Biomedical subjects

P G Calzavara Pinton

Publications and source records attributed to P G Calzavara Pinton.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Plasma homocysteine and folate levels in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinaemia is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Patients with severe chronic plaque psoriasis have a higher risk of death due to arterial and/or venous thrombosis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship among plasma homocysteine and folate levels and severity of chronic plaque psoriasis in a selected cohort of patients with psoriasis without known risk factors for acquired hyperhomocysteinaemia. METHODS: We performed a case-control study in 40 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Cases and controls were selected excluding individuals with conditions or diseases associated with acquired hyperhomocysteinaemia, and were also asked to stop alcohol and coffee consumption for 1 week before blood sampling. The plasma levels of homocysteine and folic acid were measured and were correlated with the severity of psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, PASI). RESULTS: Patients with psoriasis had plasma homocysteine levels higher than controls (mean +/- SD 16.0 +/- 5.6 vs. 10.4 +/- 4.7 micro mol L(-1); P < 0.001). Conversely, folic acid levels were lower in patients with psoriasis compared with controls (mean +/- SD 3.6 +/- 1.7 vs. 6.5 +/- 1.7 nmol L(-1); P < 0.001). Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with psoriasis correlated directly with disease severity (PASI) and inversely with folic acid levels. Plasma folic acid levels were inversely correlated with the PASI. No abnormalities of plasma vitamin B(6) and B(12) were found. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with psoriasis may have a tendency to hyperhomocysteinaemia, which may predispose to higher cardiovascular risk. Dietary modification of this risk factor appears relevant to the global management of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Photosensitive erythema multiforme and erythema multiforme-like polymorphous light eruption.

BACKGROUND: Photosensitive erythema multiforme (EM) is a rare disorder. It usually occurs only if a herpes virus infection or ingestion of drugs precedes exposure to sunlight in selected patients. METHODS: We report a 37-year-old man who had recurrent EM eruptions following sun exposures over a period of 20 years. Lesions were prevalently located on exposed skin, but unexposed skin and mucosa of the oropharynx were also affected. The patient had poor tolerance to sunlight and denied having herpes simplex infection or using drugs. RESULTS: Provocative phototest induced clinically and histologically similar lesions at low dose thresholds of UVA (10 J/cm2) and UVB (100 mJ/cm2). CONCLUSION: On the basis of clinical and histological findings and results of phototesting, a diagnosis of photosensitive EM was made. The EM-like variant of polymorphous light eruption is discussed in the differential diagnosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

[Segmental neurofibromatosis. Description of our 2d clinical case and review of the literature].

Segmental neurofibromatosis is characterized by the unilateral and segmental appearance of neurofibromas, schwannomas, plexiform neurofibromas and/or café au lait spots and axillary freckling. The aetiology is not clear but the disorder has been postulated to be secondary to a postzygotic (hence non-transmissable) somatic mutational event. In the present study we describe a 43 year old woman affected by neurofibromas on the left forearm. This is our second report of a case of segmental neurofibromatosis and occurs shortly afterwords the first. To the best of our knowledge only 28 additional cases of this very rare disease have been reported in the literature. Their main features are reviewed.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

[Van der Woude syndrome].

The familial occurrence of lower lip pits (fistulae, sinuses) with or without the cheilo-gnathouranoschisis complex (cleft lip and/or cleft palate) was first described by A. Van der Woude in 1954. The lip pits syndrome is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with high penetrance (80%), but its clinical expression is variable. Sometimes there may be microforms with only conical elevation and/or surface openings without any deeper sinuses at the typical sites and without cleft lip/palate. We examined 8 members of an Italian family and we observed one member with lip pits and submucous cleft palate and 4 members with only lip pits. Three of these affected members had congenital absence of second premolars too. The presentation, mode of inheritance, aetiology and genetic significance of lip pits syndrome are reviewed. In our opinion this is the first Italian report of the Van der Woude syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1987