Worsening Of Lesions Research Articles

Late Worsening of COVID-19 Pneumonia: Successful Treatment with Ruxolitinib and Steroid.

Modulation of immune over-response in late phases of COVID-19 can influence global outcome.Ruxolitinib and IV steroids can reverse the inflammatory process and lung lesions.

Plasma matrix metalloproteinase 7, CC-chemokine ligand 18, and periostin as markers for pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Some patients with sarcoidosis experience worsening of pulmonary lesions. However, no biomarker has been identified that reflects pulmonary disease status in sarcoidosis. We investigated the usefulness of potential markers of pulmonary fibrosis in patients with sarcoidosis. Plasma matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7), CC-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL-18), and periostin levels were evaluated in 60 patients with sarcoidosis and 30 healthy controls; bronchoalveolar lavage fluid levels were analyzed in 22 patients with sarcoidosis. To determine the usefulness of these markers, we explored potential correlations between these markers and sarcoidosis clinical characteristics. Plasma MMP-7, CCL-18, and periostin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with sarcoidosis than those in healthy controls. MMP-7 concentrations in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were higher in patients with sarcoidosis with parenchymal infiltration than in those without lung lesions. Moreover, MMP-7 concentration was negatively correlated with pulmonary function. Among these novel biomarkers, MMP-7 most precisely reflected pulmonary sarcoidosis disease status and thus, might be useful for diagnosing and evaluating sarcoidosis, particularly in patients with pulmonary parenchymal lesions.

MRI Spectrum of Brain Involvement in Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Lyase Insufficiency Syndrome

SGPL1 encodes sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase, the final enzyme of sphingolipid metabolism. In 2017, a condition featuring steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and/or adrenal insufficiency associated with pathogenic SGPL1 variants was reported. In addition to the main features of the disease, patients often exhibit a range of neurologic deficits. In a handful of cases, brain imaging results were described. However, high-quality imaging results and a systematic analysis of brain MR imaging findings associated with the condition are lacking. In this study, MR images from 4 new patients and additional published case reports were reviewed by a pediatric neuroradiologist. Analysis reveals recurring patterns of features in affected patients, including isolated callosal dysgenesis and prominent involvement of the globus pallidus, thalamus, and dentate nucleus, with progressive atrophy and worsening of brain lesions. MR imaging findings of abnormal deep gray nuclei, microcephaly, or callosal dysgenesis in an infant or young child exhibiting other typical clinical features of sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase insufficiency syndrome should trigger prompt genetic testing for SGPL1 mutations.

Uncorrect diagnosis of tubercolar spondylodiscitis in aggressive and bone destructive metastasis of melanoma: A case report and literature review.

Differential diagnosis of destructive osteolytic spinal lesions can be a diagnostic challenge. In this study, we described a rare case of spinal metastases from primary desmoplastic melanoma which had incorrectly been diagnosed and treated as tuberculous spondylodiscitis. An 82-year-old male patient with ongoing low back pain and a history of lumbar localized Pott’s performed a lumbar spine MRI that showed osteolytic lesion with first hypothesis of spondylodiscitis L2-L3. The patient was hospitalized and cause of worsening of the lumbar pain underwent a following series of non-diagnostic CT-guided and open lumbar biopsy at L2-L3 with unsuccessful antibiotic-antitubercular therapy. A new MRI revealed a worsening of previous lesions, extension of the osteolytic lesion at the level of L1-L2 and L3-L4 with neurological impairment. The diagnosis of metastatic melanoma was obtained with surgical decompression and open posterior biopsy procedure. The case described is pathognomonic of the difficulty in detecting the correct diagnosis in front of similar clinical and radiological manifestations. The presence of a previous Pott’s disease in the same involved vertebral site was of crucial importance in deflecting the correct diagnostic classification of the pathology, which was possible to ascertain only following an extensive biopsy sampling in the last surgery performed.

