Improvement in peripheral blood disease burden in patients with Sézary syndrome and leukemic mycosis fungoides after total skin electron beam therapy.

Background: There is a paucity of effective therapies for patients with Sézary syndrome and advanced mycosis fungoides with peripheral blood involvement. Total skin electron beam (TSEB) radiation therapy is an extremely effective skin-directed therapy for these patients, but, until recently, it was thought not to signifcantly affect the peripheral blood malignant T-cell population.

Objective: We conducted this study to determine if TSEB has therapeutic effect on the peripheral blood in patients with advanced mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome.

Cutaneous lupus and the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index instrument.

This article provides an overview of cutaneous lupus erythematosus, including classification schemes, disease subtypes, and therapy. It also describes the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index, a novel clinical outcome instrument that quantifies cutaneous activity and damage in cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Analysis of compact fluorescent lights for use by patients with photosensitive conditions.

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is hazardous to patients with photosensitive skin disorders, such as lupus erythematosus, xeroderma pigmentosum and skin cancer. As such, these patients are advised to minimize their exposure to UVR. Classically, this is accomplished through careful avoidance of sun exposure and artificial tanning booths.

The risk of ultraviolet radiation exposure from indoor lamps in lupus erythematosus.

It is well known that ultraviolet radiation can exacerbate skin disease in patients with lupus erythematosus. While many patients are advised to avoid sunlight and artificial tanning, it is not clear how best to counsel patients regarding the use of indoor lamps. Indeed, many of the light bulbs commonly used in the home and workplace emit low-dose ultraviolet radiation.

Functional analysis of CD8+ T cell responses to the onconeural self protein cdr2 in patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is linked to an immune response against cerebellar degeneration related antigen 2 (cdr2) co-expressed in tumor and Purkinje neurons. Here, comprehensive immune-assessment assays were used to analyze CD8(+) T cells from 7 PCD patients, but no evidence was found of CD8(+) T cells specific for either of two previously described cdr2 epitopes (cdr2-1 and cdr2-2). In contrast, viral-specific CD8(+) T cells from healthy volunteers and PCD patients were measurable.