Splenectomy for HIV-Related Immune Thrombocytopenia Comparison with Results of Splenectomy for Non-HIV Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Splenectomy for HIV-Related Immune Thrombocytopenia Comparison with Results of Splenectomy for Non-HIV Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura ORIGINAL ARTICLE Splenectomy for HIV-Related Immune Thrombocytopenia Comparison With Results of Splenectomy for Non-HIV Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Reginald V. N. Lord, FRACS; Maxwell J. Coleman, FRACS; Samuel T. Milliken, FRACP Objective: To determine the effectiveness and safety of tomy, with an elevation of the platelet count to greater splenectomy for patients with human immunodefi- than 1003109/L. After a median follow-up of 26.5 months, ciency virus (HIV)–related immune thrombocytopenia, all but 1 patient had a sustained complete remission with using the results of splenectomy for patients with non- no need for medical therapy for thrombocytopenia. Sple- HIV immune thrombocytopenic purpura as a control nectomy was more effective in the HIV-related throm- group for comparison. bocytopenia group than in the non-HIV immune throm- bocytopenic purpura group, with significantly higher Design: Retrospective study. platelet counts at 1 week and 1 month after splenec- tomy in the HIV group (t test, P=.02 and P=.009, respec- Setting: Tertiary care university hospital. tively). There were significantly fewer patients needing medical therapy for thrombocytopenia after splenec- Patients: Fourteen patients who underwent splenec- tomy in the HIV group (x2 test, P=.02). There were no tomy for symptomatic, medically refractory HIV- remarkable short- or long-term complications in the pa- related immune thrombocytopenia at this hospital from tients with HIV infection, including no overwhelming 1988 to 1997. During the same period, 20 patients had postsplenectomy infections. Three patients have died, and splenectomy for treatment of non-HIV immune throm- 2 patients have developed AIDS since operation. bocytopenic purpura. Conclusions: Splenectomy is effective treatment for pa- Intervention: Splenectomy. tients with symptomatic HIV-related thrombocytopenia that is resistant to medical therapy. The effectiveness of Main Outcome Measures: Platelet response, need for this treatment suggests that the predominant mecha- postsplenectomy medical therapy, progression of HIV dis- nism of thrombocytopenia in HIV-infected patients is in- ease, and complications. creased destruction of platelets because of platelet- associated immunoproteins. Results: All patients with HIV-related thrombocytope- nia had a complete early platelet response to splenec- Arch Surg. 1998;133:205-210 SYNDROME of immune tients having a platelet count less than thrombocytopenic pur- 1503109/L.3-6 In one large study of HIV- pura (ITP) in homo- infected patients, 5.3% of patients had se- sexual men, now recog- vere thrombocytopenia, with a platelet count nized to be due to human less than 503109/L.3 HIV-related thrombo- Aimmunodeficiency virus (HIV) infec- cytopenia may develop at any stage of HIV tion, was first reported in 1982 by Morris infection; it is not an acquired immunode- et al.1 Similar in many respects to the dis- ficiency syndrome (AIDS)–defining ill- ease termed either idiopathic or immune ness, and it occurs in HIV-infected pa- thrombocytopenic purpura in the non- tients from all HIV high-risk groups. HIV general population, this syndrome has Although one study reported a higher been variously named HIV-related throm- prevalence of HIV-related thrombocyto- bocytopenia, HIV-related (immune) penia in patients with AIDS than in thrombocytopenia, and HIV-associated HIV-infected patients without AIDS,4 the From the Departments of 2 Surgery (Drs Lord and thrombocytopenia. development of thrombocytopenia is gen- Coleman) and Hematology Thrombocytopenia is a common erally thought not to indicate worsened im- (Dr Milliken), St Vincent’s complication of HIV infection, with be- munodeficiency, and patients with HIV- Hospital, Sydney, Australia. tween 10% and 20% of HIV-infected pa- related thrombocytopenia do not get AIDS ARCH SURG/ VOL 133, FEB 1998 205 ©1998 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. Downloaded From: https://jamanetwork.com/ on 10/01/2021 SUBJECTS AND METHODS For patients who had splenectomy for HIV-related thrombocytopenia, the following additional information was recorded: year of HIV diagnosis, month and year of The medical records of all patients who had splenectomy HIV-related thrombocytopenia diagnosis, risk factors for at St Vincent’s Hospital between January 1, 1988, and Janu- HIV infection, and stage of HIV disease at the time of ary 1, 1997, were