Muriform Cells Can Reproduce by Dividing in an Athymic Murine Model of Chromoblastomycosis due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi

.Transformation of Fonsecaea pedrosoi into muriform cells enhances the resistance against phagocytosis and elimination by host immune cells, and links to the chronicity of chromoblastomycosis. Here, we aim to determine whether the muriform cells can reproduce in tissue without reverse transformation into hyphal form by using an experimental nu/nu-BALB/c mouse model of chromoblastomycosis due to F. pedrosoi. During the whole 81-day observation period, most of the hyphal inocula had transformed into muriform cells at 75 days postinoculation and maintained as this parasitic morphology till 81 days postinoculation simultaneously with increased fungal loads in tissue and the worsening of footpad lesion. Scanning and transmitting electronic microscope examinations showed that the muriform cells obtained in tissue or induced in vitro can reproduce daughter cells by dividing, and, meanwhile, the daughter cells had the potential to produce buds and grow into hyphae reversely. Furthermore, exoenzyme examination suggested that the profile of exoenzymes constituted by muriform cells was quite different from that constituted by hyphae although the assay showed both of them had obvious metabolic activity. By contrast, most muriform cells in the footpad gradually transformed into the elongated hyphae without obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells during repeated intraperitoneal administration of cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg, per every other day) from 50 to 80 days postinoculation. Therefore, we infer that F. pedrosoi can reproduce by dividing as muriform cells in mouse tissue, and the morphological transformation between hyphal form and muriform cells is possibly associated with the host immune status.

P0362ROLE OF REPEATED RENAL BIOPSY IN ANCA VASCULITIS

Abstract Background and Aims Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) is a systemic disease characterized by inflammation of small vessels and presence of ANCA. Pauci-immune necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis is a severe renal complication of AAV. Despite immunosuppressive therapy, relapses are frequent during the course of the disease, affecting up to 50% of the patients. Kidney biopsy is routinely used to diagnose AAV at initial presentation and to predict renal prognosis. Although the activity of renal AAV is not easily evaluated by plasma or urine biomarkers, kidney biopsy is rarely performed when relapse is suspected. We herein analyze the clinical, laboratory and renal pathology data from patients who underwent repeated kidney biopsies during the course of AAV. Method We retrospectively reviewed data from 37 patients who underwent at least 2 kidney biopsies in our centre, between 2002 and 2018. The first renal biopsy (B1) was constantly performed at diagnosis. A follow-up biopsy (B2) was performed for purpose, either for suspicion of refractory disease or confirmation of renal relapse. Modifications of renal pathology between B1 and B2 were studied, by comparing presence of active and chronic lesions. Active lesions were defined by the presence of cellular crescents and/or fibrinoid necrosis. Chronic lesions were quantified by the percentage of globally sclerotic glomeruli and the percentage of interstitial fibrosis / tubular atrophy (IF/TA). Results Median age at diagnosis was 57 years, M/F ratio was 21/16. ANCA specificity was anti-MPO in 65% of cases, anti-PR3 in 32%. The median delay between B1 and B2 was 3,3 [0,9-5,8] years. B2 was done for suspicion of refractory disease (n=8) or of renal relapse (n=29). Causes of B2 were : persistence or reappearance of haematuria in 78% of cases, increase of creatinine in 43%, increase of ANCA titer in 67%. Systemic AAV activity was more important at B1 vs B2 (median BVAS 18 vs 9), as well as renal dysfunction (median sCreat 200 vs 156 μmol/l). Active glomerulonephritis was constantly found at B1 but was present in only 35% of B2. Presence of cellular crescents decreased from 71,4 to 29,7% (p = 0,002), whereas fibrinoid necrosis decreased from 80,6 to 35,1% (p = 0.0003). Five factors were significantly associated with the presence of active lesions : presence of at least one extra-renal AAV manifestation (p = 0.0006), increase of ANCA titer (p = 0.0022), CRP>30mg/l (p = 0.001), absence of IF/TA (p=0,02) and high percentage of normal glomeruli (p=0,014) at B1. Interestingly, level of proteinuria and persistence of hematuria were not associated with histological activity at B2 (p =0,64 and 0,22 respectively). In contrast, chronic lesions such as glomerulosclerosis and IF/TA were more severe at B2 compared to B1 (p <0,0001 and 0,014 respectively). The worsening of fibrotic lesions was not associated with ANCA specificity (anti-MPO vs -PR3). Conclusion This is the largest cohort reporting on repeated renal biopsy in AAV. Despite several clinical and laboratory signs suggesting active renal AAV, B2 revealed no relapse in 2/3 of cases, allowing avoidance of a new immunosuppressive induction treatment. Our results suggest that rebiopsy is crucial when renal relapse is suspected, as proteinuria and hematuria do not predict active disease, suggesting that their persistence could be explained by glomerular scarring.

