Engin Senel

Imiquimod-induced vitiligo-like depigmentation.

A 32 year-old man presented to our clinic with genital warts, which had been present for the last six months. Dermatologic examination revealed multiple verrucous papules on the shaft of the penis and pubic area and depigmented macules on the glans penis, the shaft of the penis and the scrotum [Figure 1]. Imiquimod 5% cream had been applied to the warts every other night. After two months, he had noticed erythematous lesions on the dorsal surface of the penis and the scrotum. These lesions turned into depigmented areas in three months. Depigmentation never extended to the areas that had not been treated with imiquimod. No repigmentation was noted in a six-month follow-up period. The patient had no personal or family history of vitiligo.

Dermatoscopy of non-melanocytic skin tumors.

Dermatoscopy is a cheap and non-invasive diagnostic technique that improves the diagnostic accuracy of non-pigmented benign and malignant skin tumors. Dermatologist should be aware of dermatoscopic features of non-melanocytic skin tumors to reach the correct diagnosis.

Coeliac Disease-Associated Antibodies in Psoriasis

Background The possible relationship between psoriasis and coeliac disease (CD) has been attributed to the common pathogenic mechanisms of the two diseases and the presence of antigliadin antibodies in patients has been reported to increase the incidence of CD. Objective The aim of this report was to study CD-associated antibodies serum antigliadin antibody immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, anti-endomysial antibody IgA and anti-transglutaminase antibody IgA and to demonstrate whether there is an increase in the frequency of those markers of CD in patients with psoriasis. Methods Serum antigliadin antibody IgG and IgA, antiendomysial antibody IgA and anti-transglutaminase antibody IgA were studied in 37 (19 males) patients with psoriasis and 50 (23 males) healthy controls. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and duodenal biopsies were performed in patients with at least one positive marker. Results Antigliadin IgA was statistically higher in the psoriasis group than in the controls (p<0.05). Serological markers were found positive in 6 patients with psoriasis and 1 person from the control group. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed in all these persons, with biopsies collected from the duodenum. The diagnosis of CD was reported in only one patient with psoriasis following the pathological examination of the biopsies. Whereas one person of the control group was found to be positive for antigliadin antibody IgA, pathological examination of the duodenal biopsies obtain from this patient were found to be normal. Conclusion Antigliadin IgA prominently increases in patients diagnosed with psoriasis. Patients with psoriasis should be investigated for latent CD and should be followed up.

A new combination of multiple autoimmune syndrome? Coexistence of vitiligo, autoimmune thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis

The occurrence of three or more autoimmune disorders in one patient defines multiple autoimmune syndrome. The pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune syndrome is not known yet and environmental triggers and genetic susceptibility have been suggested to be involved. Herein, we report a 47-year-old woman who had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, vitiligo and newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis. Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis was confirmed with histopathologic examination. This case presents a new combination of multiple autoimmune syndrome.

Generalized granuloma annulare in a patient with myelocytic leukemia and chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Granuloma annulare is a granulomatous disorder of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, with different clinical types. Generalized granuloma annulare is a rarely encountered clinical entity. We describe a 60-year-old woman with a 4-month history of generalized annular lesions. She had a history of myelocytic leukemia and chronic hepatitis B virus infection. To date, both acute myelocytic leukemia and hepatitis B virus infection have been described independently in association with generalized granuloma annulare but have never been described together in association with generalized granuloma annulare. Probable etiological causes of granuloma annulare are discussed in our patient.

A warmer world means more beetles and more dermatitis

Dear Sir, Global warming is a hypothesis that the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere is increasing because of the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide that is the most important anthropogenic gas. Global warming controversy includes the causes and the consequences of a possible global warming. Although there is no scientific evidence to claim a man-made global warming, a global climate change may be a serious threat for the future of the world.

Vesiculobullous eruption of the right arm after intravenous clarithromycin

Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. In clinical trials, adverse drug reactions of clarithromycin are usually mild and transient. Only 1% of the adverse reactions are severe. Herein, we present a case with vesiculobullous skin reaction and vein thrombosis caused by administration of intravenous clarithromycin.

Mean platelet volume: A reliable marker of inflammation in recurrent apthous stomatitis and behçet disease?

Background: Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet activation and aggregation. MPV has been found to be related with the inflammation of certain disorders in recent studies. Aims: We sought to investigate whether MPV could be an indicator of inflammation in patients with Behçet disease (BD) and recurrent apthous stomatitis (RAS). Materials and Methods: Our study was designed as a retrospective case-control study and data was retrieved from our institutional database. We randomly generated a total of three study groups from our clinical archive. All controls were sex and age-matched and randomly selected by computer. Eighty-five patients with BD, 82 patients with RAS, and 721 healthy controls were included for the study design. We compared mean MPV values in the patient groups and controls. Results: We found no difference in the mean MPV value between BD group and BD-control group. The mean MPV value was significantly higher in patients with RAS than that in the RAS-control group (9.11 ± 1.01 fL vs. 8.76 ± 1.15 fL, P = 0.045). There was no difference in mean MPV level between BD and RAS group. Conclusion: The association between MPV and inflammatory skin diseases such as BD and RAS should be investigated prospectively in case-control studies. Limitations: Retrospective study design.

Erythema multiforme and erythema nodosum lesions with cervical lymphadenopathy

A 39-year-old otherwise healthy woman presented to our dermatology clinic with a two-week history of a swelling and pain on her neck. She noted a low-grade fever and malaise for ten days. The patient reported no history of tick bite, new medication or consuming raw meat. Physical examination revealed fever (38.3°C), an enlarged, painful 4.5 x 4.8 cm sized lymphadenopathy in the right submandibular area (Figure 1), multiple targetoid erythema multiforme lesions on the palms (Figure 2), and multiple erythema nodosum lesions on the shins (Figure 3). We performed whole blood count, chest X-ray, serological tests (microagglutination test), fine needle biopsy, and neck ultrasonography. Histopathologic examination of the lymph node disclosed epithelioid histiocytes with multinuclear giant cells and a suppurative inflammation (Figure 4a and 4b).

Dermatoscopy: A multicolored lesion on the forehead-Quiz Answer.

Below find the answer to the quiz by Şenel presented in the previous issue of Dermatology Practical & Conceptual (http:dx.doi.org/10.5826/dpc0403a14). Diagnosis: Pigmented basal cell carcinoma.