retrospectively reviewed. Before 1988, operation. Staging was according to the Centers for Dis- HIV infectivity was not included on the computer-based ease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1993 revised classifi- record system of admissions to this hospital. Permission cation,31 in which group 1 is acute HIV syndrome (sero- to review and report on the medical files of HIV-infected conversion illness), group 2 is asymptomatic infection, patients was obtained from the New South Wales Depart- and group 3 is progressive generalized lymphadenopathy. ment of Health and the National Centre of HIV Epidemi- Group 4 is AIDS, defined by the CDC case definitions for ology and Clinical Research. Follow-up information was AIDS, and including in the revised classification all HIV- obtained from the medical records, by postal and tele- infected persons who have less than 0.203109/L CD4+ T phone inquiry with the patients’ local physicians or their lymphocytes (200/µL), or a CD4+ T lymphocyte percent- hematologists, and with the patients. Follow-up informa- age of total lymphocytes of less than 14. The CD4+ count tion was available for all patients. Patients were included measured closest to operation was recorded for each in the non-HIV ITP group if they had been diagnosed as patient, provided that the cell count was measured within having ITP and had isolated thrombocytopenia with no clini- 3 months of operation. cally apparent associated conditions or other causes of Symptoms and signs of thrombocytopenia were re- thrombocytopenia.9 corded for the HIV-related thrombocytopenia group, as were The following information was recorded for patients the details of medical treatment for thrombocytopenia. Only who had splenectomy as treatment for either HIV-related medications given for thrombocytopenia more than 3 thrombocytopenia or non-HIV ITP: age, sex, diagnosis, date months after splenectomy were recorded, to avoid record- of splenectomy, intraoperative and postoperative compli- ing the use of drugs that were being gradually weaned af- cations, and length of postoperative stay. All splenecto- ter operation. Also noted were the results of histopatho- mies were performed through a midline incision. The low- logical examination of the spleen, and whether vaccines for est platelet count before splenectomy, the platelet count 1 encapsulated organisms were given. Follow-up informa- week after splenectomy, and any other available platelet tion recorded included whether there had been progres- counts, were also recorded. End points for recording of post- sion of HIV disease, and whether any severe or overwhelm- operative platelet counts were either the last available count ing infections had occurred. or the last count before institution of medical therapy for Variables for the 2 groups who underwent splenec- thrombocytopenia for patients who relapsed or remained tomy for HIV-related thrombocytopenia or for non-HIV ITP severely thrombocytopenic after splenectomy. were compared using the Student t test and the x2 test. sooner than others.3 Spontaneous remission may occur karyocytes are seen in the bone marrow in both condi- in up to 20% of cases,5,7 and splenectomy is only re- tions, and the spleen is typically of normal size in both quired for the minority of patients who have severe, symp- conditions.19 tomatic, medically resistant thrombocytopenia. There are differences between the 2 diseases, how- There are many similarities between classic ITP in ever. Classic ITP, unlike HIV disease in this society, more non-HIV infected individuals and HIV-related thrombo- commonly affects women, and spontaneous remission cytopenia. Clinical features for both conditions, if pres- may be more common in HIV-related thrombocytope- ent, are the same. These include spontaneous or easy nia. Antiretroviral nucleoside analog drugs such as zi- bruising or bleeding, petechiae, gastrointestinal tract hem- dovudine (AZT) may be helpful in the treatment of HIV- orrhage, and (uncommonly) intracranial hemorrhage. A related thrombocytopenia but are not used for patients rise in the platelet count after administration of cortico- with non-HIV ITP. Unlike classic primary ITP, but simi- steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin is usually ob- lar to secondary ITP that follows a viral infection or drug served in both conditions, although this rise is often not reaction, immune complexes may be more important than sustained after withdrawal of the drugs. Splenectomy is antiplatelet antibodies in the pathophysiology of HIV- effective long-term therapy for patients with classic related thrombocytopenia.20,21 There is also evidence that chronic ITP,8,9 and despite concerns that splenectomy in defective production of platelets, rather than just in- HIV-infected patients might increase the risk of devel- creased destruction of platelets as in ITP, is occurring in oping AIDS10 or overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis, at least some cases of HIV-related thrombocytope- splenectomy has been successfully used for the treat- nia.22-26 The production defect is at the megakaryocyte ment of HIV-related thrombocytopenia.2,11-17 level, perhaps due to infection of the