Dents et grossesse, un enjeu de santé publique

Pregnancy is a particularly risky moment for periodontal and oral healthcare. The main diseases encountered are the development or worsening of carious lesions and gestational periodontal diseases such as gingivitis, epulis or gestational periodontitis. There is a lack of knowledge from health professionals and their patients, firstly on the link between poor oral hygiene and the impact on pregnancy, and secondly on the feasibility of oral care during pregnancy. There is a link between periodontal diseases and the increase of premature delivery risk, child with low birth weight and pre-eclampsia. Periodontal care during pregnancy would lower this risk. However, no link has been highlighted to date between oral care provided during pregnancy and the reduction of premature delivery or even of pre-eclampsia. Loco-regional anaesthesia and taking x-ray images-even dental panoramic radiography-are not contraindicated for pregnant women. All periodontal and oral care can be performed during pregnancy, at all gestational ages.

Relevancia del puntaje de Rotterdam para el pronóstico de empeoramiento en pacientes con traumatismo encéfalocraneano

Introducción: El puntaje tomográfico de Rotterdam ha mostrado mejores rendimientos en cuanto al pronóstico de los resultadosde la atención de los pacientes con traumatismo encéfalocraneano al compararla con la de Marshall, sin embargo, no ha sido aún evaluada para la predicción del empeoramiento de las lesiones intracraneales detectadas en la tomografía computarizada inicial de cráneo. Material y Método: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo con los pacientes hospitalizados por traumatismo encéfalocraneano en el Hospital Universitario “Manuel Ascunce Domenéch”, Camagüey, Cuba, desde el 1 de julio de 2011 al 31 de enero de 2012. Se incluyeron los enfermos evaluados con tomografía computarizada de cráneo en el servicio de urgencia y se repitió este examen como control durante el mismo periodo de hospitalización. Se aplicaron técnicas de estadística descriptiva, regresión logística y ANOVA. Resultados: Se estudiaron 84 pacientes, y en 13 (15,5%) se detectó empeoramiento de las lesiones en la tomografía computarizada de control que motivó la realización de tratamiento neuroquirúrgico urgente. Se demostró la relación del aumento del puntaje de Rotterdam con la ocurrencia de esta complicación. Conclusiones: Para el pronóstico de los pacientes con traumatismo encéfalocraneano no solo es relevante lo relacionado con la mortalidad o los malos resultados, sino también con el riesgo de amplificación relevante de las lesiones intracraneales detectadas en la tomografía computarizada de cráneo inicial, lo cual brinda la posibilidad de generar cambios terapéuticosmás oportunos. En este sentido constituye un factor de riesgo la elevación del puntaje de Rotterdam en la TC inicial.

