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Biomedical subjects

J Marcoval

Publications and source records attributed to J Marcoval.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Calciphylaxis associated with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Calciphylaxis is an uncommon disease characterized by calcification of dermal vessels that determines skin necrosis. Calciphylaxis has been almost exclusively reported in association with renal failure and altered phosphor-calcium metabolism. Only a few cases have been described in hyperparathyroidism, malignancies, and, recently, cirrhosis. We report a patient that developed calciphylaxis related to end-stage alcoholic cirrhosis, without any alteration in the phosphocalcic and parathyroid hormone metabolisms. Possible contributing factors were repeated albumin infusions and low levels of protein C and S.

Biopsy↗

Subcutaneous sarcoidosis--clinicopathological study of 10 cases.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous sarcoidosis is a specific cutaneous lesion of sarcoidosis that is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to analyse the clinicopathological features of 10 patients with subcutaneous sarcoidosis and its relationship with the systemic features of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients with systemic sarcoidosis, diagnosed from 1974 to 2002 at a university hospital in Barcelona, Spain, who developed subcutaneous involvement, were included in the study. The diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis was made according to conventional criteria. All the patients were monitored prospectively at the sarcoidosis clinic of the hospital. Skin biopsies were performed when granulomatous cutaneous involvement was suspected clinically. RESULTS: Granulomatous cutaneous involvement was demonstrated in 85 of 480 patients with systemic sarcoidosis. In 10 of these 85 patients subcutaneous sarcoidosis was diagnosed (11.8%). The lesions were most frequently located in the extremities, involving the forearms in nine patients. Indurated linear bands from the elbow to the hand were observed in five patients. In all of our patients the subcutaneous nodules appeared at the beginning of the disease. In six patients, the nodules remitted spontaneously in less than 2 years. In two cases foreign particles were detected under polarized light. CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous sarcoidosis is a quite uniform clinicopathological entity usually appearing at the beginning of the disease. It usually heralds forms of sarcoidosis with nonsevere systemic involvement and is not associated with chronic fibrotic disease.

Adult↗

Coumarin necrosis induced by renal insufficiency.

Cutaneous necrosis is an infrequent complication of coumarin therapy. Skin necrosis has usually been reported in patients with congenital protein C deficiency or, less commonly, protein S deficiency. However, this complication may also occur with acquired and transient protein C and/or S deficiency. In coumarin therapy there is a relatively hypercoagulable state at the start of treatment, and most lesions appear between the third and sixth days. We describe a 75-year-old man receiving coumarin therapy (acenocumarol) for 7 years who was given a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent (diclofenac) for a pain in his knee. Two days later, his renal function deteriorated and skin necrosis became evident. Biopsy showed histological changes consistent with coumarin-induced necrosis. Protein C and S levels were normal. We concluded that in our patient acute renal insufficiency aggravated by diclofenac treatment probably associated with an inadvertent withdrawal could have been the precipitating factor for transient protein C deficiency.

Acenocoumarol↗

Risk factors for development of de novo neoplasia after liver transplantation.

Liver transplant recipients are at greater risk for de novo neoplasia, especially lymphoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer; however, risk factors for this complication have not been well studied. Clinical and pathological records of 137 consecutive liver transplant recipients who had survived for at least 1 year were reviewed to register de novo neoplasia. Ten variables were analyzed for their association with the development of de novo malignancies by means of a log-rank test and stepwise selection in a multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model. Thirty de novo neoplasias appeared in 22 of 137 transplant recipients between 12 and 104 months after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT; median follow-up, 69 months): 14 patients had 21 skin cancers, 6 patients had solid-organ cancer, and 3 patients developed a lymphoproliferative disease. Probabilities of de novo neoplasia were 13% at 5 years post-OLT and 26% at 8 years post-OLT. The only associated risk factor for any neoplasia was age. Age and hepatocarcinoma were independent risk factors associated with skin cancer. That hepatocarcinoma in the explanted liver is an independent risk factor for skin cancer suggests there is individual susceptibility to both neoplasias.

