Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are validated and standardized tools that complement physician evaluations and guide treatment decisions. PROMs are crucial for monitoring atopic dermatitis (AD) and chronic urticaria (CU) in clinical practice, but there are unmet needs and knowledge gaps regarding their use in clinical practice. We investigated the global real-world use of AD and CU PROMs in allergology and dermatology clinics as well as their associated local and regional networks. Across 72 specialized allergy and dermatology centers and their local and regional networks, 2,534 physicians in 73 countries completed a 53-item questionnaire on the use of PROMs for AD and CU. Of 2,534 physicians, 1,308 were aware of PROMs. Of these, 14% and 15% used PROMs for AD and CU, respectively. Half of physicians who use PROMs do so only "rarely" or "sometimes". AD and CU PROM usage is associated with being female, younger, and a dermatologist. POSCORAD and UAS were the most utilized PROMs for AD and CU, respectively. Monitoring disease control and activity are the main drivers of the use of PROMs. Time constraints were the primary obstacle to using PROMs, followed by the impression that patients dislike PROMs. AD and CU PROM users would like training in selecting the proper PROM. Even though PROMs offer several benefits, their use in routine practice is suboptimal, and physicians perceive barriers to their use. It is essential to attain higher levels of PROM implementation in accordance with national and international standards.
Cutaneous T cell lymphomas other than mycosis fungoides, Sezary syndrome, and primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferations constitute less than 10% of all cutaneous T cell lymphomas. Primary cutaneous small/medium CD4+ T cell lymphoma is a member of this third group of cutaneous lymphomas, separated out as provisional entity in the World Health Organization classification - European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (WHO-EORTC) classification. It still awaits development of more precise diagnostic criteria and optimal therapy. We report a case of primary cutaneous CD4 + small/medium-sized pleomorphic T cell lymphoma accompanied with myelodysplastic syndrome successfully treated with cyclophosphamide. It seems that cyclophosphamide as a single-agent chemotherapy in patients with disseminated lesions might be safe and quite effective therapeutic option.
Diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis is the rarest subtype of mastocytosis among those that affect children. A 7-month-old girl presented at birth dry and thickened skin. On the second day of life, tense blisters appeared on erythrodermic areas and during the next days spread over the face, trunk, and limbs. The skin was bright red, had a "peau d'orange" appearance, and was considerably thickened with numerous translucent and hemorrhagic blisters. A skin biopsy revealed massive infiltration of the dermis with mast cells, leading to the diagnosis of diffuse erythrodermic mastocytosis. Systemic corticosteroids were given along with antihistamines with good results. Despite the progresses in the understanding of pathogenesis, genetics, and diagnostic criteria of mastocytosis, clear and reliable prognostic markers are still lacking, especially in order to predict systemic involvement. not only in diffuse but also in the commoner forms of the disease.
Clouston syndrome belongs to the family of ectodermal dysplasias. So far, a defective immune response has not been reported in Clouston syndrome. We report, for the first time, immunological particularities of a large multigenerational Polish family with Clouston syndrome. Five members of the same family with Clouston syndrome, aged 6-76 years, and 20 healthy volunteers, aged 19-73 years, were enrolled in the study. In all participants, the ability of neutrophils to phagocytize opsonized Escherichia coli was assessed. Granulocyte oxidative burst was determined quantitatively, and an isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the detection of lymphocyte subsets were performed. All patients with Clouston syndrome underwent microscopic assessment of hair shafts, x-rays of the skull and hand bones, extra- and intraoral examination, and panoramic x-rays. Compared to the controls, all patients with Clouston syndrome presented with significantly reduced phagocytic activities of granulocytes and monocytes (P < 0.05). The percentages of granulocytes and monocytes being positive for oxidative burst were also significantly reduced in all patients with Clouston syndrome (P < 0.05). No disturbances in the percentages and absolute counts of T CD3+, T CD3+/CD4+, T CD3+/CD8+, natural killer, and B CD19+ cells were found. Although this study expands knowledge about Clouston syndrome, it also raises many questions. The results provide evidence of significantly reduced phagocytic activity and oxidative bursts of cells playing crucial roles in a nonspecific immune response. Further studies are required to understand the underlying mechanism of the hereby described abnormalities.