PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Caterina Foti

Publications and source records attributed to Caterina Foti.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Occupational airborne allergic contact dermatitis from 2-aminothiophenol.

We report a case of occupational airborne contact dermatitis in a chemical technician working in the pharmaceutical industry, following accidental exposure to the vapors of 2-aminothiophenol (an aromatic hydrocarbon used as a chemical intermediate for chemical and biomedical research). Patch testing showed positive reactions to 2-aminothiophenol 0.1% and 0.01% eth. The importance of patch testing with substances used at work to investigate occupational contact dermatitis is stressed.

Adult↗

Transverse leukonychia in severe hypocalcemia.

We report the case of a 26-year-old man with acral tetany and muscular cramps of the upper limbs associated with hypocalcemia caused by hypoparathyroidism and celiac disease. Physical examination revealed a transverse leukonychia which disappeared after treatment with calcium lactogluconate, calcium carbonate and calcitriol. Hypocalcemia may induce nail alterations with a double mechanism represented by angiospasm and disorganization of the hard keratin and of the integrin subunits.

Adult↗

Relapsing herpes simplex-2 folliculitis in the beard area.

We describe the case of a 52-year-old immunocompetent man with recurrent folliculitis on the left cheek, associated with intense pain. Bacteriological, mycological and Tzanck tests from the lesions were negative. Histopathological study showed an aspecific flogosis pattern. Virological tests carried out on swabs and paraffin-embedded tissue sections from the facial lesions by nested PCR technique (nPCR) demonstrated the presence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV\2) in both samples. Skin swabs from other healthy areas of the face resulted negative for herpetic infection. A diagnosis of recurrent herpetic folliculitis by HSV\2 was made. This case report underlines that even in immunocompetent patients HSV\2 lesions can feature atypical clinical aspects. In dermatological assessment the benefits of routine PCR techniques for differential diagnosis of herpetic infection should be considered above all for the prompt initiation of antiviral therapy and appropriate patient management.

DNA, Viral↗

Tolerance to calcitriol and tacalcitol in three patients with allergic contact dermatitis to calcipotriol.

We describe 3 cases of psoriatic patients who developed a severe eczematous eruption after the use of calcipotriol ointment. For all of them, the dermatitis recovered after the suspension of the calcipotriol ointment and topical application of corticosteroids. We performed patch tests with the standard series of SIDAPA (Italian Society of Environmental, Occupational and Allergological Dermatology), with an integrative series of vehicles and preservatives, with the commercial ointment containing calcipotriol, with its excipients and, finally, with a series of diluted calcipotriol in isopropanol and petrolatum. They all revealed a strong allergic reaction to calcipotriol and also to its dilution in isopropanol (for all patients) and in petrolatum (only one patient). It is interesting to underline that the reactions always occurred on the legs, even if the patients had applied the ointment elsewhere. We can hypothesize that the venom stasis dermatitis of the legs, associated with xerosis, may have favored the penetration of the drug through the skin, increasing the risk of allergic contact sensitization. Finally, cross-reactivity to other vitamin D3 analogue, tacalcitol, and calcitriol was excluded.

Administration, Cutaneous↗