Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D de Argila.
A 73-year-old woman developed erythroderma with intense pruritus, malaise, and chills 7 days after treatment with intravenous clindamycin. Two years later she experienced a similar reaction with more rapid onset (48 hours) after treatment with aztreonam. Resolution followed withdrawal of treatment in both instances, and intradermal tests proved positive at delayed reading for both drugs.
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Tuberous sclerosis is an autosomal-dominant disease with involvement of several organs, the heart included. The cardiac anomaly most frequently found is the rhabdomyoma association. However, WPW association has also been encountered more common than usual. In the majority of the published related-series, infant or adolescent patients are described. We report the case of a 68-year-old patient with tuberous sclerosis whose first cardiac manifestation was a pre-excited atrial fibrillation. This association is reviewed and the consideration of accessory pathways is highlighted as the first mechanism to take into account when arrhythmias are present in these patients even in adult age.
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Cutaneous amyloidosis and multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A (MEN 2A) have been previously reported in several families. A genetic linkage of both disorders has recently been described. Notalgia paraesthetica has been suggested to be involved in the aetiology of amyloidosis in such patients. We report such an association in a 48-year-old woman with several relatives suffering from MEN 2A. Treatment with topical capsaicin, which has been shown to be effective in notalgia paraesthetica, was not useful in our patient.
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Chemotherapy-induced acral erythema is a peculiar localized cutaneous response to several chemotherapeutic agents, mostly antimetabolites. Taxol is a recently developed antineoplastic drug that acts on the mitotic spindle and does not interfere with nucleic acid synthesis. We describe the first case of taxol-induced acral erythema and report on additional data concerning the pathogenesis of this kind of toxic eruptions.
BACKGROUND: Phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine are sympathomimetic drugs belonging to the phenylamine family. Adverse cutaneous effects associated with these drugs have been reported but, in view of their frequent use, appear to be rare. The very close chemical structures of these drugs could explain potential cross-reactions among them but the results reported in the literature are controversial. CASE REPORT: An 18-year-old woman developed blepharoconjunctivitis after application of phenylephrine and tropicamide eye drops. Four years after this reaction, she took 1 tablet of Narine (pseudoephedrine and loratadine) and 3-4 hours later developed a generalized erythrodermic reaction. Cutaneous biopsy revealed hydropic changes in the basal layer and, in the dermis, moderate edema with slight perivascular lymphocyte and eosinophil infiltrates. Patch tests with European standard series, commercial eye drops, tropicamide, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine and other sympathomimetic agents were applied to the patient's back. After 47 and 96 hours, only the patches with pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine were positive. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that our patient has presented two different reactions with different clinical outcome and histopathology, which are unlikely to be due to cross-reactivity between the drugs involved. We have found no similar coincidences reported int the literature.
BACKGROUND: Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome may manifest as the classical triad (orofacial edema, facial nerve palsy and stable lingua plicata) but monosymptomatic manifestations or combinations of typical symptoms are not infrequent. The available therapeutic options provide only limited success or temporary benefit. CASE REPORT: A 20-year-old man presented with a 7-month history of recurrent episodes of swelling of the upper lip without pain, burning or local pruritus. No causative factors, such as food, drugs or latex, or physical, chemical or emotional conditions could be identified. The patient had been treated with oral antihistamines and corticosteroids with no clinical improvement. Physical examination showed firm edema without fovea, limited to the central area of the upper lip without epidermal changes or symptoms on palpation. The patient had a previous history of facial palsy 6 years previously and recurrent episodes of herpes simplex labialis. Skin prick tests with inhalant aeroallergens, food, latex and Anisakis allergens were negative. Laboratory investigation revealed normal complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, thyroid hormones, biochemistry, complement components (C3, C4 and C1-esterase inhibitor) and CH50, rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies, immune complexes, protein electrophoresis and immunoglobulins. Thorax and paranasal sinus radiographs were clear. Biopsy of the involved area of the lip showed edema with lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration and mononuclear perivascular infiltrates without granulomas, suggesting initial granulomatous cheilitis. Because the patient showed lack of response and/or poor tolerance to prior treatments (deflazacort, clofazimine and metronidazole), intralesional triamcinolone injections were administered with satisfactory response from the first session. CONCLUSIONS: Response to available treatments for Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is highly variable. In the present case, intralesional triamcinolone injections were effective.
BACKGROUND: Few studies have reported delayed hypersensitivity reactions to systemically administered cephalosporins. The diagnostic procedures and extracts for these reactions are not standardized, and little is known about the extent of cross reactivity among different cephalosporins. CASES REPORT: We report 2 cases of delayed hypersensitivity reactions due to cephalosporins presenting as erythrodermia. Case 1. An 80-year-old man developed generalized pruritus and erythema 2-3 days after starting treatment with cefuroxime. The drug was stopped and antihistamines and corticosteroids were administered. The patient improved 5-6 days later, and mild superficial desquamation was observed. Case 2. A 66-year-old woman experienced similar symptoms 4-5 days after beginning cefazolin. She reported a similar reaction with ceftazidime 8 years previously. METHODS AND RESULTS: Skin prick tests and specific IgE against penicillin G and V, amoxicillin, ampicillin and cephalosporins were negative. Intradermal tests with ceftazidime and cefazolin were positive in case 2 at delayed reading. Patch tests using benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, several cephalosporins, aztreonam and imipenem were positive to all the cephalosporins tested (at 48 and 96 hours) and were negative to the other betalactams. Controlled administration of amoxicillin, benzylpenicillin, aztreonam and imipenem was well tolerated by both patients. CONCLUSIONS: 1) We report 2 cases of delayed hypersensitivity reactions due to cephalosporins presenting as erythrodermia. 2) Epicutaneous tests were useful for diagnosis. 3) Both patients tested positive to all cephalosporins and negative to other betalactams.
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