BackgroundInherited epidermolysis bullosa (EB) comprises a highly heterogeneous group of rare diseases characterized by fragility and blistering of skin and mucous membranes. Clinical features combined with immunofluorescence antigen mapping and/or electron microscopy examination of a skin biopsy allow to define the EB type and subtype. Molecular diagnosis is nowadays feasible in all EB subtypes and required for prenatal diagnosis. The extent of skin and mucosal lesions varies greatly depending on EB subtype and patient age. In the more severe EB subtypes lifelong generalized blistering, chronic ulcerations and scarring sequelae lead to multiorgan involvement, major morbidity and life-threatening complications. In the absence of a cure, patient management remains based on preventive measures, together with symptomatic treatment of cutaneous and extracutaneous manifestations and complications. The rarity and complexity of EB challenge its appropriate care. Thus, the aim of the present study has been to generate multicentre, multidisciplinary recommendations on global skin care addressed to physicians, nurses and other health professionals dealing with EB, both in centres of expertise and primary care setting.MethodsAlmost no controlled trials for EB treatment have been performed to date. For this reason, recommendations were prepared by a multidisciplinary team of experts from different European EB centres based on available literature and expert opinion. They have been subsequently revised by a panel of external experts, using an online-modified Delphi method to generate consensus.ResultsRecommendations are reported according to the age of the patients. The major topics treated comprise the multidisciplinary approach to EB patients, global skin care including wound care, management of itching and pain, and early diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. Aspects of therapeutic patient education, care of disease burden and continuity of care are also developed.ConclusionThe recommendations are expected to be useful for daily global care of EB patients, in particular in the community setting. An optimal management of patients is also a prerequisite to allow them to benefit from the specific molecular and cell-based treatments currently under development.
BACKGROUND Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a clinical syndrome characterized by recurrent episodes of digital vasospasm triggered by exposure to physical and chemical agents or emotional stress. Although many pharmacologic treatments have been tested, there is still no cure or gold standard therapy. Botulinum toxin treatment has been proved to reduce pain and increase arterial blood flow in treated hands of adult patients with RP. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin A on younger than 18-year-old patients with primary and secondary RP. MATERIALS AND METHODS A single-center prospective study was performed, including 8 patients aged 14 to 17 years who were clinically diagnosed with primary or secondary RP. BTX was injected into each hand without sedation or anesthetic blockade. The primary outcome was pain reduction after BTX injection. Pain intensity was evaluated at baseline and in the first follow-up. Secondary outcomes included variations in the number and severity of RP episodes after the BTX injection. RESULTS All patients stated significant pain reduction and decreased cold sensitivity, except one patient who did not feel any changes. No patients reported any loss of strength on thumb-index finger. CONCLUSION BTX injection is a simple, noninvasive, and cost-effective treatment alternative, offering an important nonsurgical therapeutic option for the pediatric population. It could also help optimize the dose of other treatments used in these patients. The most commonly observed positive effect is a reduction in the pain associated with RP attacks. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.
High-frequency ultrasonography represents a promising tool for pediatric dermatologists. It is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that is particularly appealing when working with children. It can be easily performed at the patient's bedside, avoiding diagnostic delays, sedation, or multiple visits. It represents a useful adjunct to clinical examination and can enhance our understanding of cutaneous diseases. Patient cooperation and limited training and experience are the main challenges for cutaneous ultrasonography in pediatric dermatology. This review describes cutaneous ultrasonography and the nuances of its use in the pediatric setting, followed by the ultrasonographic findings of cutaneous lumps, bumps, and inflammatory dermatoses commonly encountered in pediatric patients. K E Y W O R D Scyst, morphea, neurofibroma, pilomatricoma, ultrasound 30 |
Segmental stiff skin syndrome is a rare genetic connective tissue disease, which is often misdiagnosed. High-frequency ultrasonography can represent a useful clinical adjunct in the differential diagnosis of this condition, in conjunction with the clinical and histopathological findings. Treatment options are limited and evidence is scarce. We present the clinical, sonographic and histological features of five paediatric patients diagnosed at our institution and discuss their response to treatment.
Zhu‐Tokita‐Takenouchi‐Kim (ZTTK) syndrome is a rare, severe, and recently described multisystem developmental disorder characterized by delayed psychomotor development and intellectual disability, characteristic facial features, hypotonia, poor overall growth, and visual abnormalities. Mucocutaneous manifestations have not been reported so far among individuals with ZTTK syndrome. Herein, we present a patient with ZTTK syndrome due to a de novo mutation in SON gene, who has dental abnormalities and retronychia of the toenails. We suggest that mucocutaneous features may be a part of the phenotype.
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