The Schnitzler syndrome. Four new cases and review of the literature

The Schnitzler syndrome is characterized by a chronic urticarial eruption with a monoclonal IgM gammopathy. The other signs of the syndrome include intermittent elevated fever, joint and/or bone pain with radiologic evidence of osteosclerosis, palpable lymph nodes, enlarged liver and/or spleen, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and leukocytosis. The mean delay to diagnosis is more than 5 years, and this syndrome is of concern to internists and many medical specialists. Patients with this syndrome are often initially considered to have lymphoma or adult-onset Still disease, which are the main differential diagnoses. However, hypocomplementic urticarial vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, cryoglobulinemia, acquired C1 inhibitor deficiency, hyper IgD syndrome, chronic infantile neurologic cutaneous and articular (CINCA) syndrome, and Muckle-Wells syndrome should also be excluded, because diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical and biologic signs and there is no specific marker of the disease. The disease pursues a chronic course, and no remissions have yet been reported. Disabling skin rash, fever, and musculoskeletal involvement are the most frequent complications. Severe anemia of chronic disease is another serious complication. The most harmful complication, however, is evolution to an authentic lymphoplasmacytic malignancy, which occurs in at least 15% of patients. This hematologic transformation can occur more than 20 years after the first signs of the disease, thus patients deserve long-term follow-up. Treatment is symptomatic and unsatisfactory. The skin rash is unresponsive to treatment, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, antihistamines, dapsone, colchicine, and psoralens and ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy give inconstant results. Fever, arthralgia, and bone pain often respond to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. In some patients, these symptoms and/or the presence of severe inflammatory anemia require steroids and/or immunosuppressive treatment, which ameliorate inflammatory symptoms but do not change the course of the skin rash.

[Blaschko-linear dermatitis in adulthood (Grosshans-Marot disease) with antinuclear antibodies]

E. Grosshans and L. Marot first described blaschkitis in 1990 as a linear inflammatory dermatitis following lines of Blaschko in an adult patient. We report another case which occurred in a 38-year-old woman who developed an extensive, linear, erythematosquamous dermatitis involving the face, all limbs and the trunk. The patient's serum tested positive for antinuclear antibodies at a dilution of 1:640. The lesions regressed spontaneously within 4 weeks. Blaschkitis is a distinct entity which corresponds neither to a known inflammatory dermatitis in the lines of Blaschko nor to an hamartoma nor to an X-linked disease. Cutaneous antigenic mosaicism, the expression of which might be induced by a viral infection, could trigger this localized inflammatory T-cell response. This hypothesis relates blaschkitis to other cutaneous autoimmune diseases, as does the presence of antinuclear antibodies. We therefore suggest renaming this type of inflammatory dermatitis Grosshans-Marot disease in honour to the dermatologists who first described the entity.

Schnitzler syndrome: heterogeneous immunopathological findings involving IgM-skin interactions

The Schnitzler syndrome is the association of chronic urticaria, intermittent fever, osteosclerotic bone lesions and a monoclonal IgM gammopathy. It is not yet firmly established whether the monoclonal immunoglobulin component plays a part in the pathophysiology of the urticarial lesions. Immunoblotting on epidermal and dermal human skin extracts as well as immunoelectron microscopic (IEM) studies on Lowicryl K4M-embedded skin sections were performed in three patients with the Schnitzler syndrome. Western blotting on epidermal extracts showed the presence of IgM-kappa antiskin autoantibodies in two patients. These antibodies displayed the same isotype as the monoclonal components and recognized a 280-290-kDa antigen in one patient and a 200-kDa antigen in the other patient. IEM studies showed sparse IgM deposits in the epidermis, around the keratinocytes, near the desmosomes in one patient and dense deposits below the lamina densa, in the region of the anchoring fibrils, in another patient. Antiskin IgM autoantibodies of the same isotype as their monoclonal gammopathies can be present in the serum of some patients with the Schnitzler syndrome. These IgM antibodies seem to deposit in vivo in the epidermis and at the dermal-epidermal junction, in the region of the anchoring fibrils. These findings suggest that the monoclonal gammopathy plays a part in the pathophysiology of the skin rash. They also suggest patient heterogeneity both in the skin antigens that are recognized as well as in their localization.

