Newton Sales Guimarães

Therapeutic response to thalidomide in Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare disorder of unknown etiology characterized by a triad of symptoms: recurrent orofacial swelling, relapsing facial palsy. and a fissured tongue. A differential diagnosis must be made with other granulomatous diseases, such as sarcoidosis and oral Crohn disease; however, the histologic findings of noncaseating, sarcoidal granulomas support the diagnosis of MRS. RESULTS Many therapeutic modalities have been described for this disease. In this case report, we present a patient with MRS that was treated with thalidomide because of the identification of tumor necrosis factor a in the lesion by immunohistochemical analysis. This is the first reported detection of tumor necrosis factor a in an MRS lesion, as well the first reported use of thalidomide to treat this clinical condition.

Hanseníase associada a granuloma elastolítico

Two cases of leprosy combined with elastolytic giant cell granuloma are reported. Though a coincidental occurrence cannot be excluded, a possible pathogenetic relationship between the two conditions is postulated. It is possible that an immunological mechanism plays a role in the elastolytic process, which could also be caused by actinic damage in the skin altered by leprosy.

Infecção cutânea rara por Acinetobacter baumannii em imunocompetente: relato de um caso

Acinetobacter baumannii is an oportunistic pathogen that used to be considered as having low virulence; however, it is currently known to be involved in infectious processes in patients with immunosuppression, large burns and those under mechanical ventilation in intensive care units. This case report emphasizes the possibility of cutaneous infection by A. baumanni in immunocompetent patients.