Recommended publications
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda in a Swedish Population: Risk Factors and Complications
    Acta Derm Venereol 2005; 85: 337–341 CLINICAL REPORT Porphyria Cutanea Tarda in a Swedish Population: Risk Factors and Complications Ingrid ROSSMANN-RINGDAHL1 and Rolf OLSSON2 Department of 1Dermatology, and 2Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Go¨teborg, Sweden There are varying reports on the prevalence of risk factors identified (Human Gene Mutation database: www. in porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). We reviewed 84 uwcm.ac.uk/uwcm/mg/hgmd0.html) (2). patientswithPCTinarestricteduptakeareain Additional genetic or non-genetic factors are needed Gothenburg, Sweden and evaluated different potential for overt disease. Known provoking factors are iron, risk factors for the disease and complications. Besides a alcohol, oestrogen and hepatotropic virus infection such thorough medical history, the patients were investigated as hepatitis C virus (HCV), all of which are associated with urinary porphyrin analyses, transferrin saturation, with inhibition of hepatic UROD activity (3–5). Reports ferritin and liver tests. Subsamples of patients were tested from different countries vary widely regarding the for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (n568), haemochroma- importance of different factors for the induction of the tosis gene mutations (n558) and with the oral glucose disease. For example, reports from southern Europe (6, tolerance test (n531). We found a prevalence of about 1 7), Japan (8) and the USA (5, 9) indicate a very great patient with PCT in 10 000 inhabitants. Nineteen (23%) importance of HCV for the phenotypic expression of patients reported heredity for PCT. Identified risk factors PCT, with figures varying between 56% and 85%. This is were alcohol abuse (38% of male patients), oestrogen in contrast to northern France (10), Germany (11), treatment (55% of female patients), anti-hepatitis C virus Czechoslovakia (12) and New Zealand (13), where PCT positivity (29% of male patients), diabetes (17%) or is less often associated with HCV (positivity rates impaired glucose tolerance (45% of tested patients) and varying between 0 and 23%).
    [Show full text]
  • Psoriasis Findings: Causes, Consequences, and Treatments New Data Reveal More Details Concerning the Extent to Which Psoriasis Affects Individuals
    Take 5 Psoriasis Findings: Causes, Consequences, and Treatments New data reveal more details concerning the extent to which psoriasis affects individuals. Psoriasis Patients Get Less Sleep.In a 16-week study presented at the 2011 AAD Meeting in New Orleans (P 3341), investigators found that psoriasis patients had an average of 12 minutes less of sleep per night than did individuals without psoriasis, which is about an hour and a half less sleep per week. Why psoriasis patients got less sleep is not fully clear, but it is speculated that itching from psoria- sis causes increased sleep disturbances. Authors also indicated that patients with psoriasis were at a 1 60 percent increased likelihood of snoring. In addition, just 47 percent of patients with psoriasis self-reported sleep adequacy, compared to 60 percent of the non-psoriatic population. Alcohol Tied to Development of Psoriasis.Alcohol can directly cause or exacerbate several skin conditions, new research indicates (Skin Therapy Lett. 2011 April; 16(4): 5-7). In particular, alcohol misuse is implicated in the development of psoriasis and discoid eczema, in addition to conferring increased susceptibility to skin and systemic infections. Researchers also noted that alcohol misuse might also 2 exacerbate rosacea, porphyria cutanea tarda, and post-adolescent acne. Patients Can Benefit From Continuous Biologic Treatment. Continuous treatment with ustekinumab (Stelara, Centocor Ortho Biotech) can have a positive impact on a patient’s life, according to new data (2011 AAD, New Orleans. P 3315). The study evaluated patients who either continued or discontinued ustekinumab therapy after 40 weeks of treatment and found a rapid loss of quality of life in patients who discontinued therapy at just 12 weeks after discontinuation.