Adolescent↗

Foreign bodies in granulomatous cutaneous lesions of patients with systemic sarcoidosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the presence of foreign material in the granulomatous cutaneous lesions of patients with systemic sarcoidosis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational study reevaluating histological specimens at a university referral hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty-five patients diagnosed as having sarcoidosis who developed granulomatous cutaneous involvement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To detect the presence of polarizable foreign particles in cutaneous biopsy specimens and to evaluate the association with clinical features of the patients. RESULTS: Granulomatous cutaneous involvement was demonstrated in 65 (15.3%) of 425 patients with systemic sarcoidosis. In 14 (22%) of the 65 patients, the cutaneous biopsy specimen showed foreign particles in polarized light. The skin lesions corresponded to 3 different clinical patterns: an admixture of papules and infiltration of previously undetected minute scars (n = 6); scar sarcoidosis (n = 4); and subcutaneous nodules (n = 4). The lesions were located most frequently in the extremities, involving the knees in 10 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of polarizable foreign body material in granulomatous cutaneous lesions is not infrequent in patients with systemic sarcoidosis. Inoculation of foreign matter from a previous inapparent minor trauma may induce granuloma formation in individuals with sarcoidosis.

Adult↗

[Skin reactions to interferon alpha in a series of 92 patients with multiple sclerosis].

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of multiple sclerosis patients develop cutaneous reactions by interferon beta 1b (IFN-beta). The am of this study was to describe clinically and histologically the cutaneous reactions by IFN-beta. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 92 patients with multiple sclerosis in treatment with IFN-beta was followed. Cutaneous biopsy was performed in cases with persistent lesions. RESULTS: 9 out of 92 patients presented eritematous plaques, 4 cutaneous ulcers and 1 sclerodermiform plaques. Vascular thrombosis was demonstrated in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with multiple sclerosis treated with IFN-beta the persistent skin lesions are more frequent in female patients. Generally is not necessary to stop the treatment.

Adult↗

Löfgren's syndrome revisited: a study of 186 patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features, the results of noninvasive tests and biopsies, and the outcome of patients with Löfgren's syndrome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed as having Löfgren's syndrome at a university hospital in Barcelona, Spain, from 1974 to 1996, were prospectively followed. Löfgren's syndrome was defined as the association of erythema nodosum or periarticular ankle inflammation with unilateral or bilateral hilar or right paratracheal lymphadenopathy. RESULTS: Löfgren's syndrome was diagnosed in 186 patients. The mean age was 37 +/- 11 years, and 157 (85%) were women. In 91 patients (49%), symptoms started during the spring (P < 0.0001). Erythema nodosum, periarticular ankle inflammation, or both were present at onset in 173 patients (93%). At the time of diagnosis, 161 patients (87%) had no respiratory symptoms; 151 (81%) had stage I abnormalities on chest radiograph, 29 (16%) stage II, and 6 (3%) stage 0. Five percent of patients had decreased forced vital capacity, and 15% had decreased carbon monoxide diffusing capacity. Extrathoracic involvement was infrequent. Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme levels were increased in 50% of patients. Gallium-67 scans showed hilar uptake in all the studied patients, but it yielded useful additional diagnostic information only in those with normal chest radiographs or with unilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. The diagnosis was proven with biopsy results in 63% of patients. None of the patients without histologic confirmation were subsequently found to have a diagnosis other than sarcoidosis. In the 133 patients who were followed for a mean of almost 5 years, 11 (8%) continued to have active disease, and 8 (6%) had several recurrences between 18 months and 20 years after a complete resolution. A normal serum angiotensin-converting enzyme level at diagnosis was associated with disease resolution without recurrence. CONCLUSION: Löfgren's syndrome is usually a self-limiting form of sarcoidosis. Histologic confirmation is not necessary in typical cases. In a small number of patients, the disease may remain active or recur long after its onset, although usually with mild organ dysfunction.

