Zeitschrift fur Hautkrankheiten最新文献

It is well known that urea can considerably increase the release of drugs from ointment bases and that it is one of the most effective penetration promoters for topically applied drugs. In our present study, therefore, we investigated the influence of urea on the penetration kinetics of vitamin A acid (VAA) into the various layers of human skin. When a vehicle containing urea was applied to the skin, we found increased VAA concentrations depending on the penetration of urea. We discuss the significance of the synergistic properties of VAA and urea in the topical treatment of various skin disease.

In a study on the effect of anthralin and infrared irradiation (IR) on the allergic patch test in vivo and the lymphocyte transformation test in vitro, we observed that anthralin enhanced the local test reaction. Our findings suggest an additive reaction of toxic anthralin dermatitis and allergic test reaction. Immunohistology showed that additional treatment with anthralin resulted in elevated numbers of the OKT-6+ dendritic cells in the epidermis. Anthralin in concentrations of greater than or equal to 10(-5) M inhibited the lymphocyte transformation in vitro. IR irradiation-either before or during patch testing-did not significantly influence the allergic test reaction or the lymphocyte transformation, if the temperature was adjusted to 37 degrees C. In comparison to convective heat, we found no specific effect of IR irradiation.

PUPP is a specific eruptive dermatosis in pregnancy, clinically characterized by erythematous papules and plaques with intense itching in periumbilical localization. This disease typically tends to spread to the extremities without involving the head and neck regions. The differential diagnosis of PUPP can be established by immunological and microscopical investigations. Since PUPP is a benign disease with a good prognosis and spontaneous clearing, we recommend only mild symptomatic treatment.

We report on a 50-year-old female patient suffering from benign symmetric lipomatosis of her upper arms, shoulders, neck, back, abdomen, and thighs. Concomitantly, we found hypertension, hyperuricemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. Since the patient complained of occasional pain in her upper arms and shoulders induced by work or pressure and suffered psychically from her deformity, we decided to reduce the fatty tissue of the upper arms surgically--with good cosmetic and functional results.

Based on a case of our own observation, we present the characteristic features of a rare skin disease: hyperkeratosis follicularis et parafollicularis in cutem penetrans, i.e. Kyrle's disease. The clinical picture shows follicular and interfollicular hyperkeratotic horn-like plugs with a typical distribution pattern. The classical histological features are epidermolysis and hyperkeratoses advancing towards the dermis. Today, this disease is regarded as a genodermatosis with recessive heredity and is best treated with systemic and topical application, resp., of vitamin A acid.

In 15 patients suffering from oral lichen planus (OLP), we took biopsies of both involved and noninvolved oral mucosa. The specimens were immunohistochemically studied with regard to the expression of beta-2-microglobulin (beta 2-M). In contrast to noninvolved mucosa, we proved definite beta 2-M expression in keratinocytes from OLP lesions. Our findings agree with the assumption that an autoimmunological process is involved in the pathogenesis of OLP.

We report on a 48-year-old female patient suffering from lupus erythematosus associated with C2 deficiency, who developed squamous cell carcinoma on a discoid lesion of her lower lip. Vermilionectomy (Langenbec-v. Bruns' technique) resulted in a good cosmetic and functional outcome.

In the morning urine of 24 patients with psoriasis and that of 24 patients with psoriatic arthritis, we determined the excretion of hydroxyproline (mg HP/mumol crea), after preceding diet low in collagen. Surprisingly, psoriatic patients without articular involvement showed a significantly higher excretion of HP than those with psoriatic arthritis. Further differentiation revealed that there were no clear-cut correlations between the amount of HP excretion and the activity of the articular process; we proved, however, that the amount of HP excretion was definitely related to the activity of the skin eruptions in both groups of patients. We discuss whether an osteopathy pathogenetically associated with the skin disease (irrespective of synovitis in psoriatic arthritis) may possibly be responsible for these results.