Direct molecular typing of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species in synovial samples from patients with lyme arthritis

Since Lyme arthritis was first described in the United States, it has now been reported in many countries of Europe. However, very few strains of the causative bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, have been isolated from synovial samples. For this reason, different molecular direct typing methods were developed recently to assess which species could be involved in Lyme arthritis in Europe. We developed a simple oligonucleotide typing method with PCR fragments from the flagellin gene of B. burgdorferi sensu lato, which is able to differentiate seven different Borrelia species. Among 10 consecutive PCR-positive patients with Lyme arthritis from the northeastern France, two species were identified in synovial samples: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto in 9 cases and B. garinii in 1 case. Conversely, all B. burgdorferi sensu lato species detected in 10 consecutive PCR-positive biopsies from a second set of patients with erythema migrans from the same geographical area were identified as either B. afzelii or B. garinii (P < 0.001). These results indicate that B. burgdorferi sensu stricto is the principal but not the only Borrelia species involved in Lyme arthritis in northeastern France.

Eccrine porocarcinoma, tricholemmal carcinoma and multiple squamous cell carcinomas in a single patient

A 75-year old woman without remarkable medical history presented with a large eccrine porocarcinoma of the trabelucar type located on her leg. This tumor was associated with two invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the legs, two Bowen's diseases of her thigh and arm and multiple actinic keratoses of the face. Despite major surgery, local recurrence of the porocarcinoma was observed 6 months later. During the 3-year follow-up after a second surgical intervention, this lesion did not reccur, but the patient developed a rapidly enlarging ulcerated tumor of the forehead which proved to be tricholemmal carcinoma. Although no carcinogenetic factor or familial history of multiple neoplasms could be evidenced, the occurrence of multiple tumors of various histogenesis over a 1 year period of time is unlikely to be fortuitous. Such an association of rare adnexal neoplasms has not yet been described.

[Oral ulcers induced by nicorandil: prevalence and clinicopathological aspects]

INTRODUCTION

The first observations of "giant buccal aphthosis" induced by nicorandil were published in 1996. Nicorandil is a potassium channel activator used in the treatment of angina pectoris, which seems to induce specific buccal ulcerations. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinicopathologic data of patients with aphthosis induced by nicorandil and to study the prevalence of this side effect.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We have seen 3 patients who spontaneously consulted, and 5 patients who were addressed to us after a telephone survey. We have then examined 100 consecutive patients treated by nicorandil for at least 1 month, who were hospitalized in 3 departments of cardiology in Strasbourg, and 100 age- and sex-matched controls who were treated by other antianginal drugs.

RESULTS

Our 8 patients suffered from large, chronic and painful ulcerations of a 4-week duration, located on the tongue, the gingiva and the cheeks despite various symptomatic treatments. In one case, histopathologic data were consistent with an eosinophilic ulcer. Prospective study: among 100 patients treated by nicorandil, 5 had unusual chronic buccal ulcerations, whereas none of the 100 controls had aphthosis (p = 0.03). The confidence interval (99 p. 100) of this side effect prevalence was therefore 1 p. 100 to 14 p. 100.

DISCUSSION

Nicorandil can induce large and painful buccal ulcerations with severe dysphagia, weight loss, and depression. Dermatologists should be aware of this particular side-effect, since our study showed a high prevalence, and because lesions heal rapidly after withdrawal of nicorandil. Why nicorandil may be associated with mouth ulcers remains unanswered. A past history of aphthae could be a cofactor of this side-effect.

[Cutaneous lymphoma manifesting as pigmented, purpuric capillaries]

INTRODUCTION

A few cases of patients with both purpuric pigmented dermatitis and cutaneous lymphoma have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognosis of purpuric pigmented dermatitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a monocentric retrospective study at the dermatology department of the university hospital of Strasbourg. The records of all patients hospitalized for purpuric pigmented dermatitis between 1967 and 1997 have been reviewed.

RESULTS

Eight women and 9 men aged between 17 and 84 years were hospitalized for purpuric pigmented dermatitis during the reference period. Except for one patient, all had had a cutaneous biopsy showing the typical features of purpuric pigmented dermatitis. On the basis of clinical signs and course, one patient was thought to have contact dermatitis and three patients were thought to have a purpuric pigmented dermatitis-like drug eruption (meprobannate, pefloxacine and lorazepam or aspirin). The mean follow-up was one year. During follow-up, two patients developed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma after two and four years respectively and one patient developed Hodgkin's disease with skin and lymph node involvement. Another patient who suffered from purpuric pigmented dermatitis for four years had a monoclonal T cell population within the dermal infiltrate. Two patients died of their lymphoma.

DISCUSSION

This study shows that purpuric pigmented dermatitis can be associated to or evolve into lymphoproliferative disease. This course should be suspected when purpuric pigmented dermatitis is extensive, long-lasting (> 1 year), has a reticular arrangement and negative patch-testing. In this situation, a long-term follow-up and treatments indicated in the early patch stage of mycosis fungoides (PUVA therapy, chlormethine) seem adequate.

[Macrophage activation syndrome disclosing leukemic transformation of mycosis fungoides]

BACKGROUND

Mycosis fungoides can mimic pigmented purpuric dermatitis. We report such a case which progressed to peripheral T-cell lymphoma; progression was revealed by reactive hemophagocytic syndrome (RHS).

CASE REPORT

A 65-year old male patient was hospitalized for a pigmented and purpuric eruption. The skin lesions appeared 2 years earlier and at that time biopsy had shown pigmented and purpuric dermatitis. One month before hospitalization, general signs appeared. On admission, he had papular and purpuric rash, mainly on the trunk, hepatosplenomegaly, enlarged axillar and inguinal lymph nodes, and fever at 38.2 degrees. A skin biopsy showed histologic changes typical of mycosis fungoides. He also had bicytopenia, hepatitis, and increased triglyceride and ferritin levels suggesting RHS which was proved by means of bone marrow biopsy. These tests also evidenced peripheral T-cell lymphoma. The patient was treated with two courses of chemotherapy (CHOP) but the disease progressed and he deceased.

DISCUSSION

Mycosis fungoides can occasionally begin with an eruption very closely resembling pigmented purpuric dermatitis. Therefore, repeated biopsies should be done in case of widespread permanent pigmented purpuric dermatitis of no apparent origin. RHS is a life-threatening disease. The diagnosis should be suspected in any cytopenic patient with fever, increased triglyceride levels and abnormal liver tests. A search for an etiology must then be undertaken a prompt treatment is needed.

[Primary cutaneous monomelic B-cell lymphoma]

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous B cell lymphomas, especially when appearing as a monomelic papulonodular eruption, are rare.

PATIENT

Ms H. 87-year-old, consulted for a papulonodular eruption of the left lower limb which developed during the past 5 months. This limb had been the site of a lymphedema since a traumatism 8 years ago. Histopathological analysis and immunostaining of a nodule showed that it was a large cell lymphoma of follicular stem cells. There was no extracutaneous involvement and the patient was successfully treated with radiotherapy. Two months after the completed radiotherapy a cutaneous relapse on the trunk and the upper limbs was treated with cyclophosphamide-vincristine-prednisone chemotherapy.

DISCUSSION

Lymphedema probably played a role in the genesis of this lymphoma presumably by reducing the local immune response. It may have harmed endothelial cells and maintained an antigenic stimulation leading first to lymphocyte hyperplasia and eventually to a true lymphoma, in the same way this has been proved for some MALT lymphomas.

