant positive association with geographical area of origin, being systematically more frequent in non-European neonates, while for melanocytic congenital nevi a positive association was observed only for Asiatic newborns (OR = 4.67); salmon patch on the nape showed a significant OR of 1.81 among mothers aged ≧35. Conclusions: Significant associations between some sociodemographic factors and cutaneous lesions of the newborn and anamnestic data related to the pregnancy were found. Dermatologic conditions are common in the newborns and may justify dermatologic examination.

Overweight and childhood psoriasis

D. BE S S I S P . QU ITT ET* V. R IGAU B. GU I L LOT C . G IRARD Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, CHU de Montpellier, 80 avenue Augustin Fliche, FR-34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France *Service d’Hématologie et d’Oncologie Médicale, Hôpital Lapeyronie, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France Service d’Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, Hôpital Gui-de-Chauliac, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France Correspondence: Céline Girard. E-mail: celine-girard@chu-montpellier.fr

Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus (ILVEN) and psoriasis in a child

A male infant, whose father was affected by psoriasis, was first seen in our department at 1 month of life for a “bipolar” seborrheic dermatitis, that resolved without treatment at 7 months of age.

Association of psoriasis-like eruption and Kawasaki disease.

We report a case of a 3‐month‐old female baby showing clinical and hematological signs compatible with Kawasaki disease. A few days after the beginning of the specific therapy, the young patient developed asymptomatic erythematous plaques appearing on the trunk. The histology disclosed a psoriasic pattern. To the best of our knowledge, we describe the youngest baby in the published work developing a psoriasis during the course of Kawasaki disease.

Youngest case of idiopathic calcinosis cutis not associated with Down syndrome

Teris Minsue Chen, MD Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha, MD, MA, MSc Tri H. Nguyen, MD Donald H. Parks, MD, FRCS(C), FACS From the Department of Dermatology, University of Texas – MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; and Devision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Texas – MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Vitamin D status and body mass index in children with atopic dermatitis: A pilot study in Italian children

BACKGROUND Vitamin D (vitD) is involved in important regulatory functions of the innate and adaptive immune system. So, it has been hypothesized that vitD might influence the course of atopic dermatitis (AD). Also obesity may have impact on immune system. The aim of our study was to investigate vitamin D status and body mass index (BMI) in urban children with AD. METHODS 52 children with AD and 43 healthy children were enrolled. SCORAD, BMI and serum vitD levels were evaluated. RESULTS There was an association between vitamin D and the AD occurrence but neither between vitamin D and the AD severity, nor between vitamin D and BMI. A positive correlation was observed between BMI and the AD severity in males. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the complex inter-relationships among atopic dermatitis severity, vitamin D and body mass index and suggests the need to investigate the role of genetic factors and/or gender-related differences to possibly identify new prevention strategies.

Serum cholesterol profile in young children with atopic dermatitis

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