Facteurs prédictifs d’échec du traitement conservateur du traumatisme rénal grade III–V

Surgical exploration of renal injury secondary to major trauma often leads to nephrectomy. The aim of this work was to identify the factors associated with the need for surgery in patients with III-V grade renal trauma who were initially managed conservatively. We retrospectively reviewed data from patients with Grade III-V kidney injury between June 2005 and June 2015. Demographic, clinical and bio-radiological characteristics at admission and follow-up, as well as management and complications, were recorded. Patient data, including conservative treatment, was a success without recourse to nephrectomy, and those patients who needed surgery were analyzed. Seventy three patients were included in this study. Grade III accounted for 45%, Grade IV: 49% and Grade V: 5%. The success rate for conservative treatment was 79%: 31 patients grade III (94%), 26 grade IV (72%) and no grade V patients. hypotension at admission (P=0.04), hematoma size greater than 3.5 centimeters (P=0.002), grade V (P=0.003), anemia (P=0.04), blood transfusion (P=0.01) and worsening of lesions of the control CT lesions (P=0.001), are the factors considered as predictive of failure of conservative treatment. Conservative management is the treatment of choice in III-V grade renal trauma, and the prognostic factors found in this study make it possible to better select patients. 4.

Radiation-induced morphea: Association with autoimmune comorbidities, severity, and response to therapy

Radiation-induced morphea: Association with autoimmune comorbidities, severity, and response to therapy

Vitamin A supplementation is effective for improving the clinical symptoms of urinary tract infections and reducing renal scarring in girls with acute pyelonephritis: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled, clinical trial study

IntroductionIt is believed that tubulointerstitial inflammation plays a role in the formation of renal scarring secondary to acute pyelonephritis (APN). Vitamin A is an anti-inflammatory agent that is involved in the re-epithelialization of damaged mucosal surfaces. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin A supplementation in combination with antibiotics for improving urinary tract infections (UTIs) symptoms and preventing renal scarring in girls with APN. Study designThis randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 90 girls aged 2 to 12 years old between 2015 and 2017. Patients with UTIs and first episode of APN diagnosed based on 99 mTc-DMSA scintigraphy (uptake defect) were assessed for eligibility. Patients were randomly divided into two groups that either received 10 days of oral vitamin A (intervention group) or 10 days of placebo (control group) in addition to antibiotics during the acute phase of infection. The clinical response was considered as the primary outcome [duration (positive days) of UTI symptoms during trial treatment period] and secondary outcomes (no change, improving and or worsening of 99 mTc-DMSA scan results 6 months after treatment from baseline). P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. ResultsSeventy-four patients (vitamin A group: 36 patients, placebo: 38 patients) were included in the analysis. The mean age was 5.25 ± 1 year old. Three patients (7.89%) in the placebo group and 2 patients (5.55%) in the vitamin A group had vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) (p = 0.114). Duration of fever (vitamin A group: 1.8 days, placebo: 3.1 days, p = 0.0026), urinary frequency (1.3 days vs. 2.8 days, p = 0.003) and poor feeding (2.3 days vs. 4.2 days, p = 0.005) were significantly lower in the vitamin A group. Following the second 99 mTc-DMSA scan, worsening of lesions was observed among 8 (22.2%) and 17 (44.7%) patients in the vitamin A and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.003). 63.8% (23 patients) of the vitamin A group and 21% (8 patients) of placebo group showed lesion improving in the photopenic region. (P < 0.0001) There was no evidence of vitamin A intolerance. DiscussionOur results show the efficacy of vitamin A supplementation on reducing renal scarring secondary to APN and on fever, urinary frequency and poor feeding duration in girls with APN. ConclusionVitamin A supplementation is effective for improving the clinical symptoms of UTI and reducing renal injury and scarring following APN in girls with first APN. However, larger randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with longer follow up are needed to confirm these effects.