Adolescent↗

Diffuse plane xanthoma: clinicopathologic study of 8 cases.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse plane xanthoma (DPX) usually has been described in association with a reticuloendothelial disease. However, the incidence of an underlying disease and its relation to clinical and histopathologic features have not been previously described. OBJECTIVE: We describe the clinicopathologic features of a series of patients with DPX. METHODS: Eight patients with DPX were diagnosed and studied between 1987 and 1996. RESULTS: Three of the 8 patients had a reticuloendothelial disease (benign monoclonal gammopathy in 2 and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in 1). These 3 patients had larger cutaneous lesions and involvement of trunk and extremities. Histologic examination showed only foamy macrophages in 2 of the 8 patients. The remainder exhibited macrophages, foamy histiocytes, lymphocytes, and Touton cells. CONCLUSION: The incidence of underlying disease associated with DPX seems to be lower than expected. However, patients with DPX should be observed for the potential occurrence of an associated condition.

Aged↗

Prostatic adenocarcinoma with cutaneous metastases overlying oestrogen-induced gynaecomastia.

Carcinoma of the prostate gland is the second most frequent malignancy in males, accounting for 17% of cancer in men; between a third and one-half of these patients will have distant metastases at onset, but rarely cutaneous. We now report a case of prostatic adenocarcinoma with such metastases involving the right nipple and periareolar skin, overlying an area of hormone-induced gynaecomastia.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Cutaneous involvement in sarcoidosis. Relationship to systemic disease.

Sarcoidosis is an antigen-mediated disease defined by granuloma formation in different organs. It involves mainly the mediastinal and peripheral lymph nodes, lungs, eyes, skin, liver, and spleen. Cutaneous lesions of sarcoidosis may be specific, showing histologically noncaseating granulomas, or nonspecific, most typically erythema nodosum. Frequently, both types of skin lesions are the means of presentation of the disease and may contribute to the diagnosis. A workup for systemic sarcoidosis should be undertaken in every patient with sarcoid cutaneous granulomas. Some types of cutaneous lesions have prognostic significance. Lupus pernio and plaques are associated with more severe systemic involvement and more chronic course, while erythema nodosum is the hallmark of acute and benign disease.

Acute Disease↗

Angiogenesis and malignant melanoma. Angiogenesis is related to the development of vertical (tumorigenic) growth phase.

To study angiogenesis in early steps of melanoma progression, 113 cutaneous melanomas 1 mm or less in thickness were stained with Ulex europaeus lectin. Vascular density was determined in the areas of greatest vascularization. To avoid the effect of anatomic location, the quotient between vascular density at the tumor base and in normal skin (vascular ratio) was obtained in each case. Of these melanomas, 46 were immunohistochemically stained for the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Positivity was scored from 1-4 by comparing staining of melanoma cells with keratinocytes. Vascular ratio values in vertical growth phase melanomas were higher than those in radial growth phase when counting per 200 or 400 magnification (2.29 +/- 1.3 and 2.48 +/- 1.5 for vertical growth phase and 1.34 +/- 0.62 and 1.41 +/- 0.83 for radial growth phase melanomas, respectively). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001 at x200 and x400, respectively). Also, VEGF staining was stronger in vertical growth phase melanomas when compared with radial growth phase melanomas (Chi square, p < 0.025). In conclusion, our findings suggest that angiogenesis and VEGF expression are associated with the development of vertical growth phase.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗

Calcinosis cutis following liver transplantation: a complication of intravenous calcium administration.

Calcinosis cutis may be a complication of administration of intravenous calcium solutions. We report four patients who developed calcinosis cutis following orthotopic liver transplantation, all of whom had received calcium chloride solutions intravenously during surgery. There was no evidence of extravasation of the solutions. A gradual improvement of the lesions was seen in the subsequent months. This complication of intravenous calcium infusions is probably related to the large amounts of blood-derived products and of calcium salts administered during surgery.

Adult↗