    [Show full text]
  • Skin Manifestations of Liver Diseases
    medigraphic Artemisaen línea AnnalsA Koulaouzidis of Hepatology et al. 2007; Skin manifestations6(3): July-September: of liver 181-184diseases 181 Editorial Annals of Hepatology Skin manifestations of liver diseases A. Koulaouzidis;1 S. Bhat;2 J. Moschos3 Introduction velop both xanthelasmas and cutaneous xanthomas (5%) (Figure 7).1 Other disease-associated skin manifestations, Both acute and chronic liver disease can manifest on but not as frequent, include the sicca syndrome and viti- the skin. The appearances can range from the very subtle, ligo.2 Melanosis and xerodermia have been reported. such as early finger clubbing, to the more obvious such PBC may also rarely present with a cutaneous vasculitis as jaundice. Identifying these changes early on can lead (Figures 8 and 9).3-5 to prompt diagnosis and management of the underlying condition. In this pictorial review we will describe the Alcohol related liver disease skin manifestations of specific liver conditions illustrat- ed with appropriate figures. Dupuytren’s contracture was described initially by the French surgeon Guillaume Dupuytren in the 1830s. General skin findings in liver disease Although it has other causes, it is considered a strong clinical pointer of alcohol misuse and its related liver Chronic liver disease of any origin can cause typical damage (Figure 10).6 Therapy options other than sur- skin findings. Jaundice, spider nevi, leuconychia and fin- gery include simvastatin, radiation, N-acetyl-L-cys- ger clubbing are well known features (Figures 1 a, b and teine.7,8 Facial lipodystrophy is commonly seen as alco- 2). Palmar erythema, “paper-money” skin (Figure 3), ro- hol replaces most of the caloric intake in advanced al- sacea and rhinophyma are common but often overlooked coholism (Figure 11).
    [Show full text]
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda* Fátima Mendonça Jorge Vieira 1 José Eduardo Costa Martins 2
    RevABDV81N6.qxd 22.01.07 11:11 Page 573 573 Artigo de Revisão Porfiria cutânea tardia* Porphyria cutanea tarda* Fátima Mendonça Jorge Vieira 1 José Eduardo Costa Martins 2 Resumo: Trata-se de revisão sobre a porfiria cutânea tardia em que são abordados a fisio- patogenia, as características clínicas, as doenças associadas, os fatores desencadeantes, a bioquímica, a histopatologia, a microscopia eletrônica, a microscopia de imunofluorescên- cia e o tratamento da doença. Palavras-chave: Cloroquina; Fatores desencadeantes; Imunofluorescência; Porfiria cutânea tardia; Porfiria cutânea tardia/complicações; Porfiria cutânea tardia/fisiopatologia; Porfiria cutânea tardia/patologia; Porfiria cutânea tardia/terapia Abstract: This is a review article of porphyria cutanea tarda addressing pathophysiology, clinical features, associated conditions, triggering factors, biochemistry, histopathology, electronic microscopy, immunofluorescence microscopy and treatment of the disease. Keywords: Chloroquine; Fluorescent antibody technique; Porphyria cutanea tarda/compli- cations; Porphyria cutanea tarda/pathology; Porphyria cutanea tarda/pathophysiology; Porphyria cutanea tarda/therapy; Precipitating factors INTRODUÇÃO A porfiria cutânea tardia é causada pela defi- A descoberta da atividade diminuída da Urod ciência parcial da atividade enzimática da uroporfiri- na PCT levou a sua subdivisão:8 nogênio-decarboxilase (Urod), herdada ou adquirida, que resulta no acúmulo de uroporfirina (URO) e 7- Porfiria cutânea tardia esporádica (Tipo I, sinto- carboxil porfirinogênio, principalmente no fígado.1 O mática ou adquirida) – Representa percentual que termo porfiria origina-se da palavra grega porphura, varia de 72 a 84% dos casos,9-11 sendo a deficiência que significa cor roxa, e foi escolhido em função da enzimática limitada ao fígado, com atividade da Urod coloração de vermelha a arroxeada da urina de doen- eritrocitária normal.12 Não há história familiar.
