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Caterina Foti

Publications and source records attributed to Caterina Foti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Erythema infectiosum following generalized petechial eruption induced by human parvovirus B19.

Parvovirus B19 is a DNA virus responsible for a wide spectrum of clinical illnesses. Among dermatological manifestations, the most common is erythema infectiosum, also known as the fifth disease. In 1990 Harms et al first described a papular-purpuric gloves and socks syndrome (PPGSS) due to parvovirus B19. It is an acute acral dermatosis characterized by an eruption of petechiae and small purpuric papules affecting the hands and feet in a gloves-and-socks distribution. Recently it was observed that PPGSS may be associated with involvement of the peri-oral region and the chin (acropetechial syndrome) and other sites provoking unusual presentation of the rash. We describe a patient with an acral purpura with the features of the "acropetechial syndrome" involving the buttocks, genital and axillary regions who subsequently developed a maculopapular eruption with the characteristics of the fifth disease. Parvovirus B19 DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) both in skin vasculitic lesions and in the serum during the petechial eruption, before the onset of antibodies. The immune response coincided with the development of the exanthem, suggesting a direct role of parvovirus B19 in the pathogenesis of endothelial cell injury.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Long-term toxic effects of radiations: sarcomatoid carcinoma and multiple basal cell carcinoma of the limbs in chronic radiodermatitis.

A 73-year-old woman was referred to our attention for the presence of severe chronic lymphoedema and neoplastic lesions of the limbs. When she was 19 years old, the patient had undergone X-ray epilation of the limbs to remove unwanted body hair. The neoplastic lesions, observed 2 years before our observation, were excised, and histological examination revealed multiple basal cell carcinomas and a spindle squamous cell carcinoma on the left thigh. The case we observed offers some interesting points of consideration as it shows that in nonexposed areas cutaneous carcinomas can appear many years after irradiation and that the same treatment consequently requires careful follow-up for life. Another point of interest is the particular hystological aspect of neoplastic lesions in the site of radiodermatitis that requires in-depth immunohistochemical investigation for an exact diagnosis. Patients with previous treatment with ionizing radiation also in nonexposed areas need lifelong follow-up to identify cutaneous tumors at an early treatable stage.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Nickel contact allergy and menstrual cycle.

According to some reports in the literature, the hormonal fluctuations which occur during the menstrual cycle may affect the clinical expression of contact allergy to a greater or lesser degree. In clinical practice, too, patient history often shows exacerbation of the contact dermatitis during the days immediately preceding menstruation. On the contrary, the follicular phase of the cycle seems to have a temporary protective role in inhibiting the eliciting phase of allergic contact dermatitis. One possible explanation for this phenomenon is of immunological type: it has been demonstrated that oestradiol induces inhibition of delayed hypersensitivity type reactions, probably by acting indirectly on cells having a regulatory function in cell-mediated immunity. To investigate any inhibitory effect of the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle on contact sensitization, 30 selected fertile women, allergic to nickel sulfate and with a regular menstrual cycle lasting between 25 and 32 days, were enrolled. Patch tests were performed with a series of 10 serial aqueous dilutions of nickel sulfate, from 5% to 0.0013%. The 30 women were tested at 2 different times, in the ovulatory phase (demonstrated by transvaginal ultrasound) and the progestinic phase; they were subdivided into 2 groups of 15 women: in one group, the tests were made first in the ovulatory phase, and in the other, first in the progestinic phase of the menstrual cycle. There was a minimum interval of 5 weeks between the 2 test phases. The study shows that during ovulation the patch tests elicited significantly less intense responses than in the progestinic phase. These data therefore suggest that the ovulatory phase of the cycle has a significant inhibitory role on delayed hypersensitivity type reactions. For this reason, negative responses to patch tests executed in this phase could likely be false-negatives, and after careful evaluation of the phenomenon and of the clinical condition and patient history, it may be considered advisable to repeat the tests during the progestinic phase of the menstrual cycle.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Recalcitrant scalp folliculitis: a possible role of herpes simplex virus type 2.

