[Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: a clinicopathological study of 14 cases]

BACKGROUND

Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) is one of the most frequent causes of superficial dyspareunia in young women. VVS has a pronounced psychological impact. The results of pathological studies published thus far are controversial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fourteen women with VVS were included in this study and underwent vestibular biopsy. Vulvar biopsies were taken from the orifice of Bartholin's gland. The biopsy samples were stained with a standard stain and PAS and 25 serial sections were prepared for each specimen.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 26 years and VVS had been present for a mean 30 months. Extensive inflammation of mononuclear cells was observed in the vulvar chorionic epithelium. This inflammation was seen mainly around the minor vestibular glands. Mild exocytosis of lymphocytes was noted in the vestibular glands and ducts.

DISCUSSION

Most studies concerning this disease report chronic inflammation of the vulvar vestibular mucosa. This inflammation is seen mainly around the minor vestibular glands. We report the same pattern in our study. Moreover, we observed some exocytosis into the epithelium of minor vestibular glands and the excretory duct. This aspect has not been reported to date, further supporting the individual nature of this entity.

[Lymphocytic infiltrate of the dermis preceding typical Sweet's syndrome]

BACKGROUND

The histologic criteria for Sweet's syndrome consist in prominent oedema of the dermis and a diffuse infiltrate of numerous neutrophils with leukocytoclasis without vasculitis in the superficial and the deep dermis. Several comorbidities have been observed in patients with Sweet's syndrome, particularly hemo-proliferative diseases.

PATIENTS

We report the cases of two men aged 60 and 75 years with Sweet's syndrome associated in one case with myelodysplasia and in the other with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. These two patients had typical edematous plaques highly evocative of Sweet's syndrome. However, histological examination revealed superficial and deep perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate in the dermis on 5 occasions before the typical neutrophilic dermatosis of Sweet's could be diagnosed after respectively 2 and 4 years of progression.

DISCUSSION

Histological findings in Sweet's syndrome are characteristic and constitute a major diagnostic factor. However, these two cases show that a lymphocytic infiltrate can occur months or even years before the appearance of typical neutrophilic infiltrate in patients with Sweet's syndrome.

Aspects dermatologiques au cours de la maladie de Lyme

Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne zoonosis due to bacterial infection by Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato The disease presents differently in Europe or North America and may be called European borreliosis when acquired in Europe. Lyme borreliosis evolves in 3 stages. The main manifestations include cutaneous, neurological, and joint involvement. Erythema migrans (EM) is the most specific and most frequent finding in patients with Lyme borreliosis. It is the hallmark of early-localized borreliosis. EM is a slowly expanding red macula that occurs in about 60-80% of patients contracting Lyme borreliosis. Central clearing of the red patch can occur. It appears at the site of the tick bite, 7 to 20 days after the bite. Borrelial lymphocytoma (BL) occur rarely in patients with the early-disseminated stage of the disease. BL is a red or brown nodule or plaque located on the nipple, the earlobe, the scrotum, or the face. It should not be confused with cutaneous B-cell lymphoma. Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) is the cutaneous manifestation of late borreliosis. It starts as a violaceous patch, usually located on the extensor surface of a limb. Periarticular nodules and cords can also be present. Without treatment, it will evolve over weeks or months to the typical atrophic stage with extensive dermo-epidermal atrophy and visibility of superficial veins. Only these 3 manifestations are clearly related to an infection with B. burgdorferi. The relationship between infection with B. burgdorferi and other dermatoses, especially morphea, lichen sclerosus, and interstitial granulomatous dermatitis is still debated.

Trends in melanoma epidemiology suggest three different types of melanoma

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that the incidence of thin melanomas but not of thick tumours is rising in fair-skinned populations, although the reason for this discrepancy is not understood.

OBJECTIVES

To describe temporal trends in melanoma epidemiology in a limited part of France in order to confirm this observation and to provide an explanation.

METHODS

This is a retrospective population- and academic centre-based study in which all melanomas diagnosed in the department of the Bas-Rhin, France between January 1980 and December 2004 were included.

RESULTS

The study included 2094 melanomas diagnosed in 2020 patients. There was a steady increase in incidence of thin (< 1 mm) melanomas, mainly located on the trunk, and to a lesser extent in the head and neck region, in both sexes, and of intermediate (1-2 mm) melanomas in men. The incidence of intermediate melanomas in women and of thick (> 2 mm) melanomas, as well as mortality related to melanoma, remained stable. There was a steady decline of mean and median Breslow thickness. The 12 months median delay to diagnosis of thick tumours was significantly shorter than the 24 months delay to diagnosis of thin tumours.

CONCLUSIONS

Temporal trends suggest the existence of three unrelated types of melanoma: type I, thick melanomas, with stable incidence; type II, thin melanoma with a steady and important increase in incidence, mainly located on the trunk; and type III, melanoma with a slower increase in incidence, mainly located on the head and neck region.