    [Show full text]
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda Presenting As Milia and Blisters
    PRACTICE | CLINICAL IMAGES Porphyria cutanea tarda presenting as milia and blisters Long Hoai Nguyen MD, Karima Khamisa MD n Cite as: CMAJ 2018 May 22;190:E623. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.180152 generally healthy 71-year- old woman was referred to dermatology for evaluation ofA a six-month history of large blis- ters on the dorsal surface of both hands, associated with mild pruri- tus and burning. When we exam- ined the patient’s hands, we observed multiple vesicles and milia, as well as open bullae larger than 5 mm (Figure 1A). Her only medications were iron supplements Figure 1: (A) Milia, vesicles and erupted bullae larger than 5 mm with surrounding area of erythema on the taken orally for “fatigue” over the dorsum of the hand of a 71-year-old woman with new-onset porphyria cutanea tarda. (B) Persistent bilateral past few months. She consumed milia, after therapeutic phlebotomy. two alcoholic beverages per week. A skin biopsy showed a wide band of perivascular immunoreactivity References consistent with porphyria cutanea tarda. Urine porphyrin analysis 1. Handler NS, Handler MZ, Stephany MP, et al. Porphyria cutanea tarda: an was positive for elevated levels of uroporphyrins. intriguing genetic disease and marker. Int J Dermatol 2017;56:e106-17. 2. Ramanujam V-MS, Anderson KE. Porphyria diagnostics — Part 1: a brief overview Porphyria cutanea tarda is an uncommon disease that most of the porphyrias. Curr Protoc Hum Genet 2015;86:17.20.1-26. 1–3 frequently occurs in men older than 40 years. It is caused by a 3. Bissell DM, Anderson KE, Bonkovsky HL.
    [Show full text]
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Porfiria Cutânea Tarda E Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico
    173 COMUNICATION L Porphyria cutanea tarda and systemic lupus erythematosus Porfiria cutânea tarda e lúpus eritematoso sistêmico Leticia Haendchen 1 Juliana Merheb Jordão 1 Osvaldo Haider 2 Francisco Araújo 2 Thelma L. Skare 3 Abstract: The co-existence of systemic lupus erythematosus and porphyria although rare has been known for a long time. This association forces the physician to make a careful differential diagnosis of the bullous lesions that might appear in such patients and to be careful when prescribing certain drugs such as chlo- roquine. This drug, when used in the regular doses for treating lupus, may cause hepatotoxicity in patients.suffering from porphyria. It is described here the case of a patient with lupus who developed bul- lous lesions compatible with porphyria cutanea tarda. Keywords: Antibodies, antinuclear; Lupus erithematosus, systemic; Porphyrias; Porphyria cutanea tarda Resumo: A associação de lúpus eritematoso sistêmico e porfiria, embora rara, é conhecida de longa data. Ela obriga o médico a realizar um cuidadoso diagnóstico diferencial das lesões bolhosas nesses pacientes e tomar cuidados com a prescrição de certas drogas, como a cloroquina. Esta, nas doses habituais para trata- mento do lúpus, pode causar hepatotoxicidade em pacientes com porfiria. Descreve-se o caso de uma paciente com lúpus que desenvolveu lesões bolhosas compatíveis com porfiria cutânea tardia. Palavras-chave: Anticorpos antinucleares; Lúpus eritematoso sistêmico; Porfiria cutânea tardia; Porfirias Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can pres- since she was 30 when she started to have arthritis, ent itself initially with cutaneous manifestations. This fever, photosensitive rash and feet vasculitis. At this happens with around 23% of the cases.1 In 3/4 of the time proteinuria was found but the patient declined patients with this collagenosis there will be some kind renal biopsy being treated with prednisone, 60 of cutaneous manifestation that can present pro- mg/day with good response.