We report the case of a 70-year-old man with a 1 year history of relapsing folliculitis of the scalp. Bacteriological, mycological and the Tzanck tests from the lesions were negative. Histopathological study showed suppurative perifollicular flogosis. Virological cultures were negative, while HSV nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) assays made on swabs and histological sections from the scalp lesions demonstrated the presence of herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) in all samples. Skin swabs of healthy areas yielded negative results for HSV-2 infection. The folliculitis showed a marked and quick improvement after therapy with famciclovir suggesting a possible etiologic role of HSV-2 in the scalp folliculitis.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Allergic contact dermatitis to condoms: description of a clinical case and analytical review of current literature.

We describe the case of a 42-years-old non-atopic man who developed a severe eczematous reaction in the genital area some hours after the use of a condom (Settebello-Hatù Durex) containing a retarding cream. Patch test revealed a strong allergic reaction to the retarding cream and to benzocaine and paraben mix contained in the cream itself. Condoms with retarding cream should be avoided in man sensitized to local anestethetics.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The role of 3-dimethylaminopropylamine and amidoamine in contact allergy to cocamidopropylbetaine.

Since it has been found that all subjects with contact allergy to cocamidopropylbetaine (CAPB) have positive reactions to 3-dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA), and reports have appeared in literature of the sensitizing action of amidoamine in products containing CAPB, we aimed to verify the possibility that pure amidoamine may have a sensitizing role in subjects with positive reactions to CAPB. To this end, in 10 patients with contact allergy to a commercial CAPB, we tested DMAPA 1% aq. and a pure amidoamine in concentrations ranging from 0.5% aq. to 0.1% aq. The study showed that all patients with positive reactions to DMAPA reacted to amidoamine at 0.5% and 0.25% aq., while 4 of the 10 also had positive reactions to amidoamine at 0.1% aq. We consider that simultaneous allergic reaction to DMAPA and amidoamine represents cross-reactivity and hypothesize that DMAPA is in fact the true sensitizing substance, while amidoamine, which may in any case release DMAPA in vivo as a result of enzymatic hydrolysis, may favour the transepidermal penetration of the sensitizing agent. In addition, we advise that testing of CAPB be suspended, because, as suggested by chemico-structural analyses and demonstrated in vivo, when thoroughly purified, it no longer has a sensitizing action.

Allergens↗
PubMed2002

Gelatinase expression at positive patch test reactions.

Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes involved in tissue remodelling and extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover. They are secreted in a latent form and activated at the cellular surface by a membrane type-1 MMP (MT1-MMP) and a tissue inhibitor of MMP-2 (TIMP-2) that is also responsible for striking a balance between the proteolytic enzymes and TIMP-2. In allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) patients, MMP-2 and MMP-9, two members of the MMPs family, were increased during the challenge phase, in involved but not uninvolved skin. In contrast, TIMP-2 was more evident in uninvolved than involved skin, while no differences were observed with regard to MT1-MMP staining. Comparing the serum of ACD patients with that of healthy subjects, these differences were not observed. These data suggest that MMP-2 and MMP-9 could play a role in the mechanisms inducing alterations of the epidermal architecture, and in the pathogenesis of the lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Acute allergic reactions to Anisakis simplex after ingestion of anchovies.

Anisakis simplex is a seafish nematode, which is responsible for the well-known human infection (anisakiasis) and can induce IgE-mediated reactions. IgE sensitization to Anisakis simplex can be frequent in particular countries and should be suspected in patients with acute allergic symptoms after ingestion of fish. The etiological role of Anisakis simplex was evaluated in 49 adult subjects with acute allergic symptoms after ingestion of anchovies. Serum-specific IgE and prick tests to anchovy were negative in each patient. Specific IgE reactions to Anisakis were positive in 45 patients and skin tests in 43. Only 3 patients with allergy to the nematode were atopic. However, IgE responses to Anisakis were also observed in habitual consumers of raw fish, without any clinical manifestations, suggesting that the relevance of results of conventional tests has to be interpreted on the basis of clinical aspects.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Persistent B-cell lymphopenia, multiorgan disease, and erythema multiforme caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

We report a 6-year-old girl in whom Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection presenting with erythema multiforme, multiorgan, and hematologic dysfunctions induced a long-standing, marked B-cell lymphopenia. An increase of CD8+ lymphocytes was also detected. We suggest that a selective cytotoxic T lymphocyte-dependent B cell lysis and the expansion of super-antigen activated CD8+ T cells may account for the multiorgan and hematologic disturbances triggered by M. pneumoniae.

Acetaminophen↗