Publications by authors named "Maira Herz-Ruelas"

Alopecia is a common feature in several autoimmune diseases. With a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, it may manifest with a scarring or non-scarring nature, in a diffuse, patchy, or localized pattern. We as dermatologists have the opportunity of assessing patients with hair loss who may have an underlying undiagnosed autoimmune disorder.

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Episodic hypereosinophilia and angioedema syndrome, also known as Gleich syndrome, is a rare entity characterized by recurrent episodes of eosinophilia, angioedema, urticaria, fever and weight gain with spontaneous resolution. It is classified as an idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. Unlike other hypereosinophilic syndromes, it has a low risk for internal organ damage.

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Article Synopsis
  • Melasma is a skin pigmentation disorder that can be treated with oral tranexamic acid (TA) and a combination cream known as fluocinolone-based triple combination cream (f-TCC).
  • A study involving 44 Hispanic women showed that combining oral TA with f-TCC led to greater improvements in melasma compared to using oral TA alone over a total treatment period of 16 weeks.
  • Both treatment methods were effective, with no serious side effects reported, and the combination therapy showed a clear advantage in achieving better results.
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  • Netherton syndrome (NS) is a rare genetic skin condition caused by changes in the SPINK5 gene, characterized by symptoms like atopic diathesis, ichthyosis linearis circumflexa, and hair shaft abnormalities.
  • Diagnosing NS can be tricky due to symptoms that overlap with other skin disorders, making tools like trichoscopy important for identifying specific hair shaft characteristics.
  • Treatment options range from topical therapies to systemic treatments such as biologics, with ongoing research into novel therapies including gene therapy and various drug inhibitors.
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Dear Editor, Primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg-type (PCDLBCL-LT) is a rare and aggressive neoplasm. A timely diagnosis may prevent fatal outcomes; physicians should take this entity into consideration when assessing non-specific lesions on the lower limbs. We present a 69-year-old woman with a 1-month history of a firm plaque on her left leg.

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Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is an acquired primary lymphocytic cicatricial alopecia characterized by frontotemporal hairline recession, leading to scarring alopecia with a band-like distribution. Prevalence is increasing worldwide, being the most frequent cause of primary scarring alopecia. The natural history of this condition is variable; however, slow progression with spontaneous remission is the most frequent reported outcome.

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Article Synopsis
  • Limited evidence exists for alternative treatments for nonstable vitiligo, prompting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of oral mini-pulse (OMP) therapy for this condition.
  • Four studies involving 246 patients from India were analyzed, revealing that OMP therapy led to over 75% repigmentation in up to 32% of cases, but its efficacy was similar to other treatments.
  • The overall quality of the studies was considered high risk for bias, indicating a need for more rigorous clinical trials to better assess OMP therapy’s potential benefits.*
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Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is an uncommon autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by edema, erythema, and subsequent induration of the extremities. It is commonly treated with corticosteroids but there is no treatment ladder for immunosuppressants or steroid-sparing agents. We report two EF cases treated effectively with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or mycophenolic acid (MPA) and present a literature review.

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Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired thrombophilic disorder in which autoantibodies are produced against a variety of phospholipids and phospholipid-binding proteins. The purpose of this article is to review cutaneous findings in patients with APS diagnosis. An overview regarding prevalence, description, pathogenesis and histopathology, are described for cutaneous manifestations of APS.

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This is a narrative review of azathioprine. This medication is immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive, and it has been used widely through different medical specialties to modify disease. It has been proven useful for several dermatoses and it has encountered success when used as an off-label indication for other dermatologic diseases.

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Background: Castleman disease (CD) is a lymphoproliferative B-cell disease that is diagnosed from lymphoid hyperplasia with vascular proliferation. Symptoms may include fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Cutaneous manifestations often may go unnoticed since little has been described in the literature regarding them.

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Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome (TRPS) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by trichologic, craniofacial, and musculoskeletal abnormalities. Predominant clinical features include a pear-shaped nose with bulbous tip, long philtrum, protruding ears, and sparse hair on both the scalp and the lateral third of the eyebrows. Cone-shaped epiphyses are a common radiographic finding.

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Vitiligo is a disease characterized by skin depigmentation caused by the selective destruction of melanocytes. The melanocortin system participates as a regulator of melanogenesis and skin pigmentation. Narrowband UVB phototherapy (nb-UVB) is currently considered to be the gold standard and first choice treatment method for vitiligo vulgaris.

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