    [Show full text]
  • Role of Therapeutic Apheresis and Phlebotomy Techniques in Anaesthesia and Critical Care
    Review Article Role of therapeutic apheresis and phlebotomy techniques in anaesthesia and critical care Address for correspondence: Neeta Bose, Hitendra Kanzariya1 Dr. Neeta Bose, Department of Anesthesia, Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society, Gotri, Vadodara, 1Department 7, Laxminarayan Duplex, of Anaesthesia, PSMC, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India Opp. Vipul Vatika, Nr Rajesh Towers, Ellora Park, Vadodara - 390 023, ABSTRACT Gujarat, India. E-mail: neetabosenayak@ Therapeutic transfusion techniques such as apheresis and phlebotomy are frequently used in hotmail.com intensive care units. Use of the apheresis technique for the treatment of various diseases in critically ill patients is growing day by day. There are increasing evidences for using apheresis Access this article online as a primary therapy or as an adjunct to other therapies for various diseases such as thrombotic Website: www.ijaweb.org thrombocytopenic purpura, haemolytic uremic syndrome, drug toxicities, autoimmune disease, sepsis and fulminant hepatic failure. Apheresis is an invasive procedure. It has significant DOI: 10.4103/0019-5049.144685 physiologic consequences, so the care of these patients requires continuous supervision. Quick response code Phlebotomy is performed as an intervention for some disease management. Its use is nowadays restricted to conditions such as polycythaemia, haemochromatosis and porphyria cutanea tarda. In this review, we have looked at various indications, procedure and complications of apheresis and phlebotomy in critical care unit. Key words: Apheresis, phlebotomy, plasmapheresis INTRODUCTION [Table 1] This allows disease resolution or decrease in morbidity.[1,2] The procedure was first Therapeutic transfusion techniques consist of successfully used for the treatment of Waldenstrőm removal of a blood component from a patient macroglobulinemia in 1959.[3,4] Since then, the using apheresis technology for removing defective efficacy of plasmapheresis has been documented in cells or disease mediators.
    [Show full text]
  • CG-MED-68 Therapeutic Apheresis
    Clinical UM Guideline Subject: Therapeutic Apheresis Guideline #: CG-MED-68 Publish Date: 12/18/2019 Status: Revised Last Review Date: 11/07/2019 Description This document addresses therapeutic apheresis, a procedure by which blood is removed from the body, separated into components, manipulated and returned to the individual. There are multiple pheresis procedures that are performed. The therapeutic apheresis procedures addressed in this document utilize devices approved by the United States (U.S.) Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and include the following subcategories: plasmapheresis/plasma exchange, cytapheresis (specifically, erythrocytapheresis, leukocytapheresis, platelet apheresis, red blood cell (RBC) exchange and thrombocytapheresis), low-density lipid (LDL) apheresis, selective high-density lipid (HDL) delipidation and therapeutic apheresis and immunoadsorption (IA) Clinical Indications Medically Necessary: I. Plasmapheresis or plasma exchange is considered medically necessary for any of the following conditions listed in alphabetical order below: A. Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy / Guillain-Barre syndrome B. Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease (Goodpasture's syndrome) when the individual is dialysis- independent or there is evidence of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) C. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) with Factor H autoantibodies or complement gene mutation D. Autoimmune hemolytic uremic syndrome- severe cold agglutin disease E. Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) F. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy when all of the following criteria are met: 1. There is muscle weakness or sensory dysfunction caused by neuropathy in more than one limb; and 2. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) or diagnostic criteria confirm evidence of a demyelinating neuropathy; and 3. Other polyneuropathies such as IgM neuropathy, hereditary neuropathy, and diabetic neuropathy have been ruled out G.
