Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · Jul 2011
Patients with profuse hair shedding may reveal anagen hair dystrophy: a diagnostic clue of alopecia areata incognita.
Several patients, especially women, seek advice because of hair loss. They may be diagnosed clinically as having telogen effluvium (TE) or androgenetic alopecia (AGA), but histopathology may reveal that a proportion of them have in fact alopecia areata incognita (AAI). ⋯ The presence of dystrophic hairs and the development of patches of alopecia areata (and their absence in pure AGA) provide a first evidence of the possibility that within the heterogenous condition named TE some patients have in fact AAI.
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · Jun 2011
ReviewIn touch with psoriasis: topical treatments and current guidelines.
This article describes topical therapies and treatment guidelines for psoriasis and is based on a presentation given by the authors at a satellite symposium held during the 19th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 6-10 October, 2010, in Gothenburg, Sweden. The highly variable nature of psoriasis and its individual presentation in patients can make it difficult to choose the most appropriate treatment. There are many treatment options, from topical treatment with emollients for very mild psoriasis, to systemic therapy with fumaric acid esters, methotrexate or biologics for severe disease. ⋯ With regard to safety, two-compound calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate was shown to be suitable for intermittent long-term treatment of mild-to-moderate psoriasis. The findings of the Cochrane review are reflected in the current treatment guidelines from the USA and Germany regarding the treatment of mild-to-moderate psoriasis. In both these guidelines, which will be discussed in this article, the recommended treatments for this patient group are vitamin D analogues and corticosteroids, particularly when used in combination.
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · May 2011
Review Case ReportsAromatase inhibitor-induced skin adverse reactions: exemestane-related cutaneous vasculitis.
Three aromatase inhibitors, namely anastrozole, letrozole and exemestane, which reduce circulating oestrogen, are used to treat breast cancer patients; the therapeutic use of such aromatase inhibitors is quickly increasing. ⋯ As aromatase inhibitors (e.g. exemestane) are increasingly incorporated into the treatment strategy of breast cancer patients, it is important to recognize possible cutaneous adverse effects. Specifically, with regard to cutaneous vasculitis, some patients might progress to severe vasculitis manifestations if the offending drug (e.g. exemestane) is not quickly stopped.
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · Apr 2011
Controlled Clinical TrialA pilot methodology study for the photographic assessment of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients treated with tretinoin.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a common occurrence in patients with acne vulgaris, particularly in those with skin of colour. ⋯ Further study with a larger population is recommended to validate the accuracy of this method.
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · Mar 2011
Comparative StudyCharacterization of hyaluronan and TSG-6 in skin scarring: differential distribution in keloid scars, normal scars and unscarred skin.
Hyaluronan (HA) is a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) with increased synthesis during tissue repair. Tumour necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6) is known to catalyze the covalent transfer of heavy chains (HC1 and HC2) from inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) onto HA, and resultant HC•HA complexes have been implicated in physiological and pathological processes related to remodelling and inflammation. ⋯ TSG-6 is expressed in unscarred skin, where its close association with HA and IαI could give rise to TSG-6-mediated HC•HA formation within this tissue. A reduction in the beneficial effects of TSG-6, caused by diminished protein levels in keloid lesions, could contribute to this abnormal scarring process.