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C Le Coz

Publications and source records attributed to C Le Coz.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

[Contact allergy to antiseptics: 75 cases analyzed by the dermato-allergovigilance network (Revidal)].

AIM: To determine the clinical features of contact dermatitis caused by antiseptics and to ascertain whether the substance responsible is the antiseptic itself or the excipients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective study based on analysis of all cases reported over a 2-year period to the Dermato-Allergology Vigilance network known as Revidal. Each dossier contained details of the clinical characteristics of lesions, the incriminated antiseptic, the mode of exposure and the results of patch tests done with the antiseptic in question. RESULTS: 75 patients (mean age: 44 years) were sensitized to chlorhexidine (14 cases), hexamidine (20 cases), povidone iodine (14 cases), mercuric antiseptics (3 cases), triclocarban (Septivon, 17 cases), hexamidine-chlorhexidine-chlorocresol (Cytéal, 4 cases), or chlorhexidine surfactant (Hibiscrub), cetrimide or chlorhexidine digluconate (Diaseptyl) (1 case each). Exposure was therapy-related (68 cases), work-related (6 cases; 5 in health workers and 1 in a cattle farmer due to povidone-iodine) or related to cosmetics (1 case, hexamidine). The clinical features consisted mainly of localized contact dermatitis, although generalized eczema occurred in 9 cases due to hexamidine contact. Sensitization was due to the antiseptic itself (53 cases) or to the excipients alone (22 cases), particularly in the 17 cases caused by Septivon. In 27/75 cases (35%), patients exhibited polysensitization to antiseptics belonging to different chemical classes or to other topical drugs. CONCLUSION: Sensitization to antiseptics is probably not rare, with various sources of exposure being present in everyday life. Patch tests are essential for diagnosis in order to distinguish between antiseptic-related and excipient-related sensitization and to screen for polysensitization to topical drugs.

Administration, Topical↗

[Erythroderma with immunoglobulin deposits along the basal membrane. Pemphigoid erythroderma?].

INTRODUCTION: There are many clinical forms of bullous pemphigoid. Nodular, localised, vegetating, vesicular and dysidrosiform variants have been described. The appartenance to the spectrum of pemphigoid was confirmed by the demonstration of antibodies directed against the 230 and 180 kDa BP antigens. Three cases of erythrodermic pemphigoid were recently described. OBSERVATIONS: We describe two cases of patients suffering from erythroderma for several months associated with a linear deposit of immunoglobulins and complement along the basement membrane. In the first observation, the patient suffered from bullae of the legs before developing erythroderma. The positive direct immunofluorescence of the skin was associated with circulating anti basement membrane antibodies, making therefore the diagnosis of erythrodermic pemphigoid possible. In the second case, the patient never developed blisters. We also found a linear deposit along the basement membrane, localized on the dermic side of a skin treated by molar NaCl. No circulating antibodies were found by indirect immunofluorescence or by immunoblott. Direct immuno electron microscopy showed a deposit of immunoglobulins into the deep layers of the lamina lucida and into a part of the lamina densa. CONCLUSION: These two cases suggest that there are true erythrodermic pemphigoid without blisters. The value of the systematic direct immunofluorescence examination of the skin of erythroderma should be evaluated.

Aged↗

[Orbital edema induced by psychotropic drugs?].

INTRODUCTION: Drugs known to be responsible for orbital edema are calcium channel blockers, rifampicin, atracurarium, methylprednisolone and mannitol. We describe three patients with orbital edema induced by psychotropic drugs administrated for a long period of time. OBSERVATIONS: These patients were aged 51 to 73 years, and had orbital edema predominant in the morning, but persisting during the day. All the other causes of orbital edema--including steatoblepharon--were ruled out by medical history and investigations. In one case the edema decreased after the interruption of nearly all psychotropic drugs. DISCUSSION: The exclusive orbital localization of the edema suggests a local or regional mechanism that could be an exacerbation of the physiological morning orbital edema induced by decreased lymphatic flow. This flow is usually enhanced by gravity and automatic palpebral blinking.