[Interstitial granulomatous dermatitis and paraneoplastic rheumatoid polyarthritis disclosing cancer of the lung]

INTRODUCTION

Interstitial granulomatous dermatitis is a histological entity usually associated with systemic auto-immune conditions or malignant lymphoproliferation. Its spontaneous regression after surgical treatment of a lung cancer suggests an eventual paraneoplasic variant.

OBSERVATION

A 62 year old male patient, a smoker, was hospitalized for weakness, pruritus and symmetrical arthritis of small and large joints. Numerous rheumatoid nodules were located on the extensor aspects of the involved joints. During hospitalization, he developed an inflammatory plaque located on a thigh, which showed histologic features consistent with the diagnosis of interstitial granulomatous dermatitis. He had elevated E.S.R., blood eosiniphilia, and the search for antinuclear antibodies and antineutrophilic leukocyte cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA), of the p-ANCA type, was positive. A lung C.T. scan showed a cavitary tumor. Surgical removal of this tumor evidenced a bronchial squamous cell carcinoma. Four week after surgery, clinical signs and eosinophilia disappeared. After 6 months, ANCA became undetectable.

DISCUSSION

Parallelism between the evolution of the cutaneous and articular symptomatology and of the cancer are diagnosis of paraneoplastic rheumatoid arthritis and paraneoplastic interstitial granulomatous dermatitis. Paraneoplastic rheumatoid arthritis is very unusual and this is the first reported case of simultaneously occurring paraneoplastic interstitial granulomatous dermatitis.

[Lymph node and cutaneous syndrome associated with bone plasmacytoma]

INTRODUCTION

We report two patients in whom a slowly growing erythematous thoracic lesion led to the diagnosis of an underlying plasmocytoma. After the treatment of the latter, the cutaneous lesions disappeared, strongly suggesting a link between the two manifestations.

CASE REPORTS

The two male patients, aged respectively 66 and 73 years old, had erythematous thoracic plaques. In both cases, extensive laboratory work-up and a histological examination of a cutaneous biopsy did not allow a precise diagnosis. The two patients had a solitary bony plasmocytoma located beneath the cutaneous plaques. The plasmocytomas were discovered respectively 2 and 4 years after the first cutaneous manifestations and were associated to histological non-specific lymph node hyperplasia. Treatment of the plasmocytoma led to the disappearance of skin lesions in both patients.

DISCUSSION

In both cases, an erythematous scleroderma-like plaque associated to palpable peripheral and mediastinal lymph nodes, was located over a solitary bony plasmocytoma. Treatment of the plasmocytoma led to the disappearance of the cutaneous lesions, strongly suggesting a link between the two manifestations. Such an association has not been previously reported. We think this is a new entity, characterised by a scleroderma-like cutaneous plaque overlying a solitary bony plasmocytoma and associated to superficial and deep lymph node hyperplasia. We suggest to call it "plasmocytoma associated cutaneous lymph node syndrome". Its relationship to the POEMS syndrome and scleromyxedema are discussed. The pathophysiology remains completely unknown; the syndrome regresses after the treatment of the plasmocytoma.

[Photosensitivity as presenting sign of HIV infection. Control with triple antiretroviral therapy]

BACKGROUND

We report a case of photosensitivity which occurred as the presenting sign of HIV infection. Photosensitivity regressed completely after introducing antiretroviral tritherapy.

CASE REPORT

A 44-year-old woman developed a photo-distributed eczematous eruption which did not respond to topical steroids or hydroxychloroquine. Histologic examination showed eczematous dermatitis. T-cell marker analysis showed a majority of CD8 cells in the infiltrate. The patient was found to be HIV-positive and CD4 counts were markedly reduced to 190/mm3 while CD8 counts were increased to 1260/mm3. Antiretroviral tritherapy cured the photosensitivity. Cure was apparently related to increased CD4 lymphocyte and normalized CD8 lymphocyte counts.

DISCUSSION

Photosensitivity was the presenting disorder of HIV infection in this case. Cure of the photosensitivity with antiretroviral tritherapy has not been reported previously. CD8 T-cell infiltration and very low CD4/CD8 ratio would appear to play a key role in the pathogenesis of photosensitivity in these patients.

