Pyoderma gangrenosum in association with autoimmune neutropenia of infancy.

We report the case of a 10-month-old girl who presented with a spontaneous ulcer on the left buttock which failed to heal despite antibiotic therapy. Histology showed changes consistent with pyoderma gangrenosum and the ulcer resolved rapidly with super-potent topical steroids under occlusion. Blood tests revealed a persistent neutropenia.

Measuring atopic eczema severity visually: which variables are most important to patients?

Background: There is wide variation in the objective visual variables used to measure atopic eczema severity in clinical trials, making comparison and interpretation of results difficult.

Objective: To provide a rationale for simplifying and standardizing objective atopic eczema scoring by investigating which visual variables provide the best measure of disease severity from the patient's perspective.

Setting: The dermatology outpatient department at the Queen's Medical Centre, University Hospital in Nottingham, and 5 local general practices.

The patient-oriented eczema measure: development and initial validation of a new tool for measuring atopic eczema severity from the patients' perspective.

Objective: To develop a simple, valid, repeatable, and readily understandable patient-oriented assessment measure for monitoring disease activity in children and adults with atopic eczema.

Design: Qualitative semistructured patient interviews identified a list of symptoms of atopic eczema. These symptoms were quantitatively analyzed in a larger patient population to identify which symptoms were important to patients and amenable to monitoring as part of a scoring system.