Guideline for the diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is an inflammatory, autoimmune disease encompassing a broad spectrum of subtypes including acute, subacute, chronic and intermittent CLE. Among these, chronic CLE can be further classified into several subclasses of lupus erythematosus (LE) such as discoid LE, verrucous LE, LE profundus, chilblain LE and Blaschko linear LE. To provide all dermatologists and rheumatologists with a practical guideline for the diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of CLE, this evidence- and consensus-based guideline was developed following the checklist established by the international Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare (RIGHT) Working Group and was registered at the International Practice Guideline Registry Platform.

A clinician's reference guide for the management of atopic dermatitis in Asians.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin condition among Asians. Recent studies have shown that Asian AD has a unique clinical and immunologic phenotype compared with European/American AD.

Objective: The Asian Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Expert Panel on Atopic Dermatitis developed this reference guide to provide a holistic and evidence-based approach in managing AD among Asians.

Complementary role of a polymerase chain reaction test in the diagnosis of onychomycosis.

Background: The successful treatment of onychomycosis depends on accurate diagnosis. Conventional diagnostic methods, including direct microscopy and fungal culture, are non-specific, insensitive and time-consuming. Recently, PCR has shown promise in improving the diagnosis of onychomycosis.

Fatal Lucio's phenomenon in 2 patients with previously undiagnosed leprosy.

We report 2 cases of Lucio's phenomenon, a rare, aggressive, occasionally fatal type 2 reaction occurring in the diffuse nonnodular type of lepromatous leprosy. The clinical diagnosis of Lucio's phenomenon is difficult, and there are no known predictive or prognostic factors. Despite institution of aggressive treatment after diagnosis, our 2 cases had fatal outcomes.