Diseases from the Spectrum of Dermatitis and Eczema: Can "Omics" Sciences Help with Better Systematics and More Accurate Differential Diagnosis?

Researchers active in the field of inflammatory skin diseases from the spectrum of dermatitis and eczema are well aware of a considerable overlap in the clinical pictures and proposed sets of diagnostic criteria for these diseases, which can hardly be overcome through the clinical or epidemiological research. In effect, patients are included in studies based on vague and overlapping criteria, while heterogeneous study populations may, in turn, lead to non-representative outcomes and continued confusion. In this narrative review, a systematics of diseases from the spectrum of dermatitis and eczema is proposed based on the origins of causative factors and the pathomechanisms involved. Difficulties in differentiating between these diseases are discussed, and the extent to which advances in the "omics" sciences might help to overcome them is considered. Of all the "omics" research in this field, more than 90% of the published papers were devoted to atopic dermatitis, with a striking underrepresentation of other diseases from the spectrum of dermatitis and eczema, conditions which collectively exceed the rates of atopic dermatitis by far. A greater "omics" research effort is urgently needed to tackle other dermatitides, like allergic, irritant and protein contact dermatitis, as well as radiation, seborrheic, stasis or autoimmune dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis findings should be validated not only against healthy donors but also other dermatitides. A clinic-oriented approach is proposed for future "omics" studies in the field of dermatitis and eczema.

Narrative Review of the Pathogenesis of Stasis Dermatitis: An Inflammatory Skin Manifestation of Venous Hypertension

INTRODUCTION

Stasis dermatitis (SD), also known as venous dermatitis, is a form of inflammatory dermatitis of the lower extremities that typically occurs in older individuals and represents a cutaneous manifestation of venous hypertension. Venous hypertension (also known as sustained ambulatory venous pressure) is most often due to retrograde blood flow, which occurs due to calf muscle pump failure. This failure is most commonly secondary to incompetent venous valves, valve destruction, or obstruction of the venous system. Many of the common symptoms associated with SD are caused by inflammatory processes.

METHODS

This review summarizes the pathogenesis and key role of inflammation in SD by reviewing inflammatory biomarkers associated with SD. The literature was selected though a high-level PubMed search focusing on keywords relating to inflammation associated with SD.

RESULTS

Venous reflux at the lower extremities causes venous hypertension, which leads to chronic venous insufficiency. High venous pressure due to venous hypertension promotes the local accumulation and extravasation of inflammatory cells across the vascular endothelium. Leukocyte trapping in the microcirculation and perivascular space is associated with trophic skin changes. Cell adhesion molecules are linked with the perpetuated influx of activated leukocytes into inflammatory sites. Here, inflammatory cells may influence the remodeling of the extracellular matrix by inducing the secretion of proteinases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The increased expression of MMPs is associated with the formation of venous leg ulcers and lesions. Phosphodiesterase 4 activity has also been shown to be elevated in individuals with inflammatory dermatoses compared to healthy individuals.

DISCUSSION

Because inflammation is a key driver of the signs and symptoms of SD, several of the highlighted biomarkers of inflammation represent potential opportunities to target and interrupt molecular pathways of cutaneous inflammation and, therefore, remediate the signs and symptoms of SD.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the pathogenesis of SD may help clinicians identify drivers of inflammation to use as potential targets for the development of new treatment options.

Stasis Dermatitis: An Overview of Its Clinical Presentation, Pathogenesis, and Management

Stasis dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of the lower extremities. It typically occurs in older individuals and is the cutaneous manifestation of venous hypertension caused by venous reflux. Such retrograde venous blood flow is the result of incompetent venous valves, valve destruction, or venous obstruction. Stasis dermatitis is eczematous. The associated impairment of venous valves may cause swelling of the legs, leading to serious conditions including venous ulcerations. Diagnosis can be challenging because of its clinical resemblance to other skin conditions and poor clinical recognition by physicians. The cornerstones of stasis dermatitis treatment are compression therapy to ameliorate pain and swelling, topical treatments to alleviate secondary skin changes, and interventional treatment options to correct the underlying causes of venous reflux. Given the central role of inflammation of the lower extremities in driving the cutaneous changes characteristic of stasis dermatitis, new therapeutic approaches that target the inflammation are under clinical evaluation in patients with stasis dermatitis.

Pigmentation Disorders in the Elderly

Aging skin is subject to morphological change due to both intrinsic (skin tone, genetics, endogenous hormones) and extrinsic (chronic sun exposure, medications, exogenous pigments) factors. The broad spectrum of transformation includes both hypo- and hyperpigmentation. Although cutaneous pigmentary disorders are common in younger individuals, certain disorders are more prevalent in the geriatric population. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical appearance, treatment, and prognosis of pigmentary lesions that are predominant in the elderly.

Stasis Dermatitis: Pathophysiology, Evaluation, and Management

Stasis dermatitis commonly occurs in older age. It is caused by venous hypertension resulting from retrograde flow due to incompetent venous valves, valve destruction, or obstruction of the venous system. Further tissue changes arise from an inflammatory process mediated by metalloproteinases, which are up-regulated by ferric ion from extravasated red blood cells. Stasis dermatitis presents initially as poorly demarcated erythematous plaques of the lower legs bilaterally, classically involving the medial malleolus. It is one of the spectrum of cutaneous findings that may result from chronic venous insufficiency. Its mimics include cellulitis, contact dermatitis, and pigmented purpuric dermatoses. Duplex ultrasound is useful in demonstrating venous reflux when the clinical diagnosis of stasis dermatitis is inadequate. Conservative treatment involves the use of compression therapy directed at improving ambulatory venous pressure. Interventional therapy currently includes minimally invasive techniques such as endovenous thermal ablation and ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy, which have supplanted the use of open surgical techniques.

Treatment of chronic venous disease with flavonoids: recommendations for treatment and further studies

OBJECTIVES

A variety of studies have suggested that flavonoids are effective for the treatment of CVD. However, many questions remain about their mechanism of action and when, how, and for what signs and symptoms they should be used.

METHOD

A panel of experts in CVD met in Budapest, Hungary in December 2011 to discuss the current state of knowledge of CVD and the role of flavonoids in its treatment. The discussion was based on a literature search in the current databases. The goals of this paper are recommendations for further studies on the use of flavonoids in the treatment of CVD.

RESULTS

There is good evidence to recommend the use of flavonoids in the treatment of CVD. However, because of the poor quality of some older clinical trials, inadequate reporting, and insufficient information, much work is still needed to firmly establish their clinical efficacy and to determine when and how they should be employed. In particular, long-term randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of flavonoids. Additional studies are also needed to establish their mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and cost-effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Aside from good evidence for the use of flavonoids in CVD further studies are indicated to establish long term treatment in this indication.