Intermittent oral cyclosporin for recurrent herpes simplex-associated erythema multiforme

Annular lichenoid diseases

Annular lichenoid diseases encompass a diverse range of pathologies that present as circular, raised, or flat lesions that may vary in size and number. Examples include annular lichenoid dermatitis of youth, annular lichen planus, erythema dyschromicum perstans, erythema multiforme, fixed drug eruption, lichen sclerosus, neonatal lupus, porokeratosis, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and lichenoid syphilis. Clinical morphology and histopathology can differentiate these entities.

Bullous Erythema Multiforme Secondary to Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Use, Treated With Cyclosporine in a 91-Year-Old Male

Erythema multiforme is an acute, immune-mediated, mucocutaneous condition in which 90% of cases are triggered by infection. The second most common cause is drug-induced. It classically presents with itchy, burning targetoid lesions on the skin and mucous membranes. The lesions may be mistaken for other conditions, and thus, rapid and correct diagnosis is crucial. It is most often treated with corticosteroids, though non-responders or those with weakened immune systems may require immunomodulatory therapy. We present the case of a 91-year-old male who developed bullous erythema multiforme after treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole who was successfully treated with cyclosporine.

Uncommon erythema multiforme in small children: experience of a single Romanian pediatric unit: Two case reports

RATIONALE

Erythema multiforme (EM) is an immune-mediated disease with mucocutaneous localization and plurietiologic determinism. The term "multiforme" refers to the variety of aspects that the lesions can take from patient to patient and during evolution in a single patient.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We have selected 2 cases of small children diagnosed with different etiology of EM to illustrate the importance of a correct and fast diagnosis. Case 1 involves a 2-year-old girl from a rural area who presented with fever and pruritic erythematous papular eruption. The onset of the symptoms was 3 days before presentation with fever and ulcerative lesions on the oral and labial mucosa, followed by the appearance of erythematous macular lesions, with progressive confluence to intense pruritic patches. The 2nd involves a 2-year-old boy with fever, loss of appetite, productive cough, and petechiae. He had corticosensible immune thrombocytopenia from the age of 6 months, with many recurrences. The patient received treatment with ampicillin/sulbactam and symptomatics for an erythemato-pultaceous angina. During the 2nd day of treatment the patient developed an erythematous macular eruption on the face, scalp, trunk, and limbs, with bullae formation.

DIAGNOSES

The 1st patient was diagnosed based on biologic findings: positive inflammatory syndrome, elevated level of anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniae immunoglobulin M antibodies and immunoglobulin E. Histopathologic examination described papillary dermal edema, inflammatory infiltrate, and lymphocyte exocytosis. In the 2nd case, the hemoleucogram identified 12,000/mm platelets and the medulogram aspect was normal. Serology for Epstein-Barr virus was negative. The diagnosis was EM secondary to M pneumoniae infection in case 1 and secondary to administration of ampicillin/sulbactam in case 2.

INTERVENTIONS

In both cases, etiopathogenic treatment consisting of steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, antihistamines was administered. Because of specific etiology, the 1st case received antibiotics.

OUTCOMES

The evolution was favorable in 10 to 14 days; the patients were discharged after etiopathogenic treatment consisting of steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, antihistamines, and/or antibiotics.

LESSONS

Performing a detailed clinical examination, medical history of drug use, infection or general diseases can establish a good diagnosis of EM. Histopathologic examination can help. The treatment is etiologic, pathogenic, and symptomatic. EM usually has a self-limited evolution.

Erythema multiforme: Differences between HSV-1 and HSV-2 and management of the disease-A case report and mini review

Erythema multiforme (EM) is an immune-mediated reaction characterized by target lesions and with possible mucosal involvement. Its most frequent cause is HSV, with HSV-1 more common than -2. It is usually self-limited but it can show recurrences. We report a peculiar case of recurrent herpes-associated erythema multiforme (HAEM) in a 35-year-old man. The patient was affected by both herpes labialis and genitalis, but the typical target lesions were only associated with recurrent herpes labialis. Here, we hypothesize about the pathogenic differences between HSV-1 and HSV-2, and discuss the therapeutic management of HAEM.

