Eponyms in the dermatology literature linked to Latin America

Abstract

Latin America refers to territories in America where the Spanish or Portuguese languages prevail: Mexico, most of Central and South America, and in the Caribbean, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico – in summary, Hispanic America and Brazil [1]. By this definition, Latin America is coterminous with Iberoamerica („Iberian America”) [1]. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km2, almost 3.9% of the Earth’s surface or 14.1% of its land surface area. As of 2010, its population was estimated at more than 590 million [1]. Many medical conditions derive their names from either Greek or Latin. In this manuscript, we are reviewing, some selected examples of eponyms, in dermatology literature, linked to the Latin America (Tabl. I) [2-14]. We want also to point out that many scientists in other parts of the world and particularly in USA, for whom medical diseases were eponymously named, were originated from latin America. Just an example is, Bannayan–Riley–Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS), which is a dominant autosomal disorder characterized by cutaneous lipomas, macrocephaly, intestinal polyps, and developmental delay [15]. It is named after American physicians. One of them, Rogelio H. Ruvalcaba (born in 1934) received his MD degree from the Universidad de Guadalajara, in Mexico and immigrated to USA. Finally, one can find part of the eponym is originated from Latin America for example, idiopathic atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini (IAPP), is named after an italian dermatologist Agostino Pasini (1875-1944) and dermatologist from Argentina, Luis Enrique Pierini (1899-1987) (Fig. 8). In 1923, Pasini described the condition under the name progressive idiopathic atrophoderma. In 1936, Pierini and Vivoli extensively studied and defined the condition and its possible link to morphea. Canizares et al, in 1958 renamed it as idiopathic atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini (IAPP) [16]. There are many clinical and histologic similarities between, atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini and Linear atrophoderma of Moulin (LAM). LAM was first described by Moulin in 1992 as an acquired unilateral hyperpigmented atrophic band along Blaschko’s lines. EPONYMS IN THE DERMATOLOGY LITERATURE LINKED TO LATIN AMERICA