Dermatology Flashcards
Type 1 hypersensitivity?
Immediate reaction
Pathophysiology type 1 hypersensitivity?
- Activated TH2 cells release IL-4, IL-5, IL-13
- Cause B cells to release IgE
- IgE activates mast cells
- Mast cells release histamine, leukotrienes and cytokines
Urticaria timeline?
Lesions appear within 1 hour + can last up to 24 hrs
Angioedema?
Localised swelling of subcutaneous tissue (non-pitting, not itchy)
Ix allergy? (4)
- RAST (IgE test)
- Skin prick
- Challenge test
- Serum mast cell tryptase level
Tx allergy? (6)
Allergen avoidance, anti-histamine, corticosteroids, adrenaline, sodium cromoglycate, immunotherapy
Adrenaline autoinjector?
For anaphylaxis
- 300 ug adults
- 150 ug children
Type IV hypersensitivity?
Delayed (24-48 hrs), T cell mediated
Ix type IV allergy?
Patch test
- Allergens prepared on Finn chambers
- Finn chambers placed on back and removed after 48 hrs
- Readings at 48 and 96 hrs
Irritant contact dermatits?
Non-immunological process (irritants traumatise skin) e.g. nappy rash, lip-lick dermaitis
Dermatitis tx? (6)
Allergen avoidance, emollients, topical steroids, UV phototherapy, immunosuppressants
Epidermis composed of?
Stratified squamous epithlium
Embryological origin of epidermis? Dermis?
Epidermis = ectoderm Dermis = mesoderm
Melanocytes?
Pigment-producing cells from neural crest
Layers of epidermis? (4)
Keratin layer, glandular layer, prickle cell layer, basal layer
(+ appendages = nail, hair, glands, mucosae)
Blaschko’s lines?
Growth pattern of skin (does not follow nerves/lymphatics)
How long does it take keratinocytes to migrate from basement membrane?
28 days
Basal layer?
Small cuboidal, 1 cell thick
Prickle cell layer?
Large polyhedral cells (lots of desmosomes)
Granular layer?
ORIGIN OF CORNIFIED ENVELOPE (keratin layer)
2-3 layers of flatter cells
Contains: Lamellar (Odland) bodies, keratohyalin granules (contain filaggrin + involucrin)
A 3 year old boy presents on a sunny day in June. His mother reports he keeps crying and rubs at his skin when playing outside and this has been going on for a few weeks. His skin is sometimes a bit red, but there is never a rash and his skin is clear on examination now. He is skin type 1 with a few freckles evident, generally well, on no medication and there is no family history of skin problems.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Erythropoietic protoporphyria
A 3 year old boy presents on a sunny day in June. His mother reports he keeps crying and rubs at his skin when playing outside and this has been going on for a few weeks. His skin is sometimes a bit red, but there is never a rash and his skin is clear on examination now. He is skin type 1 with a few freckles evident, generally well, on no medication and there is no family history of skin problems.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Erythropoietic protoporphyria
Skin problems make up what percentage of all general practice consultations?
~19%
A 58 year old man presents in July with blisters on the dorsal aspect of his hands which have been appearing over the last few months, crust over and heal leaving scarring. He works as a joiner and is aware that his skin has also been more fragile than usual. You notice that he has a lot of hair growing on his cheeks. He is generally well and on no medication
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Keratin layer?
Overlapping cell remnants (no nucleus)
also contain lamellar bodies
What does HPV do?
Infects keratinocytes and causes warts
Where are melanocytes found?
Basal layer
Function of melancoytes
- Convert tyrosine to melanin pigment (Eumelanin = brown/black, Phaeomelanin = red/yellow)
- Pigment stored in melanosomes
- Melanosomes transferred to keratinocytes via DENDRITES
Vitiligo?
Autoimmune disease with loss of melanocytes
Albinism?
Genetic loss of pigment production
Nelson’s syndrome?
Melanin-stimulating hormone produced in excess by pituitary
Langerhans cells?
Produced in bone marrow, found in prickle cell, dermis + lymph nodes
* ANTIGEN PRESENTING CELLS
Merkel cells?
MECHANORECEPTORS (sensation)
* Present in BASAL cell layer
Merkel cell cancer?
Causes by virus, HIGH MORTALITY
Pilosebaceous unit?
Hair follicle + sebaceous gland
hair receives pigment from melanocytes above dermal papilla
Phases of hair growth?
Anagen (growing), catagen (involuting), telogen (resting)
Excess androgen from tumour results in?
Virilisation
Alopecia areata?
Autoimmune hair loss
Nails grow how much?
0.1 mm per day
Where are stem cells for nail growth located?
Nail matrix (trauma can irreversibly affect nail growth)
Bullous pemphigoid?
Antibody attacks DEJ (dx = immunofluorescence)
Dermis composed of?
Ground substance, fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, lymphocytes, langerhans, collagen, muscles, blood vessels, lymphatics, nerves
Deep vascular plexus supplies?
Superficial vascular plexus?
Deep = hair follicle Superficial = LSA allowing diffusion of nutrients to epidermis
Pacinian corpuscles?
Deep pressure, found in dermis (onion rings)
Meissners corpuscles?