    [Show full text]
  • Dermatology Grand Rounds 2019 Skin Signs of Internal Disease
    Dermatology Grand Rounds 2019 skin signs of internal disease John Strasswimmer, MD, PhD Affiliate Clinical Professor (Dermatology), FAU College of Medicine Research Professor of Biochemistry, FAU College of Science Associate Clinical Professor, U. Miami Miller School of Medicine Dermatologist and Internal Medicine “Normal” abnormal skin findings in internal disease • Thyroid • Renal insufficiency • Diabetes “Abnormal” skin findings as clue to internal disease • Markers of infectious disease • Markers of internal malignancy risk “Consultation Cases” • Very large dermatology finding • A very tiny dermatology finding Dermatologist and Internal Medicine The "Red and Scaly” patient “Big and Small” red rashes not to miss The "Red and Scaly” patient • 29 Year old man with two year pruritic eruption • PMHx: • seasonal allergies • childhood eczema • no medications Erythroderma Erythroderma • Also called “exfoliative dermatitis” • Not stevens-Johnson / toxic epidermal necrosis ( More sudden onset, associated with target lesions, mucosal) • Generalized erythema and scale >80-90% of body surface • May be associated with telogen effluvium It is not a diagnosis per se Erythroderma Erythroderma Work up 1) Exam for pertinent positives and negatives: • lymphadenopathy • primary skin lesions (i.e. nail pits of psoriasis) • mucosal involvement • Hepatosplenomagaly 2) laboratory • Chem 7, LFT, CBC • HIV • Multiple biopsies over time 3) review of medications 4) age-appropriate malignancy screening 5) evaluate hemodynamic stability Erythroderma Management 1)
    [Show full text]
  • Blistering Skin Conditions
    THEME WEIRD SKIN STUFF Belinda Welsh MBBS, MMed, FACD, is consultant dermatologist, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne and Sunbury Dermatology and Skin Cancer Clinic, Sunbury, Victoria. [email protected] Blistering skin conditions Blistering of the skin is a reaction pattern to a diverse Background group of aetiologic triggers and can be classified as either: Blistering of the skin can be due to a number of diverse • immunobullous (Table 1), or aetiologies. Pattern and distribution of blisters can be helpful in • nonimmunobullous (Table 2). diagnosis but usually biopsy is required for histopathology and immunofluoresence to make an accurate diagnosis. Separation of the skin layers leading to acquired blistering can occur due to loss of cohesion of cells: Objective • within the epidermis (Figure 1) This article outlines the clinical and pathological features of • between the epidermis and dermis (basement membrane blistering skin conditions with a particular focus on bullous zone) (Figure 2), or impetigo, dermatitis herpetiformis, bullous pemphigoid and • in the uppermost layers of the dermis. porphyria cutanea tarda. Discussion This distinction forms the histologic basis of diagnosing many of the Infections, contact reactions and drug eruptions should different blistering diseases. Clinical patterns may also be helpful and always be considered. Occasionally blistering may represent are listed in Table 3. Important features include: a cutaneous manifestation of a metabolic disease such as • location of the blisters (Figure 3, 4) porphyria. Although rare, it is important to be aware of the autoimmune group of blistering diseases, as if unrecognised and • the presence or absence of mucosal involvement, and untreated, they can lead to significant morbidity and mortality.
