Clinical and experimental dermatology
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Clin. Exp. Dermatol. · Nov 2004
Review Case ReportsOral squamous cell carcinoma during long-term treatment with hydroxyurea.
Hydroxyurea (HU) is commonly used for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia, polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythaemia. Patients receiving HU present a number of side-effects including skin/mucosa changes and tumours. Mucocutaneous abnormalities include xerosis, ichthyosiform lesions, dark brown pigmentation of skin folds and nails, malleolar ulcers, oral mucositis and oral ulcers. ⋯ HU-induced carcinogenesis is due to both the mutagenic potential of this agent and to an impairment of DNA repair mechanisms after damage by external factors such as ultraviolet radiation. Oral cancer following long-term treatment with HU has been reported only once, in a patient with concomitant multiple skin tumours. We present the unique case of a patient with polycythemia vera who developed oral cancer after 15 years of HU therapy.
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Clin. Exp. Dermatol. · Nov 2004
Clinical TrialTopical tacrolimus for treatment of childhood vitiligo in Asians.
Childhood vitiligo is a common disorder of pigmentation in India. Considering the lack of uniformly effective and safe treatment modalities for children with vitiligo, search for newer therapeutic agents continues. This study was designed to evaluate the role of topical tacrolimus in the treatment of childhood vitiligo. ⋯ Of these 19 children, repigmentation was marked to complete in 11 (57.9%), moderate in five (26.3%) and mild in three (15.7%) children. Side effects were minimal, such as the pruritus and burning noted in only three patients. Topical tacrolimus is an effective and well-tolerated treatment modality in Asian children with vitiligo.
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Clin. Exp. Dermatol. · Nov 2004
Case ReportsLocalized granulomatous reaction to a semi-permanent hyaluronic acid and acrylic hydrogel cosmetic filler.
Dermalive, an injectable skin filler composed of a combination of synthetic hyaluronic acid and acrylic hydrogel particles was recently developed for soft tissue augmentation. Dermalive produces longer term results than temporary injectable fillers and is associated with a reportedly low incidence of adverse reactions. We describe a marked local reaction to the injection of Dermalive in the nasolabial fold developing within 4 months with histological confirmation of a granulomatous response. To our knowledge there has been only one previous report of a local granulomatous reaction to Dermalive.
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Clin. Exp. Dermatol. · Nov 2004
NK-1 antagonist CP99994 inhibits stress-induced mast cell degranulation in rats.
Mast cells are implicated in stress-induced inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. Mechanisms of stress-induced mast cell degranulation however, are not entirely clear. Here we explore the role of activation of a Substance P (SP) receptor (NK-1) on mast cell degranulation upon exposure to stress in rats. ⋯ Both central and peripheral injection of CP99994 prevented stress-induced mast cell degranulation. Surprisingly, the combination of stress with SP decreased mast cell degranulation, suggesting that high levels of SP may counteract the stress responses. Results in this animal model suggest that NK-1 antagonists may be used therapeutically to treat stress-induced inflammatory skin diseases; however, drug doses should be chosen carefully.