Vasculite leucocytoclasique compliquée d’une atteinte rénale grave au décours d’une primo-infection à Parvovirus B19

BACKGROUND

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis following Parvovirus B19 primary infection has occasionally been reported in children but it occurs rarely in adults. We present an original case report with severe renal complications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A 33-year-old man presented with fever and eruption of the abdomen and members. Papules and vesiculopustules were associated with oral and genital ulcerations. These lesions subsequently became purpuric and necrotic. Histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of pustulous leukocytoclastic vasculitis with IgA deposits. Laboratory investigations showed elevated sedimentation rate, hepatic cytolysis and renal impairment (hematuria, leucocyturia and proteinuria 1.5 g/24 hours). Anti-parvovirus B19 IgM were positive. Three months after the eruption resolved, IgM were undetectable while anti-parvovirus B19 IgG appeared. Renal injury progressively worsened: elevation of proteinuria (5 g/24 hours) and diminution of creatinine clearance (51 ml/min). Renal biopsy showed glomerulonephritis with mesangial IgA deposits. Major proteinuria persisted one year after the disappearance of dermatological lesions in spite of ACE inhibitor treatment.

DISCUSSION

The role of Parvovirus B19 has been suspected as an aetiological agent in many kinds of vasculitis, e.g. polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener's disease and leucocytoclastic vasculitis. In this case report, the detection of specific IgM and the absence of other factors associated with vasculitis are consistent with a causal role of Parvovirus B19. In previously published cases, the prognosis of parvovirus B19-associated vasculitis does not seem to differ from that of idiopathic vasculitis. To our knowledge, this is the first case exhibiting concomitant and persistent severe renal involvement.

Which complement assays and typings are necessary for the diagnosis of complement deficiency in patients with lupus erythematosus? A study of 25 patients

INTRODUCTION

Deficiencies in components of the classical pathway of complement activation are strong risk factors for lupus erythematosus (LE).Yet, it has not been addressed whether the conventional measurements of the serum hemolytic CH50 activity and antigenic concentrations of C3 and C4 are sufficient to asses a deficiency in C4A, C4B or C2 components, the most common deficiencies associated with LE.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a retrospective series, we performed complement analyses in 35 patients with LE who were systematically screened for a complement deficiency. The majority of patients had cutaneous LE with mild systemic involvement and no complement consumption. Of 25 patients (72%) with complement deficiency we found 13 with a partial C4A deficiency, 2 with a complete C4A deficiency, 6 with a partial C4B deficiency, 2 with a complete C4B deficiency and 2 with a combined partial C2 and C4A deficiency.

RESULTS

The total complement activity (CH50) was decreased in only one out of two patients with complete C4B deficiency. CH50 level was found to be low-normal (35-38 U/ml(-1)) in one patient with partial C4B deficiency, one patient with complete C4B deficiency and both patients with combined partial C4A and C2 deficiency. Total C4 levels were normal in 9 out of 13 the patients with a partial C4A deficiency and in 2 out of 6 patients with a complete C4B deficiency. The antigenic concentration of C3 was low in only 1 patients with a complete C4B deficiency and within the normal range in all the others patients. Overall, 50% of the patients had normal or elevated C3, C4, and CH50 levels.

DISCUSSION

This study emphasizes that the usual measurements of CH50, C3 and C4 levels are not adequate to detect a C4 and/or C2 deficiency in patients with LE. In epidemiologic or investigative studies addressing the prevalence of complement deficiency, more elaborated diagnostic tests, such as C4 protein allotyping, C2 level measurement and genetic screening for type I C2 deficiency should also be performed.

Pyoderma gangrenosum as initial manifestation of Graves' disease

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon ulcerative condition. It is most commonly associated with inflammatory bowel disease, haematological malignancies and autoimmune disease. We report on two patients have developed PG during the initial course of Graves' disease (GD), prior to treatment of this condition. The lesions completely cleared with treatment by colchicine in the first case and with oral ciclosporin in the second case. The report emphasizes that a diagnostics of PG should be considered in patients with GD and skin ulcers.

The combination of complement deficiency and cigarette smoking as risk factor for cutaneous lupus erythematosus in men; a focus on combined C2/C4 deficiency

BACKGROUND

Although deficiencies in the early components of the complement system were among the first identified genetic risk factors for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), only a few studies addressed their significance in patients with cutaneous LE (CLE). Among environmental factors, it was postulated that cigarette smoking might intervene in the pathogenesis of LE.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical and biological features of patients with CLE and a complement deficiency. A secondary objective was to assess cigarette smoking in patients with CLE.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study including all patients diagnosed as having LE between 1995 and 2003 in the Dermatology Department of Strasbourg University Hospital. Patient charts were reviewed and those patients in whom a C4 and/or C2 deficiency was diagnosed were included. Two patients with a combined C2/C4 deficiency were analysed in detail.

RESULTS

There were 48 females and 37 males (F/M ratio = 1.3), with a mean age of 41 years at diagnosis; 73% of the patients had chronic LE and 27% subacute CLE. Among 32 screened patients, 24 patients with a mean age of 36 years had a complement deficiency; 17 had a C4A deficiency, five a C4B deficiency and two a combined C4A/C2 deficiency. A high proportion (58%) of these patients was male; 82% of the patients were smokers. This was especially true in males: 94% were smokers compared with 69% of females.

CONCLUSIONS

Partial deficiency of C4, C2 or C4 and C2 is a common finding in patients with CLE. Most male patients with CLE are smokers. It is thus suggested that the combination of cigarette smoking and complement deficiency could be a risk factor for LE in men.