Aged↗

Changes in sexual behaviour of patients attending an HIV testing centre: a prospective study 1988-1994.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sexual behaviour changes in patients attending HIV testing during the period July 1988 to June 1994. DESIGN: In a prospective study, 6824 face-to-face interviews were carried out before the HIV test was performed. The frequency of condom use and the number of sexual partners during the 6 previous months were recorded annually from July to June. The data were analysed according to gender, age class and sexual orientation. SETTING: Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France. SUBJECTS: Patients attending the HIV testing centre of Strasbourg. RESULTS: There was a striking increase in the number of attenders of this centre from 358 patients in 1988/89 to 2421 in 1993/94. We observed a significant decrease of homosexuals having more than five partners (p < 0.05) whereas multipartner sex remained unchanged in heterosexuals. There was no change in the proportion of patients having only one partner, except a slight raise in patients under 20 years. All groups showed a very significant increase in condom use, which was especially marked in young heterosexuals aged under 30 years. Nevertheless, condom use remained higher in homosexuals than in heterosexuals in 1993/94. In addition, there was a striking fall of past sexually transmitted disease in heterosexual patients under 20 years during the study period, and a fall in the HIV positivity rate from 1.96% to 0.42%. CONCLUSIONS: A major increase was noted in condom use in all groups and a reduction of multipartner sex in some patients. These data are encouraging in the younger patients, but prevention efforts should also be concentrated on middle aged patients who did not show major sexual changes, although having important risk factors for HIV infection.

Adult↗

Abnormal urinary coproporphyrin levels in patients infected by hepatitis C virus with or without human immunodeficiency virus. A study of 177 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Many cases of porphyria cutanea tarda have been described in association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in young individuals. The link between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and porphyria cutanea tarda is even stronger as more than 50% of patients who have this diagnosis in Italy, France, or Spain are also infected by HCV. To study the role of viral infections on the metabolism of porphyrins, we measured the urinary porphyrin levels in patients with HIV and HCV infections. DESIGN: Survey; prospective study. SETTING: University Hospital of Strasbourg, France. PATIENTS: Sixty-one HIV-positive patients, 56 HCV-positive patients, 60 HIV- and HCV-positive patients, and 51 HIV- and HCV-negative control subjects were randomly selected. None had clinical signs of porphyria or a familial history of porphyria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The porphyrin-excretion profile was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography on fresh urine samples. The HIV and HCV viremias were quantified in the serum by the branched DNA assay. Measures were planned before data collection began. RESULTS: The porphyrin-excretion profile typical of porphyria cutanea tarda was found in only 1 of 177 patients. In the remaining 176 patients, the mean coproporphyrin level was significantly raised in HCV-positive patients and even higher in patients who were HIV- and HCV-positive. The coproporphyrin level was not correlated to the alanine aminotransferase level, the CD4+ cell count, or the HCV and HIV viremias. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of infection with HIV, HCV, or both, the development of a porphyria cutanea tarda urinary profile is a rare event (0.56% in this study), but coproporphyrin excretion is increased. This could be related to hepatic changes induced by the viruses. Our results do not support the hypothesis of a direct viral effect on the porphyrin metabolism. Infection with HIV, HCV, or both may be a major triggering factor, but is not sufficient to induce porphyria.

Adolescent↗

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy in systemic sclerosis and severe morphea.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (EP) is a new immune-modulating therapy which combines cytapheresis and extracorporeal irradiation of leukocytes by UVA. Recently, patients with systemic sclerosis (SS) have been treated by this method, but the efficacy of EP is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EP in SS and in severe morphea. METHODS: In an open study, 7 patients with SS and 2 patients with severe morphea were treated by EP and were evaluated after 6 months of treatment. No other treatments were allowed during this period. RESULTS: Except one vasovagal reaction, EP was well tolerated in all patients. The surface of the cutaneous sclerosis was unchanged in 3 of the 7 patients with SS, whereas it was aggravated in the remaining 4 patients. There was no improvement of the visceral involvement of SS in these patients. Although the duration of SS was less than 4 years in 6 out of 7 patients, we did not observe any significant benefit from EP in SS patients. One patient with generalized morphea had stopped EP after 3 months because of loss of vascular access and could not be evaluated. In the last patient with linear morphea of the upper limbs, a reduction in the number of morphea plaques was observed, and the remaining lesions were less visible after 16 months of EP. CONCLUSIONS: The present results do not corroborate those previously published with regard to the efficiency of EP in SS of recent onset. The efficacy of ECP in morphea needs further confirmation.

Adolescent↗

[Cutaneous larva migrans, autochthonous in France. Apropos of a case].

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous larva migrans is rarely contracted in temperate countries. CASE REPORT: When his house became flooded, he had to stand for a long period of time with mud up to the thigh. Some days later, he developed multiple erythematous, serpiginous pruritic tracts moving 1-2 cm per day over preexisting lesions of the right leg. Local and systemic treatment with thiabendazole led to rapid and definitive cure. DISCUSSION: Cutaneous larva migrans results from the migration of hookworm larvae in the dead-end human host. It is mainly an imported disease and native cases in Europe as reported here are rare. This case demonstrates that the conditions leading to the development of cutaneous larva migrans are rarely found simultaneously in temperate zones.

Adult↗