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Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a disease characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, consumptive thrombocytopenia, and renal impairment. Often HUS is triggered by Shiga-like toxin- producing ESCHERICHIA COLI. Less common is atypical HUS (aHUS), which is caused by defective complement control. aHUS is associated with mutations in genes encoding complement regulatory proteins in ~50% of patients with this syndrome. Furthermore, autoantibodies that inactivate to factor H have also been linked to the disease. Initial triggers include infections, use of endothelial-affecting drugs, malignancies, transplantation, and pregnancy. Advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of atypical HUS suggest that complement inhibition may be used as treatment for the disease. We discuss the potential benefit of the complement inhibitor eculizumab for the treatment of aHUS.

Introduction Clinical diagnosis of primary cicatricial alopecias presents difficulties. Studies regarding their trichoscopic features are scarce and mostly not comprehensive. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential benefit of a handheld dermatoscope in clinical diagnosis of primary cicatricial alopecias. Methods In all, 69 patients with primary cicatricial alopecias were included in this prospective study. Preliminary diagnoses were established clinically, and confirmed by scalp biopsy in all cases. Trichoscopic examination was performed using a polarized-light handheld dermatoscope with tenfold magnification. The images were taken using a digital camera with threefold optical zoom. Results The following findings were significantly more common, or noted only, in particular types of primary cicatricial alopecias: “target” pattern blue-grey dots, perifollicular scaling, perifollicular cast in lichen planopilaris ( n = 27); short vellus hairs, tufted hairs, crust formation, yellowish tubular scaling, pustule, red dots in folliculitis decalvans ( n = 17); large keratotic yellow dots in discoid lupus erythematosus ( n = 7); yellow dots, yellow dots with “three-dimensional” structure, black dots in dissecting cellulitis of the scalp ( n = 6). Absence of vellus hairs was observed in patients with lichen planopilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, and discoid lupus erythematosus without a significant difference between the groups. Short vellus hairs were detected in all types, including frontal fibrosing alopecia ( n = 7). Conclusion We suggest that a polarized-light handheld dermatoscope is useful for revealing several typical trichoscopic features of primary cicatricial alopecias that guide clinical diagnosis. As a novel observation, our data indicate that absence of vellus hairs is not an identifying feature for frontal fibrosing alopecia.

We suggest that it seems possible to differentiate TTA by a handheld dermatoscope. Short vellus hairs with length diversity and white hairs in the absence of diagnostic features of other types of localized alopecia should be considered in favour of TTA.

Background Diagnosis of demodicosis is usually confirmed by standardized skin surface biopsy. The skin of the patients with demodicosis is usually very sensitive. There is a need for new noninvasive tests. Videodermoscopic findings of demodicosis have not been validated yet. Our aim was to provide a noninvasive and easy method for diagnosis of demodicosis by using videodermoscopy. Materials and methods This study included 26 patients with demodicosis which were confirmed with microscopy and responded well to anti‐Demodex therapy Twenty‐six age‐ and sex‐matched individuals without demodicosis constituted the control group. Dermatologic evaluation included clinical observation along with microscopy. All photographs of the clinical and dermoscopic findings were taken with videodermoscope. Results Demodex tails representing “Demodex mites” were a common feature in all patients. Gray dots were described as the second major videodermoscopic finding. Epidermal scale and red dots were also observed with higher prevalence than the other videodermoscopic features. We defined a new finding as follicular annular pigmentation corresponding to the facial pigmentation with demodicosis by videodermoscopy. Conclusions We concluded that it seems possible to confirm the clinical diagnosis of demodicosis by videodermoscopy, with similar results to handheld dermoscopy. Demodex tails should be considered as a sign of demodicosis, whereas detection of gray dots, epidermal scale, and red dots may raise the suspicion of demodicosis.

Melasma is a frequently acquired pigmentary disorder, affecting up to thirty percent of child-bearing woman with darker skin. 1 It is characterized by asymptomatic hyperpigmented patches with symmetrical distribution mostly on the face. 1 The etiology of melasma is multifactorial, and the pathogenesis is complicated. 1,2 Melanogenesis is affected by multiple factors such as hormonal changes, inflammation, age, UV light, and visible light. 2,3 Eumelanin and pheomelanin are catalyzed by specific melanogenic enzymes. 4

Follicular mucinosis is a rare disorder of unknown etiology characterized by accumulation of mucin in the sebaceous glands and outer root sheaths of the hair follicles. It is divided into a primary benign type and a secondary type mostly associated with lymphomas. No effective standard therapy for follicular mucinosis is available. We describe the case of a 21-year-old Caucasian male who had papules, nodules, and erythematous plaques on his left shoulder, left arm, and right scapular region. He was diagnosed as primary benign generalized follicular mucinosis, and treated with isotretinoin. Almost complete remission was achieved in 4 months.

Objective: Treatment response is variable in patients with alopecia areata, and may not be understood until significant hair growth is obtained. The aim of this study is to determine the potential benefit of handheld dermoscope in evaluating of treatment success in alopecia areata. Methods: Forty-nine patients who were diagnosed with alopecia areata were included in the study. Diagnosis was established clinically, and scalp biopsy was performed in doubtful cases. Dermoscopic examinations were performed by a polarized light and handheld dermoscope with 10-fold magnification. The images were taken by a digital camera with threefold optical zoom. Among 49 patients, 30 of them were followed-up during six months and concluded the study. Results: Of the 30 patients, 12 had a complete response to treatment (group 1), whereas 18 patients did not respond well to treatment or were remained completely responseless (group 2). When the trichoscopic findings were examined pretreatment, only thinning hairs were significantly more frequent in group 1 than group 2. The pre-and posttreatment findings of group 1 was shown that yellow dots, black dots, thinning hairs and broken hairs decreased or disappeared after the treatment, and this difference was statistically significant. In all of the patients in the first group, short terminal hairs were appeared at the end of treatment. Conclusion: According to our study, polarized light handheld dermoscope provides benefit for the evaluation of treatment success in patients with alopecia areata.