[Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to Exophiala spinifera in a renal transplant recipient].

Introduction: Among the dematiaceous fungi responsible for human or animal phaeohyphomycosis, the Exophiala genus is a well-known etiologic agent and presently includes nine species considered as opportunist pathogens. To our knowledge, Exophiala spinifera has been reported as causative agent of only thirteen cases of cutaneous or systemic phaeohyphomycosis. We describe some typical phaeohyphomycotic cysts.

[Lichenoid cutaneous reaction to imatinib].

Introduction: Imatinib (Glivec) is a new therapeutic molecule used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Cutaneous side effects with this treatment are common but lichenoid drug eruption is exceptional. We report the first case with profuse cutaneous lichen.

Intravascular metastatic melanoma of the vena saphena magna.

Background: Melanoma blood vessel metastases are very uncommon. We report the first recorded case of intravascular metastatic melanoma of the vena saphena magna.

Case Report: A 74-year-old woman presented with a swelling of the upper third of her left thigh and was suspected of superficial thrombophlebitis.

[Nail disease due to Scytalidium in Martinique (French West Indies)].

Introduction: Scytalidium is an endemic mold in tropical and subtropial areas. Our purpose was to study the prevalence and clinical and epidemiological features of onychomycoses due to Scytalidium in Martinique (French West Indies).

Patients And Methods: We performed a prospective study on 106 patients (46 men and 60 women) with clinical onychomycosis, in the dermatological department of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire of Fort-de-France.

[Kimura's disease on the hard palate in a patient from Martinique].

Introduction: We report an observation of Kimura's disease (angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia) in a Black patient from West Indies, in a rare localisation on hard palate.

Exegesis: A 46-year-old male patient from French West Indies (Martinique) presented with a tumor of hard palate evolving from 2 years with locoregional lymph nodes. He had a history of chronic urticaria, prurigo, rhinitis and alopecia areata.

Increase in total blood antioxidant status and selenium levels in black patients with active vitiligo.

Background: Oxidative stress could be an important phenomenon leading to melanocyte death in vitiligo. The accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and low catalase levels have recently been demonstrated in the epidermis of vitiligo patients. Few abnormalities of antioxidants have been found in the blood of patients with vitiligo, except for an elevation of selenium.

[Obesity persistent scleredema: study of 49 cases].

Background: Buschke sclerodema is a very rare disease. Our objective was to show that persistent scleredema is frequent in certain group of patients at risk.

Patients And Methods: We studied 49 patients, diagnosed between 1995 and 1999 in dermatology, pneumology and endocrinology departments in Martinique.

Onychomycosis due to Exophiala jeanselmei.

Background: Exophiala jeanselmei is a dematiaceous fungus that may cause invasive diseases, particularly among immunocompromised hosts. Most reports mention cutaneous or subcutaneous lesions, but no case of nail involvement due to this fungus has been reported until now.

Case Report: A 60-year-old man presented with hyperkeratosis and black coloration of the nails of the two thumbs and the two big toes of 4 years' duration.

Familial aggregation of vitiligo in the French West Indies (Isle of Martinique).

Environmental factors are thought to influence the genetic transmission of vitiligo, and may change in families of different extraction. Most studies on vitiligo have been performed in occidental countries or in India, therefore, our purpose was to study the familial vitiligo aggregation in Martinique (French West Indies). Data on 16 families were collected from 1995 to 1999.

[Panniculitis induced by MINE chemotherapy].

Background: Drug-induced panniculitis are uncommon. We report the second case of panniculitis induced by MINE chemotherapy.

Case Report: A 31-year-old woman with relapsed Hodgkin disease was treated with MINE cytostatic regimen.

High prevalence of vitiligo in lepromatous leprosy.

Background: Leprosy and vitiligo are common affections in the West Indies. Vitiligo frequently occurs in lepromatous patients, an observation rarely reported in the literature.

