2a. Dermatological Diseases Flashcards
What is vitiligo?
An autoimmune disease with loss of melanocytes
What is malignant melanoma?
A tumour of the melanocyte cell line
What is telogen effluvium?
A common cause of temporary hair loss due to the excessive shedding of resting or telogen hair after some shock to the system
What is lipoatrophy?
Lipoatrophy is the diffuse loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue that most apparent in the face, buttocks, legs, and arms
What are milia?
A milium cyst is a small, white bump that typically appears on the nose and cheeks. Most common in newborns.
What is langerhans cell histiocytosis?
The overproduction of langerhans cellsnwhich build up to form granulomas.
Where are the symptoms of langerhans cell histiocytosis found?
skin and nails, mouth, bones, lymph nodes, pituitary gland, and thyroid gland.
What is merkel cell carcinoma?
Cancer of the merkel cells in the skin
What are the clinical features of merkel cell carcinoma?
Red nodule that grows quickly - often look like an infection or boil
What CD4+ T cell is associated with psoriasis?
TH1 and TH17
What CD4+ T cell is associated with atopic dermatitis?
TH2 and TH17
Which enzymes has reduced activity in porphria cutanea tarda?
Uroporphyrinogen synthase
What is the disease process of bullous pemphigoid?
Separating of the dermo-epidermal junction
What is epidermolysis bullosa?
An inherited skin disease causing the skin to blister and erode very easily.
What is an angioma?
This is an abnormal growth produced by the dilatation or new formation of blood vessels.
What is cutaneous photosensitivity?
An increased sensitivity to light. This may be normal or abnormal
What is a skin porphyria?
A group of disorders that result from a build up of natural chemicals that produce prophyrin in the body
What are the different types of porphyrias?
Phototoxic skin porphyrias
Blistering and fragility skin porphyrias
Acute attack porphyrias
Severe congenital porphyrias
What builds up in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria?
Protoporphyria IX
What builds up in patients with porphyria cutena tarda?
Uroporphyrinogen III
What are some manifestations of S. Aureus infection?
Superficial lesions - boils to abscesses
Systemic life-threatening infections
Toxinoses - toxic shock and scalded skin syndrome
What is impetigo?
Highly infectious Group A Streptococcus infection. Mostly in children
What is cellulitis?
Deeper Group A Streptococcus infection into the dermis. Not associated with necrosis
What is necrotizing fasciitis?
Group A Streptococcus infection that rapidly destroys connective tissue
What is a toxinosis?
Any disease or lesion caused by the action of a toxin.
What is the diagnostic criteria for toxic shock syndrome?
Fever
Diffuse macular rash and desquamation
Hypotension
What toxins can be responsible for necrotising pneumonia?
Panto Valentine Leukocidin
Alpha-toxin
What is staphylococcus epidermis infection associated with?
Nosocomial infection - pathology is almost entirely restricted to the hospital setting
What are some skin diseases associated with group A streptococcus?
Impetigo
Cellulitis
Necrotising fasciitis
What is toxic epidermal necrolysis?
A rare, life-threatening skin reaction, usually caused by a medication. It results in keratinocyte death which causes epidermal detachment at the dermo-epidermal junction. The skin detaches in large necrotic sheets.
What are risk factors for a chronic wound?
Co-morbidities e.g. diabetes, arthritis
Poor circulation
Infection
Poor nutrition
What are the three types of epidermolysis bullosa?
Simplex
Junctional
Dystrophic
What is the condition associated with cafe au lait macules?
Neurofibromatosis
What type of hypersensitivity are associated with allergic reactions of the skin?
Type 1 and 4
What is the pathophysiology of a type 1 hypersensitivity?
- Proteins from the allergen are taken up and presented by antigen presenting cells.
- This activates T cells to Th2 Cells.
- These Th2 cells secrete cytokines which activated B cells.
- The B cells secrete IgE antibodies which bind to mast cells causing sensitisation.
- On subsequent exposure to the allergen, the mast cells degranulate and cause and allergic reaction.
What is a type 1 hypersensitivity?
This is an IgE mediated reaction that occurs up to 2 hours after exposure to thepathogen. It is a reproducible reaction and will occur after every exposure.
What is a type 4 hypersensitivity?
This is a delayed, antigen specific, T cell mediated hypersensitivity.
What is the pathophysiology of type 4 hypersensitivity?
- Allergen meets the skin and attaches to antigen presenting Langerhans Cells.
- These move through the lymphatic system where they bind with CD4+ Th1 cells and CD8+ T cells which are activated.
- They move back to the skin where they cause an effect.
What is a classical skin manifestation of type 4 hypersensitivity?
Dermatitis
What are some of the presentations of type 1 hypersensitivity?