    [Show full text]
  • Diagnostic Clue to Genodermatoses Nails-Part II
    Symposium- Nails: Diagnostic clue to genodermatoses Nails-Part II Arun C. Inamadar, Aparna Palit Department of Dermatology, ABSTRACT Venereology and Leprosy, Sri B.M. Patil Medical College, Nails are cutaneous appendages mostly involved in mechanical functions. However, nails may Hospital and Research Center, BLDE University, Bijapur, reflect presence of various systemic disorders evidenced by alteration of their shape, size, Karnataka, India color or texture. Genodermatoses are multisystem disorders with cutaneous involvement. Many of the genodermatoses present with nail changes and some of these may be the Address for correspondence: clinical pointers to the diagnosis. Diagnostic clues to various genodermatoses derived from Dr. Arun C. Inamadar, nail findings have been discussed. Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Genodermatosis, nail patella syndrome, pachyonychia congenita, yellow nail SBMP Medical College, Key words: Hospital and Research syndrome Center, BLDE University, Bijapur ‑ 586 103, Karnataka, India. E-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION Nail involvement in genodermatoses may be categorized in to three groups for better understanding It is customary to consider nail as an ornamental body and diagnosis [Table 1]; part helpful in finer grip functions of hands and feet. 1. Genodermatoses with characteristic nail changes However, appendageal structures like nail and hair 2. Genodermatoses with significant nail involvement may be as good reflectors as skin for presence of many 3. Genodermatoses with nonspecific nail changes systemic disorders. Cosmetic appeal of well manicured nails is undeniable; at the same time their efficacy as a GENODERMATOSES WITH CHARACTERISTIC NAIL diagnostic tool is well known. CHANGES Genodermatoses are conglomeration of cutaneous and Few genodermatoses present with characteristic nail systemic signs and symptoms and some of these disorders changes which predominate the clinical picture.
    [Show full text]
  • A Treatable Cause of Lymphocytic Meningo- Encephalitis
    Self-assessment corner 437 and play a role in carcinogenesis.' The Final diagnosis attendant liver damage contributes further to malignant liver deposit formation. Porphyria cutanea tarda in a patient with We conclude that, in patients with porphyria Hodgkin's lymphoma. Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pgmj.73.861.437 on 1 July 1997. Downloaded from cutanea tarda, the search for an occult neo- plasm may be of diagnostic and therapeutic Keywords: porphyria cutanea tarda, lymphoma, uro- value. porphyrin decarboxylase 1 Elder GH, Lee GB, Towey JA. Decreased activity ofhepatic 7 Abrados G, Orejas B, Enriquez de Salamanca R, et al. uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase in sporadic porphyria Porphyria cutanea tarda associated with lymphoma. Jf cutanea tarda. N Engl J' Med 1978; 229: 274- 8. Dermatol 1984; 11: 403-6. 2 Lefkowitch JH, Grossman ME. Hepatic pathology in 8 Lai CL, Wu PC, Lin HJ, Wong KL. Case report of porphyria cutanea tarda. Liver 1983; 3: 19-29. symptomatic porphyria cutanea tarda associated with 3 Lelbach WK, Muller TR, Kersjes W, Hartlapp JH, Doss M. histiocytic lymphoma. Cancer 1984; 53: 573-6. Multiple nodular foci in the liver associated with chronic 9 Schacter BA, Yoda B, Israels LG. Human spleen haeme hepatic porphyria after previous treatment of breast cancer. oxygenase and microscomal electron transport system Kin Wochenschr 1989; 67: 592-7. component activity in normal and in patients with haemo- 4 Kostler E, Riedel H, Bunk A. Liver coin lesions in porphyria lytic anaemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and cutanea tarda. Z Arztl Fortbild 1993; 87: 381 - 6. lymphoproliferative disorders. J Lab Clin Med 1979; 93: 5 Flueckiger F, Steiner H, Leitinger G, Hoedl S, Deu E.
    [Show full text]