Dermatologic therapy
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Dermatologic therapy · Sep 2014
ReviewVitiligo nonsurgical treatment: a review of latest treatment researches.
Vitiligo is a common depigmenting acquired disorder affecting about 1-2% of the world population, regardless of race, ethnic background, or gender. It is characterized by the appearance of milky white maculae because of a loss of melanocytes. The disfiguring nature of vitiligo causes high psychosocial morbidity. ⋯ We reviewed the latest studies carried out on different nonsurgical treatment modalities used in vitiligo. All nonsurgical treatment aid to repigment or depigmentation the skin, however, many of them require a prolonged treatment course and may yield minimal results as well as carry unwanted side effects. There is a need for further research into the causes of vitiligo and into discovering better treatments.
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Dermatologic therapy · Sep 2014
Case ReportsUstekinumab in severe complicated erythrodermic psoriasis: rapid clearing, safety, and sustained remission.
Erythrodermic psoriasis is a severe type of psoriasis associated with comorbidities and high mortality. Patients with erythrodermic psoriasis need hospitalization and systemic treatment. Conventional drugs and biologic agents may not manage to control refractory and complicated erythrodermic psoriasis resulting from treatment failure. Ustekinumab, a human monoclonal antibody against interleukin-12 and 23, seems to be an effective therapeutic option in erythrodermic psoriasis whenever other therapies have failed.
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Dermatologic therapy · Jul 2014
Case ReportsIntractable vascular autonomic dysregulation (Harlequin phenomenon) in two brothers: another indication for propranolol?
Vascular autonomic dysregulation, in the most extreme presentation known as Harlequin phenomenon, is a rare condition. It manifests as a sudden and brief paroxystic change in skin color, resulting in two different colors on the body. It is supposed that this condition occurs due to a vasomotor instability. ⋯ These patients were treated with propranolol, a nonselective beta-blocker, resulting in improvement of symptoms: only occasional attacks were seen. Beta-blockers act on β1 -adrenoceptors in the heart, thereby preventing the positive chronotropic and inotropic effects mediated by these receptors. We hypothesize that propranolol, which is very lipophilic and therefore also acts on β-receptors of the central nervous system, acts on the sympathetic system.
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Dermatologic therapy · May 2014
Case ReportsTreatment of pruritus in early-stage hypopigmented mycosis fungoides with aprepitant.
Pruritus is a symptom that significantly affects the patient's quality of life in cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). The most effective treatments are those that address the condition itself; however, it is often not possible to control this symptom. Lymphoma-related pruritus normally becomes more severe as CTCL progresses, constituting an important factor for quality of life in these patients. ⋯ In this paper, we describe an excellent response to aprepitant in a female patient with severe pruritus secondary to hypopigmented stage I MF. We would also like to stress the absence of nausea and vomiting of this combined therapy of interferon and aprepitant. Aprepitant could improve tolerance to interferon.
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Dermatologic therapy · Mar 2014
Case ReportsFrictional purpuric eruption associated with angiotensin II receptor blockers.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are drugs generally well tolerated. There are few reports about cutaneous side effects of ARBs. The present authors describe herein four cases of purpuric eruption mainly involving sites of friction in patients taking ARBs. These eruptions completely cleared after stopping the drug and implementing preservative measures to reduce friction.