Current Perspectives on Erythema Multiforme

Recognition and timely adequate treatment of erythema multiforme remain a major challenge. In this review, current diagnostic guidelines, potential pitfalls, and modern/novel treatment options are summarized with the aim to help clinicians with diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making. The diagnosis of erythema multiforme, that has an acute, self-limiting course, is based on its typical clinical picture of targetoid erythematous lesions with predominant acral localization as well as histological findings. Clinically, erythema multiforme can be differentiated into isolated cutaneous and combined mucocutaneous forms. Atypical erythema multiforme manifestations include lichenoid or granulomatous lesions as well as lesional infiltrates of T cell lymphoma and histiocytes. Herpes simplex virus infection being the most common cause, other infectious agents like-especially in children-Mycoplasma pneumoniae, hepatitis C virus, Coxsackie virus, and Epstein Barr virus may also trigger erythema multiforme. The second most frequently identified cause of erythema multiforme is drugs. In different studies, e.g., allopurinol, phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproic acid, antibacterial sulfonamides, penicillins, erythromycin, nitrofurantoin, tetracyclines, chlormezanone, acetylsalicylic acid, statins, as well as different TNF-α inhibitors such as adalimumab, infliximab, and etanercept were reported as possible implicated drugs. Recently, cases of erythema multiforme associated with vaccination, immunotherapy for melanoma, and even with topical drugs like imiquimod have been described. In patients with recurrent herpes simplex virus-associated erythema multiforme, the topical prophylactic treatment with acyclovir does not seem to prevent further episodes of erythema multiforme. In case of resistance to one virostatic drug, the switch to an alternative drug, and in patients non-responsive to virostatic agents, the use of dapsone as well as new treatment options, e.g., JAK-inhibitors or apremilast, might be considered.

Recurrent erythema multiforme: clinical characteristics, etiologic associations, and treatment in a series of 48 patients at Mayo Clinic, 2000 to 2007

BACKGROUND

Recurrent erythema multiforme (EM) is a condition of substantial morbidity. Our efforts toward the etiologic attribution and treatment of recurrent EM have been less fruitful than those previously described.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to further characterize clinical characteristics, etiologic associations, and treatment of recurrent EM.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of patients with recurrent EM seen between 2000 and 2007.

RESULTS

Of 48 patients (mean age at disease onset, 36.4 years), 28 (58%) were female (mean duration of recurrent EM, 6 years). Thirty (63%) patients had oral involvement. Herpes simplex virus caused recurrent EM in 11 (23%) patients, and the cause remained unknown in 28 (58%). In all, 37 (77%) patients received systemic corticosteroids, 33 (69%) received continuous antiviral treatment, and 23 (48%) used immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory agents. Sixteen of 33 patients receiving continuous antiviral treatment had either partial or complete disease suppression. Patients had varied responses to immunosuppressants, with mycophenolate mofetil providing partial or complete response in 6 of 8 patients. Features of recalcitrant cases included clinicians' inability to identify a specific cause, lack of improvement with continuous antiviral therapy, severe oral involvement, extensive corticosteroid therapy, and immunosuppressive therapy (two or more agents).

LIMITATION

This study is retrospective.

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of patients in this study did not have an identifiable cause for recurrent EM, and herpes simplex virus was found less frequently than reported in previous studies. Response to systemic treatments, including continuous antivirals and immunosuppressants, was varied and often times suboptimal.

Oral mucosal diseases: Erythema multiforme

Erythema multiforme (EM) is a rare acute mucocutaneous condition caused by a hypersensitivity reaction with the appearance of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the epithelium that induce apoptosis in keratinocytes, which leads to satellite cell necrosis. EM can be triggered by a range of factors, but the best documented association is with preceding infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV). Most other cases are initiated by drugs. EM has been classified into a number of variants, mainly minor and major forms, as it may involve the mouth alone, or present as a skin eruption with or without oral or other lesions of the mucous membrane. EM minor typically affects only one mucosa, and may be associated with symmetrical target skin lesions on the extremities. EM major typically involves two or more mucous membranes with more variable skin involvement. A severe variant of EM major is Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which typically extensively involves the skin. Both EM major and Stevens-Johnson syndrome can involve internal organs and produce systemic symptoms. Treatment of EM is controversial, as there is no reliable evidence. Precipitants should be avoided or treated and, in severe cases, corticosteroids may be needed. Toxic epidermal necrolysis may be similar to Stevens-Johnson syndrome, but many experts regard it as a discrete disease, and therefore it is not discussed here.

Human herpes simplex virus infections: epidemiology, pathogenesis, symptomatology, diagnosis, and management

Eight of the more than 80 known herpesviruses are human pathogens. Human herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a contagious infection with a large reservoir in the general population. It has a potential for significant complications in the immunocompromised host. In addition, psychological distress caused by the negative stigma associated with genital herpes and visible facial lesions in those experiencing frequent outbreaks renders it a challenging clinical dilemma. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnostic features of HSV infections, providing the clinician with an up-to-date understanding of the available management strategies for mucocutaneous HSV-induced disease.

Fabry disease in a heterozygote presenting as hand ischaemia and painful acroparaesthesia

A 48-year-old woman presented with acute unilateral ischaemia of the left hand. She had a background of chronic peripheral neuropathic pain, palpitations, anaemia and an episode of superficial thrombophlebitis. Physical examination revealed non-blanching purple discoloration of her left fingers and her left thumb, index finger and thenar eminance appeared ischaemic. Digital subtraction angiography of the left hand demonstrated reduced flow. Skin punch biopsy histology was unremarkable. The diagnosis of Fabry disease was made on urine lipid profile analysis and confirmed by reduced peripheral blood leukocyte alpha-galactosidase A activity.