The significance of the 'dust-like particles' pattern of immunofluorescence. A study of 66 cases

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is a marker of a unique subset of lupus erythematosus patients. A 'dust-like particles' direct immunofluorescence (DIF) staining pattern, which consists of fine granular particles of immunoglobulin(s) scattered through the epidermis and the cellular infiltrates of the dermis, was reported to be specific for SCLE. In this study, we assessed the real specificity of this staining pattern, which had not yet been evaluated. We systematically searched for the dust-like particles staining pattern among the 4374 skin biopsy specimens submitted for direct cutaneous immunofluorescence during a 7-year period (1989-96). The corresponding patient records were reviewed. Dust-like particles were observed in 66 samples originating from 60 patients. Only 53% of the patients had SCLE. The remaining patients had systemic lupus erythematosus with visceral involvement (17%), discoid lupus erythematosus (3%), mixed connective tissue disease (2%). Sjögren syndrome (2%) and other diseases. Eighty-five per cent of the patients had connective tissue disease. Seventy-seven per cent of the patients were positive for antinuclear antibodies, but only 36% were positive for anti-Ro (SSA) antibodies. This study shows that the dust-like particles staining pattern is not specific for SCLE, but is highly suggestive of connective tissue disease. The nature of the antigen responsible for the immunoglobulin deposition and the prognostic significance of this DIF pattern remain to be established.

Annular atrophic lichen planus and Sneddon's syndrome

We report the case of a patient who had 2 rare diseases, annular atrophic lichen planus (AALP) and Sneddon's syndrome (SNS). This patient had also digital nodules with histological abnormalities suggestive of SNS vasculopathy, which have not been reported so far. AALP is the most rare of all varieties of lichen planus since this case is the third reported to date. The association of livedo racemosa and cerebrovascular disease is the hallmark of SNS, the incidence of which is estimated to be 4 cases per year per million inhabitants. In both diseases, an abnormal production of elastic-tissue-degrading enzymes or a constitutional abnormality of the elastic tissue can be postulated, since SNS is characterized by arteriolar changes with deterioration of the internal elastic lamina and AALP by destruction of the dermal elastic tissue.

[Melanoma in the Strasbourg University Hospital. A 30-year study]

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of melanoma has increased more than the incidence of any other cancer in the past twenty years. There is no cure for advanced-staged melanoma and it's early diagnosis has become a main issue of health policy. Therefore, precise epidemiological data are needed. These data depend on the geographical setting and very few data are available for France. We studied these data in Strasbourg.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients hospitalized for melanoma between 1960 and 1989 at the academic dermatology department, Strasbourg, were included in this retrospective, monocentric, study. The diagnosis of melanoma was confirmed in all cases by a dermatopathologist. Clinical, histopathologic and epidemiological data of the patients were recorded.

RESULTS

Six hundred seventeen patients with a mean age of 52 years were included. The number of new patients hospitalized for melanoma grew steadily. The mean tumor thickness was 2.31 mm (+/- 1.59) and it remained unchanged between 1970 and 1989. The mean duration between the first clinical signs of melanoma and excision of the tumor was 22 months. Only 4 p. 100 of the melanomas were diagnosed by means of routine examination, and this concerned almost exclusively patients hospitalized after 1980. Eighty five p. 100 of the patients had localized melanoma (stage I) at time of diagnosis. Forty two p. 100 of the patients developed metastasis. The mean five year survival rate was 68 p. 100.

CONCLUSION

The number of new patients hospitalized each year for melanoma grew steadily, but the mean tumor thickness remained unchanged. This indicates that the ratio "thick"/"thin" melanomas has remained unchanged between 1960 and 1989 and that the number of melanomas of any thickness has increased. Clinical data show an unawareness of the local population of the dangers of pigmented lesions during the reference period. This unawareness can be partially explained by the fact that no specific information campaign has ever taken place in this area. These data suggest that such a campaign should be recommended.