Methods: We studied the prevalence of vitiligo in patients affected by leprosy by performing a retrospective study between 1978 and 1999 in the French West Indies (Martinique).

[Microsporum canis mycetoma of the scalp].

Background: Mycetoma is a chronic subcutaneous tumefaction with presence of grains or granules. Etiological agents include bacteria or filamentous fungi. Mycetoma due to dermatophytes is uncommon, mainly occurring in Africa.

Epidemiology of vitiligo in the French West Indies (Isle of Martinique).

Background: The frequency of vitiligo in white populations has been generally estimated to be about 0.5-1%. The same prevalence is expected in black populations, despite the few investigations reported.

Epidemiology of histoplasmosis in the French West Indies (Martinique).

The Caribbean islands are presumed to be an endemic zone for Histoplasma capsulatum infection, but no epidemiological studies have been done in this area. Our purpose was to report the epidemiology of histoplasmosis from 1991 to 1997 in the French West Indies (Martinique). Cases identified from the register of the mycology laboratory were analysed retrospectively.

[Cutaneous sensitivity to histoplasmin in a Martinique hospitalized population].

Objective: Histoplasma capsulatum infection is considered to be endemic in the West Indies. Nevertheless, few epidemiologic studies have been conducted in this area. The histoplasmin skin test reflects the frequency of asymptomatic forms of histoplasmosis.

Epidemiology of cutaneous melanoma in the French West Indies (Martinique).

The epidemiology of melanoma in populations of African-European descent has rarely been reported. The authors studied melanoma in the French West Indies (Martinique), where black Caribbeans and whites represented 96% and 4% of the population, respectively. Among the 85 cases of melanoma collected from 1976 to 1995, blacks represented 75% and whites, 25%.

EGF receptor expression and growth of psoriatic and normal human keratinocytes are modulated by 1.25 (OH)2-vitamin D3 ex vivo.

Calcitriol or 1.25 (OH)2-vitamin D3 is used in the treatment of psoriasis as an inhibitor of cell proliferation. We studied the action of calcitriol ex vivo on the growth of psoriatic and normal human keratinocytes, and on the expression of the EGF receptor.

Histiocytic sarcoma that mimics benign histiocytosis.

A 28-year-old man presented with a histiocytic sarcoma of a very uncommon origin, as it had developed for several years like a benign cutaneous histiocytosis resembling generalized eruptive histiocytoma before becoming acute, with nodal and massive pulmonary involvement. Despite various chemotherapies, the patient died within 8 months. Skin biopsies showed histiocytic proliferation in the dermis and node biopsies showed histiocytic proliferation with a sinusoidal pattern.

Psoriatic onycho-pachydermo-periostitis. A variant of psoriatic distal interphalangeal arthritis?

Background: Joint and nail involvement in psoriasis is relatively common. In contrast, bony involvement of the terminal phalanx under a psoriatic nail is rare. We report on this psoriatic onycho-pachydermo-periostitis and suggest pathophysiologic mechanisms.

[Necrotic purpura of the head disclosing Churg-Strauss syndrome].

Introduction: Among the cutaneous manifestations of the Churg-Strauss syndrome, palpable purpura of the extremities is the most common. Although they are not specific, sub-cutaneous nodules of the scalp are the most distinctive lesions.

Case Report: A 58 year-old man, with a 7-years history of asthma, developed profuse cutaneous lesions involving the face and the scalp, initially erythematosus and vesiculous, then purpuric and necrotic which led to the diagnostic of Churg-Strauss syndrome.

[Treatment of psoriasis by oral calcitriol. A study of 5 cases and review of the literature].

Vitamin D topical analogues are now considered an excellent adjunct to the therapy of psoriasis. Systemic vitamin D3 treatment has been used occasionally, especially in case of associated hypocalcemia. We report five patients (aged 6, 16, 36, 58 and 79 years) successfully treated with vitamin D3 per os.