Urticaria Angioedema Nausea Vomiting Sneezing Rhinorrhoea ANAPHYLAXIS
What is the progression of treatment of a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction?
- Antihistamies
- Anti-inflammatorys
- Adrenaline autoinjectors
What is tuberous sclerosis?
An autosomal dominant condition that causes growths to grow on various organs such as the brain, kidneys, lungs and eyes.
What is the cause of tuberous sclerosis?
the genes TSC1 and TSC2, which control the growth and division of cells by coding for tuberin and hamartin, are faulty.
What protein are patients with tuberous sclerosis unable to switch off?
mTOR
What are hamartomas?
Benign tumours that are made up of a variety of cell types form the tissue in which they arise
What is meant by the genetic heterogenecity of tuberous sclerosis?
The mutation can be in either the TSC1 gene or the TSC2 gene but the effect will still be the same
What is epidermolysis bullosa?
A group of genetic skin fragility conditions
What are the three types of epidermolysis bullosa?
Simplex - effects to the epidermis
Junctional - effects to the dermo-epidermal junction
Dystrophic - effects to the dermis
Which genes can be mutated in epidermolysis bullosa?
Keratin 5 Keratin 14 Laminins Integrins Collagen 17
Why do epidermolysis bullosa patients suffer from malnutrition?
So much of their energy goes into healing the skin that they as a result get malnutrition
What is a food allergy?
An adverse immune response to a food.
What are the most common food allergens?
Cow's Milk Chicken Eggs Fish Shellfish - especially prawns Soya Peanuts Tree Nuts Wheat
What are the three types of food intolerance?
Intolerance with unknown mechanisms e.g. to food additives
Pharmacologic intolerances - reactions to naturally occurring substances in food
Enzymatic intolerances e.g. lactose intolerance
What type of milk should be prescribed to babies with a cows milk allergy?
Extensively hydrolysed formula
What is extensively hydrolysed formula?
Contains cows milk proteins that have been broken into very shourt chains and therefore do not trigger an allergic reaction
What is the disease progression of lymphodema?
- Increased subcutaneous fat reduces lymphatic drainage due to swelling.
- Gradually worsening swelling causes chronic inflammation leading to fibrosis.
- Reduced tissue oxygenation and swelling results in bacterial overgrowth.
- Cellulitis develops easily and leads to further lymphatic damage.
- A downward spiral develops if left untreated and ultimately the skin becomes thick and warty and the lower leg and food become permanently enlarged, often grossly.
What is intertrigo?
Macerated red plaques that develop in the body folds.
What is acanthosis nigricans?
An abnormal velvety thickening and darkening of skin, especially in body creases. Often cause by other conditions e.g. obesity, stomach cancer
What are acrochordons?
Soft, small harmless skin coloured growths that hang off the skin - skin tags
What is pellagra?
A disease caused by deficiency of niacin (vitamin b3) and/or tryptophan
What are the 3 d’s of pellagra?
Dermatitis
Diarrhoea
Delirium/DEMENTIA
What are the different types of psoriasis?
Psoriasis vulgaris
Guttate
Palmoplantar pustular
Erythrodermic
What is Koebners phenomenon?
Psoriasis develops in an area of skin trauma
What is Auspitz sign?
Removal of surface psoratic scale reveals tiny bleeding portals
What are some comorbidities associated with psoriasis?
Psoriatic arthritis metabolic syndrome - obesity, hypertension, diabetes, lipid abnormalitites Crohns disease Cancer Depression Uveitis
What are the reversible side effects of topical steroids?
Pigmentary changes
Poor wound healing
Tachyphylaxis
Acnifrom eruptions
What are the irreversible side effects of topical steroids?
Atrophy
Striae - stretch lines
What are some of the causes of itch?
Pruritoceptive
Neuropathic
Neurogenic
Psychogenic
What is pruitoceptive itch?
Something in the skin that triggers itch
What is neuropathic itch?
Damage of any sort to the central or peripheral nerves causing itch
What is a neurogenic itch?
No evident damage in the CNS but itch caused by things like opiate effect on the CNS
What os psychogenic itch?
Psychological causes with no CNS damage
What is psychogenic itch?
Psychological causes with no CNS damage
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that causes raised, scaly patches on the skin due to systemic inflammation
What are the different types of psoriasis?
Chronic Plaque Psoriasis
Guttate Psoriasis
Palmoplantar Pustular Psoriasis
Erythrodermic and Widespread Psoriasis
What are the clinical signs of psoriasis?
Chronic Plaques
Psoriatic Nail Disease
What are some common sites involved in psoriasis?
Extensor surfaces - elbows and knees Scalp Sacrum Hands and Feet Trunk Nails