The British journal of dermatology
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HLA-B*58:01 is associated with allopurinol-induced severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (sCADR) particularly in Han Chinese, but the risk in European populations has seldom been studied. ⋯ Portuguese patients with sCADR from allopurinol, both DRESS and SJS/TEN, have a high frequency of HLA-B*58:01, with an OR similar to European patients with SJS/TEN. This study also extends this association to DRESS in Europeans. The recommendation to genotype systematically before therapy is controversial, particularly when HLA-B*58:01 prevalence in the normal population is low, as in Europe. However it could be an option for patients with other risks factors.
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Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignancy in the white population. It is an important driver of healthcare costs and causes significant morbidity. Topical imiquimod is a good noninvasive treatment alternative for surgical excision in superficial BCC (sBCC). However, there are currently no uniform histological definitions of sBCC. A definition based on tumour thickness might be a good alternative. ⋯ We recommend the use of tumour thickness to define the superficial pattern in pathology reports for BCC as this can help to determine treatment response of sBCC to imiquimod.
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Case Reports
Novel cutaneous effects of combination chemotherapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors: a report of two cases.
The discovery that some melanoma tumours harbour mutations in the BRAF gene (e.g. V600E) and the subsequent development of specific BRAF inhibitors have greatly improved the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Resistance of tumour cells to BRAF inhibitors is reduced by the addition of an MEK inhibitor; both BRAF and MEK inhibitors have been reported to produce a variety of dermatological toxic effects. ⋯ This inflammation manifested in one patient as a nonspecific papular eruption; in the other, in association with clinical regression of multiple benign-appearing naevi during the course of therapy. The significance of sarcoidal-type inflammation occurring during treatment of metastatic melanoma with a combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors is unclear. Its association with the clinical regression of benign-appearing naevi suggests a possible exaggerated inflammatory response to degenerating naevus cells in these lesions.