Canadian Case Report of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum Successfully Treated with Prednisone and Thalidomide

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélissa Saber ◽  
Caroline Bourassa-Fulop ◽  
Danielle Bouffard ◽  
Nathalie Provost

Background: Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a disease rarely encountered in Canada. It is characterized by multiple remissions and recurrences, often requires long-term treatment, and can result in debilitating sequelae. Objective: To promote rapid recognition and adequate therapy for ENL. Methods: Case report of a 39-year-old man diagnosed with an ENL. The clinical and histopathologic features, treatment provided, and response to treatment are detailed in this article. Results: ENL presented itself as painful cutaneous lesions on the face and limbs, bilateral paresthesia of the fourth and fifth fingers, and systemic symptoms. Prednisone 40 mg daily for a week and then 60 mg daily for another week reduced the lesions by 80% and the pain by 50%. Although prednisone 60 mg daily was continued for one more week and then stopped, thalidomide was started at a dose of 300 mg daily for 4 weeks and then reduced gradually, which led to complete resolution. Conclusion: At the 7½-month follow-up, the patient remained completely asymptomatic.

2002 ◽  
Vol 175 (3) ◽  
pp. 673-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Wang ◽  
E Isaksson ◽  
B Von Schoultz ◽  
JM Cline ◽  
L Sahlin

The effects of oestrogen are mediated by two specific intracellular receptors, oestrogen receptors (ER) alpha and beta, which function as ligand-activated transcriptional regulators. Ovariectomized macaques (Macaca fascicularis) were used to study the regulation of ERalpha and ERbeta in the endometrium by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization after long-term hormone treatment. Animals were treated continuously for 35 Months with either conjugated equine oestrogen (CEE), medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), combined CEE/MPA, or tamoxifen (TAM). Treatment with CEE/MPA down-regulated ERalpha in the superficial glands. In the superficial stroma the ERalpha level was lower in the CEE/MPA group than in the CEE and MPA groups. ERbeta immunostaining was faint with minor variation in response to treatment, but increased in the superficial stroma after MPA treatment. The ratio of ERbeta/ERalpha increased in superficial stroma and gland after CEE/MPA treatment, and also in stroma after MPA and TAM. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia was observed in TAM-treated animals, in combination with a high level of ERalpha protein expression. The present data show that long-term hormone treatment affects the ERalpha and ERbeta protein levels in the endometrium. The balance between ERalpha and ERbeta seems to be important for the proliferative response to oestrogen.


1978 ◽  
Vol 16 (14) ◽  
pp. 55-56

Neuroleptic drugs cause many forms of extra-pyramidal syndromes. One of these, tardive dyskinesia,1 occurs only after the patient has been taking the drug for some time (‘tardive’ refers to the late onset). The movements are involuntary and repetitive usually involving the face and tongue, but they may also affect the limbs and trunk. Tongue protrusion, licking and smacking of the lips, sucking and chewing movements, grimacing, grunting, blinking and furrowing of the forehead have all been described and attributed to long-continued medication with neuroleptic drugs of the phenothiazine, butyrophenone and thioxanthene groups. The patient can inhibit the movements, but anxiety makes them worse. Many of these symptoms were noticed in schizophrenic patients before neuroleptic drugs were introduced2 and they can occur in otherwise normal untreated elderly people. Nevertheless it is generally accepted that in most cases tardive dyskinesia is an unwanted effect of neuroleptic medication. Despite suggestions to the contrary, the abnormal movements are not necessarily associated with high dosage of neuroleptic drugs or with pre-existing brain damage.3 4 Tardive dyskinesia has been reported in 3–6% of a mixed population of psychiatric patients5 and over half of a group of chronic schizophrenics on long-term treatment.4 The more careful the neurological examination, the greater the apparent incidence.


Author(s):  
Park Benjamin J ◽  
Camoriano David ◽  
Vital Mark C ◽  
Chévez-Barrios Patricia ◽  
Goosey John D ◽  
...  

Purpose: To describe management of a patient with ligneous conjunctivitis secondary to plasminogen deficiency and review the literature on treatment with plasminogen. Design: Interventional case report. Methods: A 6-year-old Caucasian girl developed ligneous conjunctivitis recalcitrant to debridement and treatment with topical cyclosporin A and steroids. The literature was reviewed regarding treatment of ligneous conjunctivitis with plasminogen. Results: The patient was treated with plasminogen containing drops derived from her father’s fresh frozen plasma. The ligneous conjunctivitis resolved, and the patient was managed on these drops for the following 8 years, initiating treatment for flares and tapering according to clinical response. Conclusions: Plasminogen drops concentrated from fresh frozen plasma are a safe and effective option for long-term treatment of ligneous conjunctivitis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 112 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bassem Said ◽  
Marshall Strome

To assess the long-term efficacy and morbidity of radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction (RFVTR) of the soft palate for snoring, we examined the medical records of 39 patients who received this treatment at an academic medical center. Telephone interviews were conducted with the patients to evaluate the long-term subjective efficacy and sequelae. The average follow-up was 14 months (range, 3 to 26 months). Twenty-eight patients (72%) responded to treatment, defined as a 4-point decrease on a 10-point scale. The self-reported snoring score decreased an average of 52% (8.8 ± 1.9 to 4.2 ± 2.9). Sixty-seven percent of the patients were satisfied. The response to treatment did not always correlate with patient satisfaction. The snoring relapse rate was 11% among responders. No significant differences were identified between responders and nonresponders. No significant complications or long-term sequelae were observed. We conclude that RFVTR of the palate is a relatively safe and effective long-term treatment for snoring. Defining realistic pretreatment expectations is important in maximizing patient satisfaction.


2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 385-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Karadimou ◽  
Magdalini Migou ◽  
Afroditi Economidi ◽  
Alexandros Stratigos ◽  
Christos Kittas ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. annrheumdis-2021-220043
Author(s):  
Gavin R Meehan ◽  
Ranjeny Thomas ◽  
Shaima Al Khabouri ◽  
Pascale Wehr ◽  
Catharien MU Hilkens ◽  
...  

Increasingly earlier identification of individuals at high risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (eg, with autoantibodies and mild symptoms) improves the feasibility of preventing or curing disease. The use of antigen-specific immunotherapies to reinstate immunological self-tolerance represent a highly attractive strategy due to their potential to induce disease resolution, in contrast to existing approaches that require long-term treatment of underlying symptoms.Preclinical animal models have been used to understand disease mechanisms and to evaluate novel immunotherapeutic approaches. However, models are required to understand critical processes supporting disease development such as the breach of self-tolerance that triggers autoimmunity and the progression from asymptomatic autoimmunity to joint pain and bone loss. These models would also be useful in evaluating the response to treatment in the pre-RA period.This review proposes that focusing on immune processes contributing to initial disease induction rather than end-stage pathological consequences is essential to allow development and evaluation of novel immunotherapies for early intervention. We will describe and critique existing models in arthritis and the broader field of autoimmunity that may fulfil these criteria. We will also identify key gaps in our ability to study these processes in animal models, to highlight where further research should be targeted.


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