Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a rare hematologic condition characterized by the proliferation and accumulation in tissue of clonal mast cells in multiple organ systems. The release of mast cell mediators in the indolent disease type and the predominant mast cell infiltration of tissues in advanced disease contribute to the heterogeneous clinical presentation. The disease driver in >90% of adult cases is an activating mutation, with D816V being the most frequent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe rapid development and implementation of COVID-19 vaccines throughout the global population has given rise to unique, rare, adverse skin reactions. This case report describes an elderly man with new-onset bullous pemphigoid following the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOne of the many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic was the cancelation of the 2020 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting. This conference historically features lectures from world-renowned experts in all areas of dermatology, thus providing an important educational experience for dermatology residents. We hypothesized that the cancellation of this meeting produced a substantial educational loss for dermatology residents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Although hypersensitivity reactions are well characterized for certain medications, vancomycin-associated drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS), or drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), has yet to be defined.
Objective: To better define the clinical phenotype of vancomycin-associated DIHS.
Methods: A retrospective case series was conducted over an 8-year period at a single, academic institution.
The importance of inpatient consultative dermatology is often underrecognized and undervalued. A significant need exists because the burden of skin disease in the hospital is great and expertise regarding the recognition and management of uncommon and severe skin disorders is limited outside the field. In response to this need, the concept of a dermatology hospitalist was defined and the Society for Dermatology Hospitalists was created in 2009.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Am Acad Dermatol
December 2016
Background: For even seasoned practitioners, early melanomas can be difficult to distinguish from melanocytic nevi. Although serial digital dermoscopy is considered by many to be the gold standard for monitoring patients at high risk, poor compliance can seriously alter efficacy. In 2014, a concerning compliance rate of 25% was reported from a single, private clinic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs the use of indoor tanning beds gained popularity in the decades after their appearance in the market in the early 1970s, concerns arose regarding their use. Clinical research has revealed an association between indoor tanning and several health risks, including the subsequent occurrence of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers, the development of psychologic dependence, and a tendency toward other high-risk health behaviors. In the face of mounting evidence, legislation has been passed, which includes the restriction of access to tanning beds by minors in 42 states and the District of Columbia, and the recent reclassification by the Food and Drug Administration, which now categorizes tanning beds as class II devices and worthy of restrictions and oversight.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhotodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed
March 2016
While narrowband ultraviolet light B (NB-UVB) has become integral to the treatment of diffuse vitiligo, evidence-based guidelines have been lacking with regard to dosing and administration. This is largely the result of heterogeneous study designs, ambiguous methodologies, disparate dosing strategies, and the use of varied, and somewhat arbitrary, outcome measures. In the absence of prospective trials to address each of these concerns, the available literature regarding the application of NB-UVB for vitiligo was reviewed and the authors now pose a set of questions to the phototherapy community in an attempt to highlight gaps within our understanding.
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