Safety and efficacy of HCV eradication during etanercept treatment for severe psoriasis

Treatment of severe psoriasis in HCV positive patients is challenging, because several psoriasis medications have a toxic effect on the liver, and interferon alpha, used to treat hepatitis, can induce worsening of psoriatic lesions. TNF-alpha inhibitors seem to be a safe and effective option in HCV positive psoriatic patients, but there are concerns about long-term safety, impact on liver fibrosis progression and risk of immune-mediated liver injury. With regard to HCV treatment, new direct-acting antiviral therapies (DAA) seem to be extremely effective, with minimal side effects, but little is known about possible interactions with other medications, particularly with biologics. We report the case of a psoriatic patient, in treatment with Etanercept, who needed to undergo HCV eradication with Daclastavir and Sofosbuvir because of worsening liver fibrosis due to chronic hepatitis C. The present treatment produced excellent results in terms of HCV eradication and control of psoriatic lesions, without side effects.

Concurrent psoriasis and gout

Hyperuricemia is reported to have a high prevalence in patients with psoriasis. This metabolic derangement can be associated with the development of gout in such patients. Presented herein is the case of a 53-year-old male who referred to the hospital because of worsening of skin lesions and multiple swollen and painful joints. Physical examination showed symmetric involvement of the patient’s knee, first metatarsophalangeal, and subtalar joints. Knee fluid aspiration revealed numerous monosodium urate monohydrate (MSUM) crystals. The patient’s serum uric acid level was 10 mg/dL. Kidney function was normal. Although he had experienced a similar episode two years earlier with involvement of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, he did not seek medical attention then and was not receiving prophylaxis for gout. Treatment with prednisone, allopurinol, colchicine, and sulfasalazine resulted in improvement of the symptoms. The patient was followed for six months and no relapse in his skin conditions or gouty attacks were observed. It is prudent to measure uric acid levels in psoriatic patients. Psoriatic patients with hyperuricemia, even without a known cause for hyperuricemia, are at increased risk of developing gouty arthritis. This presentation suggests that psoriasis can be an independent risk factor for gouty attacks, though this requires further larger studies.

Evidence-based recommendations for the management of acne fulminans and its variants

Acne fulminans (AF) is a severe variant of inflammatory acne. It typically manifests as an explosive worsening and ulceration of skin lesions, and can be associated with systemic symptoms. However, there is a paucity of evidence-based information and no clear guidelines concerning the classification and treatment of AF. To better define the spectrum of AF and its variants, devise optimal therapeutic approaches, and identify areas of future research. A panel of physicians with expertise in severe acne vulgaris was convened after a comprehensive literature review of severe acne variants. Priority topics were reviewed and presented by each panelist at a 5-hour conference. Following review of the audiotape and scribed notes from the conference, surveys were utilized to address points of controversy and to clarify consensus recommendations. Appropriate clinical case presentations and consensus survey questions were utilized to create final recommendations based on both the literature and the expert consensus. Limited evidenced-based data and prospective studies in the literature concerning the treatment of AF is available. These guidelines better characterize AF and provide health care practitioners approaches to the classification, treatment, and prevention of AF and its variants.

Semi-quantification image methods for assessing severity of scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease according to computed tomography data

The aim of this study was to compare three semi-quantification scales for prospective assessment of scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease (SS-ILD) severity. Methods. From 110 prospectively followed patients with SS-ILD, we selected 12 patients (mean age, 42 ± 13 years, 11 females) with obvious improvement (n = 6) or worsening (n = 6) of lung lesions on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) during a year. The patients had diffuse (n = 7) or limited (n = 7) SS with mean length of the disease of 8.5 ± 6.7 years (range, 1 to 23 years). HRCT was done at baseline (inclusion in the study) and in a year. CT scans were quantitatively assessed by four radiologists including one experienced radiologist. A blinded analysis of HRCT scans was done using three scales: J.H.Warrick et al. (1991), A.U.Wells et al. (1997), and E.A.Kazerooni et al. (1997). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to evaluate the assessment reliability. T-test for independent samples was used to evaluate reproducibility of the assessments. Agreement between independent experts' opinions was evaluated using Kendall's rank correlation coefficient. Results. The measurements were significantly divergent between the radiologists, both for the baseline and the follow-up HRCT scans. ICCs for investigated radiological parameters were 0.56 to 0.76. The highest ICC (0.76) was obtained for A.U.Wells' scale. All scales used to assess HRCT scans had lower interoperator reproducibility. Conclusion. Combined use of currently available semi-quantification methods for follow-up assessment of HRCT in SS-ILD patients allowed thorough qualitative evaluation of lung lesions, but the reliability of the radiological parameters in detecting 1-year fibrosis progression in SS patients was low. The risk of significant interoperator bias limited the use of the radiological parameters in clinical trials of SS-ILD patients.

