Cat scratch disease in an immunosuppressed patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Chronic type 2 reaction possibly triggered by an asymptomatic Bartonella henselae infection in a leprosy patient

As leprosy and leprosy reactions are the most prevalent infectious cause of physical disability, it is important to commit efforts to better understand these chronic reactions. Infections, even when asymptomatic, can trigger leprosy reactions and Bartonella spp. in turn, can cause chronic infections. We presented a case of a 51-year-old man who was admitted presenting with chronic type 2 leprosy reactions. He had a lepromatous form of leprosy that was histologically diagnosed six months after the onset of signs and symptoms compatible with a chronic type 2 reaction. He reported a history of a previous hepatitis B diagnosis. During a 24-month multidrug therapy (MDT), chronic reactions were partially controlled with prednisone and thalidomide. Thirty-three months following the leprosy treatment, he still experienced chronic reactions, and whole bacilli as well as globi were found on a new skin biopsy. Since coinfections can trigger type 2 reactions and the patient had close contact with animals and ticks, we investigated the presence of a Bartonella sp. infection. Bartonella henselae DNA was detected in a skin fragment obtained before the beginning of the leprosy retreatment. However, even after six months of a second leprosy MDT, he continued to experience type 2 chronic reactions. He was admitted to the hospital to undergo an intravenous antibiotic therapy for 14 days and then complete the treatment per os for ten more weeks. Leprosy reactions improved following the treatment for B. henselae. After completing the MDT treatment, he has been accompanied for sixty months with no signs of leprosy or leprosy reactions. The asymptomatic infection by B. henselaein this patient was considered the putative trigger of chronic leprosy reactions and leprosy relapse.

Collagen Anomalies as Clues for Diagnosis: Part 1

BACKGROUND

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and the main structural component of the skin.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a review of the histopathology of collagen alterations and to propose a classification with the most important types of collagen anomalies in dermatopathology. The authors describe some of the main morphological clues of collagen anomalies for specific diagnosis of some cutaneous inflammatory and neoplastic conditions.

METHODS

The authors review histopathologic collagen anomalies, concerning both morphology and disposition in some inflammatory and neoplastic cutaneous conditions, and they review previous terminology and proposed a classification of the most important types of collagen anomalies that can be seen in dermatopathological practice.

RESULTS

Collagen anomalies in skin can be classified into lamellar fibrosis, sclerosis, and "balls" and "rings" of collagen. Lamellar fibrosis presents as long and thin collagen bundles forming a delicate network, which can be disposed in a parallel pattern, onion-bulb-like pattern, and storiform pattern. Sclerosis is characterized by large, thick, and eosinophilic bundles of collagen, which may present as a homogenous-diffuse pattern or as individual thick bundles of collagen with few or abundant number of fibroblasts between them. Finally, the authors propose the terms "balls" and "rings" of collagen. The term "balls" of collagen stands for thick, homogenous, eosinophilic, globular collagen bundles, with no distinguishable individual composing fibers, which include the floating sign and the free-floating sign. The term "rings" of collagen is characterized by sclerotic collagen arranged in a homogenous rimming pattern around vessels without independent fibers in its composition.

CONCLUSIONS

Collagen anomalies may be important clues to establish specific clues for specific diagnoses in dermatopathology.

Seronegative disseminated Bartonella spp. infection in an immunocompromised patient

An 11 year old, hispanic girl with a history of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was admitted to the hospital for symptoms compatible with Bartonella henselae infection. The first molecularly diagnosed case of disseminated Bartonella henselae infection was reported in an immunocompromised patient in Lima, Peru. The analysis was confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction and automated sequencing of a liver biopsy sample, even though the serologic tests were negative. In conclusion, Bartonella spp. infection should have a particular diagnostic consideration in immunocompromised patients with fever of unknown origin and further investigation regarding the patient's past exposures with cats should also be elicited.