Fabio Piccirillo

A Randomized Double-Blind Study to Investigate the Clinical Efficacy of Adding a Non-Migrating Antimicrobial to a Special Silk Fabric in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

Background: A randomized, double-blind study designed to compare the efficacy of DermaSilk® versus a sleeve of similar structure but minus the AEM 5772/5 antimicrobial finish in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of adding an antimicrobial finish to knitted silk garments on eczema severity and on pruritus in patients with AD. Methods: Thirty patients aged between 3 and 31 years (mean 14.2 ± 7.7) were enrolled. The inclusion criterion was that the patients presented with active AD with eczematous lesions located on the arms without any sign of infection. Each participant was given a set of 4 pairs of knitted silk tubular sleeves marked with seams of different colours. Only one colour was treated with AEGIS AEM 5772/5. This information was unknown to both the clinicians and the patients/parents. At baseline (T0) and after 7 (T7), 14 (T14), 21 (T21) and 28 (T28) days, the patients were evaluated using the following methods: photographic assessment, local modified SCORAD index adapted for only the arm, and parent/patient assessment of pruritus measured with a visual analogue scale. Results: The mean local SCORAD index of both the DermaSilk- and the unmodified-silk-covered arms decreased significantly between baseline (T0) and the end of study (T28). However, while the Derma-Silk group showed a constant decrease each week, the unmodified-silk group showed a significant decrease only in the first 2 weeks of the study. Also the decrease in pruritus values between T0 and T28 was greater for the DermaSilk group. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of including the AEM 5772/5 finish to the specially knitted silk for a long-term improvement of atopic eczema symptoms.

Hypertriglyceridaemia during treatment with adalimumab in psoriatic arthritis

associated with rituximab therapy. Br J Haematol 2003; 121:913–18. 12 Micallef IN, Kahl BS, Maurer MJ et al. A pilot study of epratuzumab and rituximab in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Cancer 2006; 107:2826–32. 13 Voog E, Morschhauser F, Solal-Celigny P. Neutropenia in patients treated with rituximab. N Engl J Med 2003; 348:2691–4. 14 Terrier B, Ittah M, Tourneur L et al. Late-onset neutropenia following rituximab results from a hematopoietic lineage competition due to an excessive BAFF-induced B-cell recovery. Haematologica 2007; 92(Suppl. 3):ECR10.

Response of cutaneous microcirculation to treatment with mometasone furoate in patients with psoriasis

Background.  In patients with psoriasis, videocapillaroscopy has been used to visualize the typical modifications in the microcirculatory architecture.

Facial Flush Reaction after Alcohol Ingestion during Topical Pimecrolimus and Tacrolimus Treatment

tion of small quantities of beer or wine. The patients reported the sudden onset of an itching-burning sensation quickly followed by flushing. The facial reaction occurred within 5 and 10 min after the alcohol ingestion and between 2 and 4 weeks after the start of the treatment. The erythema was confined not only to the treated facial areas, but it also extended to the healthy skin, and its total extension varied among the patients. No other systemic symptoms or signs were recorded during the development of the flush reaction. The facial flushing disappeared after 20–30 min from its beginning. After the end of the treatment, the flush reaction of the face did not reappear even after alcohol intake. None of the patients had experienced such symptoms before, had ever noted intolerance to topical products containing ethanol or was suffering from rosacea. The association between a flush reaction of the face and alco

Discordant Results with Pimecrolimus 1% Cream in the Treatment of Plasma Cell Balanitis

Plasma cell balanitis of Zoon is a chronic, benign, inflammatory dermatosis of the glans penis and prepuce. The exact aetiology is unknown. The treatments described to date have provided only partially successful results. Recently, several reports of plasma cell balanitis successfully treated with calcineurin inhibitors have been published. We report 3 cases of plasma cell balanitis refractory to several treatments with steroids and antifungals treated with pimecrolimus 1% cream applied twice daily: 1 patient had a complete resolution, 1 patient had a marked response but relapsed during the treatment and the last patient had a partial response due to the development of a side effect that precociously required to stop the treatment. One patient referred a slight pruritus after the first applications of the cream that spontaneously disappeared after a few minutes. Additional experiences are needed to determine if topical pimecrolimus is an effective and safe treatment for plasma cell balanitis.

Borrelia infection and pityriasis rosea.

Sir, Pityriasis rosea (PR) is an acute, self-limiting papulosquamous skin disease of uncertain aetiology. Clinical and experimental findings suggest the pathogenic role of an infectious agent (1, 2). Viral and bacterial causes have been proposed, but convincing answers have not yet been found (3). A link between Borrelia burgdorferi and PR was suggested in the 1990s and a roseolar eruption has been reported as a clinical manifestation of the second stage of Lyme disease (LD) (4, 5).