Pemphigus foliaceus with neutrophilic spongiosis evolving to an atypical pemphigus phenotype.

A 46-year-old Brazilian man, with initial pustular lesions, neutrophilic spongiosis and subcorneal cleavage evolved to an atypical pemphigus phenotype, with suprabasal acantholysis. Interestingly, his autoantibody profile, tested by immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunoprecipitation revealed exclusive IgG anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies in all phases of the disease.

Video-assisted pericardioscopy. How to improve diagnostic efficacy in pericardial effusions.

Objective: To assess, in a prospective way, the experience with video-assisted pericardioscopy obtained in patients with pericardial effusion of unclear etiology in the preoperative period.

Methods: From January 1998 to June 2000, 20 patients were operated upon with the aid of video-assisted pericardioscopy. On echocardiography, 17 of these patients had significant pericardial effusion, and 3 had moderate pericardial effusion.