Debra Chester Kalter

Livedo reticularis due to multiple cholesterol emboli

Three patients with advanced atherosclerotic vascular disease developed multiple cholesterol emboli. The clinical presentation typically includes livedo reticularis of the lower part of the body and purple toes. Small areas of necrosis and ulceration may be present distally, despite palpable pulses. Muscular and abdominal pain, as well as alterations in renal function, may also occur. Cutaneous biopsy reveals characteristic cholesterol clefts within atheromatous debris filling small, deep arterial lumen. Pathophysiologic mechanisms are discussed.

White piedra: evidence for a synergistic infection

To determine the relative roles of coryneform bacteria and Trichosporon beigelii in the pathogenesis of genital white piedra, scrotal hair from 10 subjects was studied. Hairs were examined by light microscopy to determine the relative proportions of each organism, and were also cultured for coryneforms and yeasts. Histologically, hair nodules from five out of nine cases showed a mixture of yeasts and bacteria, four had bacteria alone, and none showed yeast alone. Five strains of T. beigelii were cultured, two strains of Saccharoniyces cerevisiae and 22 strains of coryneforms. The isolates were tested for synergism by a plate‐overlay method. Growth of coryneforms occurred over and around sections of the plate inoculated with T. beigelii but not around the control yeast, S. cerevisiae. There were strain differences in the stimulatory response of both T. beigelii and coryneform strains. In reverse experiments coryneforms did not enhance growth of T. beigelii. It was concluded that white piedra is a mixed infection caused by the synergistic action between T. beigelii and a specific coryneform bacteria resulting in invasion of the hair cuticle and cortex.

Hansen's disease following lymphoma

We report two instances of Hansens disease as a complication of lymphoma. Although patients with leprosy may be at risk for the development of neoplasia, the converse has only rarely been reported. Nonetheless, granulomatous lesions in patients with lymphoreticular malignancy should suggest appropriate studies to rule out Hansens disease, as illustrated by the cases detailed herein.