Natalizumab-PML survivors with subsequent MS treatment: Clinico-radiologic outcome.

Objective:To describe the clinico-radiologic outcome of MS patients with natalizumab-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (Nz-PML) surviving and receiving disease-modifying therapy (DMT).Methods:We describe clinical and radiologic evolution of Nz-PML survivors in an observational retrospective multicenter cohort to clarify the effect of different subsequent MS DMT strategies. Twenty-three patients from 11 centers were analyzed. Outcomes were (1) clinical efficacy of post-PML MS DMT, (2) radiologic efficacy of post-PML MS DMT, (3) radiologic evolution of PML lesion, and (4) disability progression.Results:There was no clinical worsening of PML symptoms with a stability of Expanded Disability Status Scale at the last follow-up. No relapse was reported with fingolimod and dimethyl fumarate. No radiologic worsening of Nz-PML lesion was observed at the end of the follow-up.Conclusion:In this large cohort of patients with Nz-PML, MS therapies given after Nz discontinuation were not associated with PML worsening. A larger cohort with longer follow-up will be necessary to confirm this therapeutic strategy.

Condiciones estomatológicas en pacientes con cáncer durante y posterior al tratamiento antineoplásico: revisión narrativa de la literatura

Introducción: las consecuencias de los tratamientos antineoplásicos,traen consigo implicaciones bucales y empeoramiento de otras lesiones ya prestablecidas al diagnóstico oncológico, indistintamente del órgano afectado por eltumor. Complicaciones tales como las mucositis orales, candidiasis orales, trismo,xerostomía, caries, entre otras lesiones, suelen suceder con frecuencia, y puedenser transitorias en el curso de la aplicación de terapéuticas para el cáncer, como,por ejemplo, quimioterapia y radioterapia; otras prevalecen posterior a la finalizaciónde estas terapéuticas. Métodos: se realizó una revisión narrativa de la literaturaque mostró la unificación de criterios que involucran la descripción de los patronesclínicos de cada una de las complicaciones orales por el tratamiento oncológico,en relación con cánceres de diferentes localizaciones. Se efectuó una búsqueda bibliográfica en idioma inglés y español usando los siguientes descriptores: “lesiones,boca, cáncer, quimioterapia, radioterapia, complicaciones orales, antes y después,lesions, mouth cancer, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, oral complications, after y before, para las base de datos global Pubmed y Scielo. En esta se seleccionaron 100 artículos publicados en un período de 15 años. Resultados: la mayoría de autores consultados coinciden en afirmar que una amplia gama de tumores malignos tienden a mostrar afectación secundaria en lugares como la cavidad oral, en su mayoría porel tratamiento oncológico instaurado, sin distinción de tipo tumoral y localizacióndel mismo. Conclusiones: la cavidad bucal sigue siendo susceptible a la presenciade estos efectos, los cuales se identifican como eventos citotóxicos sistémicos entejidos de recambio rápido, como lo es la mucosa bucal.

An unusual presentation of intraocular tuberculosis in a monocular patient: clinicopathological correlation.

