INTRODUCTION: Thalidomide is the second line treatment of chronic lupus erythematosus. The efficacy of this treatment, the minimal effective doses and tolerance are poorly documented in the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present the data of a single-center retrospective studied among 18 patients with chronic lupus erythematosus, treated with thalidomide from 1998 to 2003. Inclusion criteria were: the presence of clinical lesions evoking the disease, confirmed by histological examination and direct immunofluorescence and treatment with thalidomide for more than 2 months. RESULTS: Mean age on diagnosis was of 35.8 years. Thalidomide had been initiated a mean of 10.6 years after diagnosis of chronic lupus erythematosus. In 13 out of 18 patients, thalidomide had been prescribed because of failure with prior treatments. Fifteen patients were improved by thalidomide (83.3 p. 100), with 11 (61 p. 100) complete and 4 (22 p. 100) partial remissions. Two (11 p. 100) patients were stabilized and treatment failed in one. The mean initial dose was of 100 mg/d (50-150), and maintenance dose was of around 50 mg/d (56 mg/d). The mean follow-up with thalidomide was of 19.4 months. Only one withdrawal due to side effects was reported. The most frequent side effects were: asthenia (33 p. 100), paresthesia (22 p. 100) and weight gain (16.6 p. 100). No side effects were reported in 10 out of 18 patients. DISCUSSION: This study confirms the efficacy of low dose thalidomide in the treatment of chronic lupus erythematosus. In our experience, tolerance to this treatment is good, the most frequent side effect was asthenia, but usually mild. No significant peripheral neuropathy was noted. The fear of side effects, notably neurological, should not delay initiation of thalidomide in the case of failure with current treatments.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The role of topical calcineurin inhibitors in atopic dermatitis.

For more than five decades, topical corticosteroids and emollients have been the mainstay of therapy for atopic dermatitis. However, the potential for side-effects limits the clinical utility of corticosteroids in providing long-term disease control. With a unique mode of action that differs from that of corticosteroids, the steroid-free topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs), tacrolimus ointment and pimecrolimus cream, provide skin-selective treatment that targets key factors involved in the pathogenesis of this chronic disease. An extensive series of clinical trials involving more than 16,000 patients with predominantly moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in tacrolimus studies and over 2000 patients with primarily mild to moderate disease in pimecrolimus studies has shown that both TCIs provide effective and well-tolerated treatment for atopic dermatitis. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that tacrolimus is superior to conventional hydrocortisone-based regimens and does not cause skin atrophy or other steroidal side-effects. Both tacrolimus and pimecrolimus prevent disease flares and provide progressive and sustained disease improvement with long-term therapy. These and other clinical benefits of TCIs are discussed, together with the safety profiles of tacrolimus and pimecrolimus and their use in clinical practice. In addition, this review summarizes findings from the many trials carried out with these agents and outlines how TCIs can provide long-term treatment and control of a chronic skin disease that may persist for years.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2003

[Systemic necrobiotic xanthogranuloma with initial pericardial and pulmonary involvement].

INTRODUCTION: Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma is a rare disease, usually associated with a monoclonal gammapathy. We report a case with pericardial and pulmonary involvement that preceded the appearance of the cutaneous lesions. OBSERVATION: A 58 year-old woman was hospitalized for cardiac tamponade. She has a past history of a ductal carcinoma of the right breast that had been completely cured. Pericardial and pulmonary samples showed a predominantly histiocyte monomorphous infiltrate. Twelve months later, indurated papular-like cutaneous lesions appeared around the eye orbits and on the thorax. The histological examination of the skin revealed a necrobiotic xanthogranuloma and the diagnosis of cutaneous and visceral necrobiotic xanthogranuloma was retained. The patient exhibited an IgG Kappa monoclonal gammapathy of undetermined significance. Sequential treatment with melphalan and general corticosteroids moderately improved the cutaneous lesions but did not modify the monoclonal peak. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the first case of pericardial involvement of a necrobiotic xanthogranuloma. The discovery of the disease, revealed by a visceral manifestation at the onset is uncommon. The subsequent appearance of typical cutaneous lesions permits the retrospective diagnosis of systemic necrobiotic xanthogranuloma. Because its diagnosis is difficult in the absence of concomitant cutaneous involvement, visceral localizations of the disease must be recognized.

Female↗

PubMed2003

[Severe cutaneous drug reactions to celecoxib (Celebrex)].

INTRODUCTION: Celecoxib (Celebrex) is a Cox 2 selective non steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Adverse reactions reported are usually benign, such as maculopapular exanthema. However, recently severe toxiderma have started to appear. We report two patients who developed a sever celecoxib drug skin reaction. OBSERVATIONS: Case no 1. In a 73 year-old woman, treated with celecoxib for cervical arthralgia, a maculopapular exanthema five days after treatment was started. The exanthema, initially edematous and purpural became bullous with multi-visceral failure (disseminated intravascular coagulation, renal failure, hepatitis and pancreatic). The disease slowly regressed. Case no 2. A 72 year-old man, treated for cervicalgia with celecoxib, presented a pustular exanthema of the face and the trunk, ten days after introduction of the treatment, associated with an inflammatory syndrome and hepatic cytolysis. Within 8 days the disease had regressed. In both these patients, the celecoxib patch tests were positive. DISCUSSION: Until now, the side effects reported with celecoxib have been generally benign exanthemas. We report two cases of severe celecoxib-induced toxiderma: a hypersensitivity syndrome with multi-organ failure and an acute generalized atypical exanthematous pustulosis. These severe toxidermas have rarely been reported in the literature, but we now need to reassess the risks with these new molecules.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

[Cutaneous hydration and atopia].

Altered barrier function of atopic skin is characterized by xerosis, which predominantly affects non-inflammatory areas. Xerosis is accompanied by morphological, physical and biochemical modifications. The composition of epidermal lipids in atopic patients is modified both qualitatively and quantitatively. The impact of xerosis and abnormal barrier function in such patients is on different levels: --via excessive permeability to allergens and atopens, --but also via constant staphylococcal colonization of the atopic skin. The role of moisturizing treatments in restoring the barrier function in such patients is an important therapeutic aim. Clinical assessment of the effect of moisturizing topicals relies on objective means (SCORAD index) but also on avoiding corticosteroids or the impact of these moisturizers on patients'quality of life.

Body Water↗