Pachydermoperiostosis: dermatological, neurological and radiological observations

Pseudoacromegaly

Individuals with acromegaloid physical appearance or tall stature may be referred to endocrinologists to exclude growth hormone (GH) excess. While some of these subjects could be healthy individuals with normal variants of growth or physical traits, others will have acromegaly or pituitary gigantism, which are, in general, straightforward diagnoses upon assessment of the GH/IGF-1 axis. However, some patients with physical features resembling acromegaly - usually affecting the face and extremities -, or gigantism - accelerated growth/tall stature - will have no abnormalities in the GH axis. This scenario is termed pseudoacromegaly, and its correct diagnosis can be challenging due to the rarity and variability of these conditions, as well as due to significant overlap in their characteristics. In this review we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of pseudoacromegaly conditions, highlighting their similarities and differences with acromegaly and pituitary gigantism, to aid physicians with the diagnosis of patients with pseudoacromegaly.

Effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs among patients with primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO), also known as pachydermoperiostosis is a rare genetic disease which predominantly affects skin, bone and soft connective tissue. It is characterized by the triad of pachydermia, digital clubbing and periostosis of long bones. Arthralgia or arthritis is also present in most of the cases. Genetic studies have identified the impaired PGE2 metabolism as a culprit for hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in PHO cases. We conducted a systematic review to examine the effectiveness of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), a PGE2 synthesis blocker to reduce the symptoms among PHO patients.

METHODS

We searched the evidence in five databases; Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PubMed. We reported the evidence using narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

Out of 238 identified studies, we selected 26 for the synthesis. All were case reports which included a total of 54 patients. Among them, 39 patients were treated with at least one type of NSAIDs. Around 70% of the patients treated with NSAIDs had clinical improvement for their symptoms, mostly arthritis or arthralgia symptoms.

CONCLUSION

NSAIDs were effective in improving arthralgia or arthritis symptoms in majority of the PHO patients. Therefore, we recommend the use of NSAIDs in PHO patients to treat arthralgia or arthritis.

Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy

Pachydermoperiostosis PDP (idiopathic or primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy) is a rare congenital disease that inherited in an autosomal fashion. The disease is more common in males and develops gradually from adulthood. The disease is characterized by coarse facial features, clubbing of the fingers and radiographic periostitis of the distal long bones. The patient was a 37-year-old man with acroosteolysis and digital clubbing of hands and feet fingers and lion facies.

A case of pachydermoperiostosis treated by oral administration of a bisphosphonate and arthroscopic synovectomy

Pachydermoperiostosis (PDP) is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by pachydermia, digital clubbing, and periosteal hypertrophy. Here, we report a case of PDP showing symptoms consistent with arthritis, which was treated by oral administration of risedronate sodium and arthroscopic synovectomy.

Pachydermoperiostosis: an update

Pachydermoperiostosis (PDP) is a rare genodermatosis, characterized by pachydermia, digital clubbing, periostosis and an excess of affected males. Although an autosomal dominant model with incomplete penetrance and variable expression has been proved, both autosomal recessive and X-linked inheritance have been suggested. However, at present, genetic heterogeneity is not fully supported. The aim of this study is to review the clinical and pedigree data of 68 published PDP families, including 204 patients. This analysis has confirmed an autosomal dominant mutation in 37 families and suggested the existence of an autosomal recessive form in the remaining families. The two forms may differ in clinical severity, intrafamilial variability and prevalence of some features. Additionally, the marked skewed sex ratio could not be easily explained by an X-linked mutation, but alternative explanations (i.e. testosterone promoting proliferation) are discussed.

CRD, Fraguas Filho SR, Costa MAB, Teixeira KISS, Ximenes CA. Osteoartropatia hipertrófica primária (paquidermoperiostose): relato de casos em dois irmãos

Neste artigo apresentamos dois irmãos acometidos pela osteoartropatia hipertrófica primária (paquidermoperiostose). Esta representa somente 3% a 5% de todos os casos de osteoartropatia hipertrófica. Nos nossos pacientes as alterações nos ossos longos são evidenciadas em radiografias convencionais, constando-se em neoformação óssea periosteal e alargamento das diáfises.