BackgroundLack of uniform diagnostic criteria often poses a challenge in the diagnosis and management of tubercular uveitis. The index case describes an unusual presentation of tubercular panuveitis initially misdiagnosed as sympathetic ophthalmia, where the appropriate diagnosis was made using various imaging and laboratory investigations.ResultsA 52-year-old Indian woman underwent multimodal imaging, extensive clinical and laboratory work-up, and analysis of microbiological and histopathological specimens. At presentation, her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/30 in OD and no perception of light in OS. Ocular examination revealed multiple grayish-yellow choroiditis lesions resembling Dalen-Fuch’s nodules, vitritis, and disc edema. Diagnosis of sympathetic ophthalmia was made and patient treated with intravenous and oral corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy. After an initial favorable response, the lesions progressively increased with worsening of vitritis. Due to worsening of chorioretinal lesions which were atypical for sympathetic ophthalmia, further investigations were performed that revealed positive tuberculin skin test and contrast-enhanced computerized tomography chest showed calcified mediastinal lymph nodes. Enucleation of OS confirmed acid-fast bacilli on Ziehl-Neelsen staining, tubercular granulomas on histopathology, and positive polymerase chain reaction. Anti-tubercular therapy and oral steroids were started with good healing response.ConclusionsTubercular uveitis may have protean clinical manifestations. Thorough clinical evaluation and molecular/histopathological evaluation helps in establishing the diagnosis and the institution of appropriate therapy.

Sclérodermie linéaire de la face associée à des anomalies neurologiques par microangiopathie

Linear scleroderma is a fibrotic disease affecting the skin and sometimes the deeper tissues. We describe a case of scleroderma associated with neurological anomalies not previously reported in the literature. A 16-year-old male patient presented in 2009 for hemifacial linear scleroderma. Treatment with methotrexate for 14 months resulted in stabilization of the disease. In 2013, we noted worsening of the patient's skin lesions as well as homolateral ptosis. Head MRI revealed unilateral hemispherical signal abnormalities with T2 hypersignal in the basal gangliaand punctate foci of T2* hyposignal corresponding to microbleeds. In 2014 and 2015, the patient presented three brief episodes of right hemicorpus paresthesia (with temporary aphasia followed by headache during the first episode). The head MRI showed worsening of the anomalies, suggesting progressing cerebral microangiopathy. Clinicians may not always be familiar with the neurological abnormalities associated with localized facial scleroderma even if such abnormalities are not uncommon (their exact prevalence is unknown). Clinical signs vary but, in most cases, the radiological features are calcifications and hyperintense foci of white matter lesions in T2. As far as we are aware, there have been no reports to date of microbleeding as observed in our patient. The worsening with time of these neurological anomalies of unknown origin does not appear to be correlated with the dermatological lesions. It is important for dermatologists be aware of these complications of facial linear scleroderma.

Simultaneous improvement and worsening of vitiligo lesions during the course of NB-UVB phototherapy; vitiligo may not act as one unit.

Re-pigmentation and stabilization are the two ultimate goals of any re-pigmenting plan designed for vitiligo management. Furthermore, whether the improvement of some vitiligo lesions could be considered a guarantee for a similar response and/or stabilization of the rest of the lesions or not, remains to be clarified. To evaluate the behavior of non-segmental vitiligo (NSV), while on narrow band-ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy. 25 patients with stable generalized NSV were included and received NB-UVB twice weekly. For the sake of ensuring accuracy of follow up, up to four lesions were randomly chosen in each patient and regularly measured using the point counting technique. The over-all point counting technique of all included patients showed a significant reduction (18.5 ± 8.4 cm2 to 8.2± 3.1 cm2 ) after 6 months of therapy (p < .001). Nine patients (36%), showed mixed response in the different lesions. Improvement was documented in some lesions, while other lesions showed no response or even worsening. No significant correlations were detected between the behavior of vitiligo during NB-UVB and any of the demographic or clinical data of the patients. NB-UVB is a pillar in the management of vitiligo, however close follow-up of the patient as a whole and his lesions, by both subjective and objective measures are mandatory to detect activity as early as possible, as vitiligo at many times may not act as one unit. This early detection of activity and the subsequent change in the treatment policy may ultimately change the final outcome of treatment.