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Query: UMLS:C0409974 (lupus)
 22,386 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an uncommonly recognized etiology of cellulitis in adults. A review of the literature uncovered 30 cases of pneumococcal skin infection in adults. Typically, all patients with pneumococcal cellulitis had an underlying chronic illness, or were immunocompromised by drug or alcohol abuse. Pneumococcal cellulitis presents as two distinctive clinical syndromes: one with extremity involvement in individuals with diabetes and substance abuse; and a second involving the head, neck and upper torso in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosis, nephrotic syndrome and hematologic disorders. For each there are statistically significant associations between the location of pneumococcal cellulitis and underlying clinical disorders. In contrast to other common bacterial etiologies, pneumococcal cellulitis is frequently associated with blood stream invasion, tissue necrosis and suppurative complications. Patients often require surgical interventions and prolonged hospitalizations. A high degree of suspicion and early aggressive management is needed for those presenting with cellulitis characterized by bullae and violaceous color.
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PMID:Clinical syndromes associated with adult pneumococcal cellulitis. 1082 96

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who present with skin disease pose the clinician with diagnostic challenges. The skin disease can reflect an increase in systemic disease activity suggested by other features of active lupus and, as such, usually responds well to more aggressive immunosuppressive therapy. Other possibilities of skin disease include drug eruptions, skin disease unrelated to SLE and, more rarely, opportunistic skin infection. In patients who show a poor response to more aggressive immunosuppressive therapy, consideration must be given to the possibility of opportunistic infection. A high index of suspicion will allow prompt treatment. We describe two patients with SLE who developed cutaneous atypical mycobacterial infection during immunosuppressive therapy. The diagnosis of cutaneous vasculitis was considered in both cases, but subsequent skin biopsy revealed the correct diagnosis. This report illustrates the importance of skin biopsy in patients with suspected cutaneous lupus who are not responding to immunosuppressive therapy.
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PMID:When typical is atypical: mycobacterial infection mimicking cutaneous vasculitis. 1204 97

Cutaneous lesions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) represent diagnostic challenges. Opportunistic infections should be considered when lupus patients are on immunosuppressive therapy and other causes, such as disease activity, are less likely to explain the skin lesions. Within the spectrum of skin opportunistic infections that might occur in SLE patients, Blastomyces dermatitidis should be suspected when acid-fast positive material with no bacilliform organisms is seen on Ziehl-Nielsen skin biopsy preparations. In this study, we describe one patient with SLE on immunosuppressive therapy, who developed cutaneous blastomycosis despite living in a non-endemic area. Because of lack of awareness about this association and misinterpretation of the skin biopsy results, the diagnosis of atypical mycobacterial infection was initially considered. Subsequent proper tissue staining and interpretation revealed the correct diagnosis of disseminated cutaneous blastomycosis. This description represents the first report of this rare opportunistic skin infection in SLE, illustrating the importance of performing correct preparation and elucidation of the skin biopsy to avoid misdiagnosis and treatment delay.
Lupus 2009 Oct
PMID:A rare opportunistic infection in a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple skin lesions. 1976 86

Sarcoptic mange, a parasitic skin infection caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei, has been reported in over 100 mammals, including humans. In endangered species, mange causes conservation concerns because it may decimate isolated populations and contribute to extinction. The Iberian Peninsula still maintains one of the largest wolf (Canis lupus) populations in Europe. In Iberia, sarcoptic mange is endemic in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and the first confirmed wolf mange cases were recently reported. However, knowledge on S. scabiei in wolves is scarce because of the sampling difficulties inherent to research on scarce species. In order to describe wolf mange epidemiology and to infer conservation implications, this study combined traditional laboratory techniques with the revision of wolf carcass pictures taken by field biologists and original information obtained by camera trapping. A total of 125 necropsies and 8783 camera-trap days allowed insights into wolf mange epidemiology between 2003 and 2010. Living Sarcoptes mites were detected in 19% of the fresh carcasses. Alopecic (delayed) type IV hypersensitive response reactions were observed, while parakeratotic lesions were infrequent. The number of mites isolated per wolf ranged from 1 to 78, and had a negative correlation with the percentage of alopecic skin. No effect by sex on mange prevalence was found. Yearlings showed a lower probability to present mange-compatible lesions than pups or adults. Wolves with mange-compatible lesions had a lower kidney fat index than apparently healthy ones. ELISA testing of 88 sera yielded an antibody prevalence of 20%. Photo-trapping recorded mange-compatible lesions since 2003 with a peak in 2008. The percentage of wolves with mange-compatible lesions registered in camera-traps during 1 year correlated with the percentage of red foxes with lesions in the previous year. This is the first large survey on sarcoptic mange in the Iberian wolf. Necropsy data, with alopecia as the main feature and a slight effect on body condition, and trends derived from camera trapping coincided in showing a rather low prevalence and an apparently stable situation of the disease and its host, suggesting that this parasite is currently not a major threat for this wolf population. However, more information is needed in order to assess the effect of mange on aspects such as pup survival.
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PMID:New techniques for an old disease: sarcoptic mange in the Iberian wolf. 2160 Jun 96