Publications by authors named "Martha Elena Garcia Melendez"

Vitiligo is characterized by a skin depigmentation disorder resulting from an autoimmune response targeting melanocytes. Within the genetic factors involved in the development of the vitiligo immune response, various genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and non-MHC loci have been considered to be risk factors. The gene encodes for a lymphoid protein tyrosine phosphatase, a regulator of the activation and development of T-cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Lyme disease is an emerging infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. It is the most common vector-borne disease in the USA and Europe, and it is transmitted to humans through the bite of ticks of the genus Ixodes. Its animal reservoirs are the white-tailed deer, the white-footed mouse, and other small mammals.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is rarely described in the pediatric population with less than 40 cases reported in the literature. We report the case of an 11-year-old girl who was diagnosed with PF after 6 months of starting with symptoms and who responded well to therapy with oral dapsone. Although therapeutic guidelines for PF in children are lacking, oral corticosteroids in combination with dapsone have proven to be effective as first-line treatment in this setting.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a scarring alopecia characterized by progressive recession of the frontotemporal hairline. Current treatment is aimed at stopping progression, and the combination of dutasteride and pimecrolimus is the most effective therapy. Side effects associated with dutasteride are erectile dysfunction as well as breast tenderness and enlargement, while pimecrolimus produces a burning sensation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF