Clinical and experimental dermatology
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Clin. Exp. Dermatol. · May 2004
The distribution of IgG subclasses in the lupus band suggests disease-specific alteration in subclass switching rather than polyclonal B-cell activation.
Deposition of immunoglobulins in the skin of patients with lupus erythematosus (LE), demonstrable as a linear band 'lupus band' at the basement membrane zone (BMZ) by direct immunofluorescence, was first described in 1963. Four decades after the discovery of the lupus band, a basic question regarding the origin of immunoglobulins of the lupus band is still unanswered. Is the lupus band just a manifestation of polyclonal B-cell activation commonly seen in systemic LE (SLE)? The distribution of IgG subclasses deposited in the skin of patients with SLE was identified using immunohistochemistry. The relative restriction of IgG of the lupus band to the IgG3 subclass demonstrated in this study provides evidence against polyclonal B-cell activation as the only cause of the lupus band and suggests disease-specific alteration in subclass switching.
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Clin. Exp. Dermatol. · May 2004
Clinical TrialEfficacy of imiquimod 5% cream for basal cell carcinoma in transplant patients.
Imiquimod 5% cream has proven to be effective in superficial and nodular basal cell carcinomas in nonimmunosuppressed patients and treating squamous cell carcinomas in situ in transplant patients. The objective of this open-label study was to determine the efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream in treating basal cell carcinoma in transplant patients. At our unit, four renal transplant patients and one cardiac transplant patient were diagnosed with 10 basal cell carcinomas in 2001. ⋯ Five basal cell carcinomas received imiquimod 5% cream at night four times weekly for 6 weeks, without occlusion, and the other five tumours were treated on 5 nights per week for 5 weeks. Biopsies taken 6 weeks after the end of treatment showed no tumour in seven of 10 of the cases. Notably, all four superficial basal cell carcinomas, two of the three of nodular lesions and one of the three of infiltrative cases had completely cleared.
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Clin. Exp. Dermatol. · Jan 2004
Topical imiquimod immunotherapy in the management of lentigo maligna.
Melanoma in situ of the lentigo maligna (LM) type is a precursor lesion of LM melanoma. It most commonly occurs in elderly individuals, on the head and neck. Although surgical excision is recommended, this may not be practical for large lesions at cosmetically sensitive sites. ⋯ Imiquimod was well tolerated, except in three patients who experienced an intense inflammatory response. Two of these also developed secondary infection. Imiquimod 5% cream appears to offer a potential noninvasive method for the treatment of lentigo maligna.
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Clin. Exp. Dermatol. · Sep 2003
Case ReportsLamellar ichthyosis associated with pseudoainhum of the toes and eye changes.
Classic lamellar ichthyosis is a rare, autosomal recessive, genetically heterogeneous skin disease caused by mutations in the transglutaminase 1 gene. Pseudoainhum is characterized by the appearance of a constricting band around a digit which may lead to spontaneous amputation. ⋯ A radiometric assay revealed greatly reduced skin transglutaminase activity. To the best of our knowledge, this report is unique as classic lamellar ichthyosis with deficient transglutaminase activity has never been associated with pseudoainhum of the toes and the early development of nuclear cataract.