Vibration
Function of sebaceous glands?
Produce sebum
* Controls moisture loss + protects against fungal infection
Apocrine glands?
Sweat glands in axilla and perineum (scent?)
Eccrine glands?
Sweat glands covering whole skin surface (esp. palms, feet, axilla)
Skin functions? (6)
Barrier, metabolism, thermoreg, immune defence, communication, sensory
Acute skin failure e.g.? Comps?
- Toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythroderma
* Comps: dehydration, hypoalbuminaemia (protein loss), hypothermia, infection, disordered thyroxine metabolism, pain
Melanocyte:keratinocyte ratio?
1 melanocyte: 10 keratinocytes
Skin metabolism?
Vit D and thyroxine
- Vit D stored as hydroxycholecalciferol in liver, converted to 1,25 - dihydroxycholecalciferol in kidney
- Thyroxine -> thriiodothyronine (80% skin, 20% thyroid gland)
Eczema herpeticum?
Blindspot in immune system against herpes simplex virus
T lymphocytes found?
Both dermis and epidermis
- Epidermis = CD8
- Dermis = CD4 + CD8
T cells involved in systemic disease? (3)
- TH1 = psoriasis
- TH2 = atopic dermatitis
- TH17 = psoriasis + atopic dermatitis
Function of TH1 cells? TH2?
- TH1 = activate macrophages via IL2:IFNy
* TH2 = help B cells make antibodies via IL4, IL5 and IL6
Dendritic cells found?
In dermis
- Dermal DC = Ag present
- Plasmacytoid DC = produce IFNa (found in diseased skin)
MHC?
Chromosome 6
- MHC class I = found on all cells, present endogenous Ag to CD8 cells
- MHC II = found on APC, present exogenous Ag to CD4 cells
Psoriasis Ax?
Triggered by environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals
Pathology psoriasis?
- KC stimulate pDC to produce IFNa
- Release IL-1B/Il-6 and TNF
- Activate DC which activate TH1 and TH17
- T cells release IL-17/22
- Stimulates KC proliferation, AMP release, neutrophil-attracting chemokines
- Dermal fibroblasts release epidermal growth factors
Atopic eczema Ax?
Genetic + environment
Pathology atopic eczema?
Impairment in skin barrier + abnormal immune response
impairment = mutations in fillagrin gene, decreased AMP in skin
Eczema lesions contain?
TH2, DC, KC, macrophages + mast cells
Primary immunodeficiency? Secondary?
- Primary = genetic
* Secondary = acquired e.g. AIDS
Type I hypersensitvity? Type II? III? IV?
- I = IgE mediated
- II and III = IgG and IgM
- IV = TH1 cell
Effects of ageing on skin? (3)
Decreased ability to detect malignant cells, decreased ability to detect Ag (infection), decreased ability to distinguish self from non-self (autoimmunity)
Photodermatoses?
Skin disease caused by exposure to sunlight
Porphyria?
Group of diseases due to deficiency of enzymes needed to make haem
(haem needed to make haemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochromes, peroxidases, catalases)
Types of porphyrias? (3)
Porphyria cutanea tarda, erythropoetic protoporphyria, acue intermittent porphyria
Porphyria cutanea tarda?
Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase deficiency
s/s porphyria cutanea tarda? (6)
Blisters, milia, hyperpigmentation, hypertrichosis, solar uricaria, morphoea
Ix porphyria cutanea tarda? (2)
Woods lamp, spectrophometer
Ax + Tx porphyria cutanea tarda?
- Ax: alcohol, viral hepatitis, oestrogens, haemochromatosis
* Tx = underlying cause + symptoms
Erythropoietic protoporphyria?
Deficiency in ferrochelatase
autosomal co-dominant inheritance
Ix erythropoietic protoporphyria?
RBC porphyrins, fluorocytes, transaminases, [Hb], biliary tract USS
S/s erythropoietic protoporphyria? (4)
redness, swelling, pain, itching
Mx and Tx erythropoietic protoporphyria?
Mx: 6 monthly LFTs and RBC prophyrins
Tx: visible light protection, prophylactic phototherapy, anti-oxidants (avoid iron)
Acute intermittent porphyria?
Deficiency of porphobilinogen deaminase
Types of allergic cutaneous drug eruptions? (4)
- Type 1 anaphylactic = urticaria
- Type II - pemphigus and pemphigoid
- Type III - purpura/rash
- Type IV - erythema/rash
Types of non-allergic cutaneous drug eruptions? (5)
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Phototoxicity
- Drug-induced alopecia
- Cheilitis, xerosis
Morphologies of cutaneous drug eruptions? (3)
Presentation? (3)
- Exanthematous/morbiliform/mculopapular (75%)
- Urticarial (10%)
- Pustular/bullous
2
* Pigmentation, itch/pain, photosensitivity
When to suspect cutaneous drug eruptions?
Any patient taking medication who suddenly develops a symmetrical skin eruption (usually resolves when drug is withdrawn)
Risk factors for drug eruptions? (5)
- Young adults
- Female
- Genetics
- Virus/lupus
- Immunosuppression
Risk factors for drugs involved in eruptions? (4)
- Chemistry (B lactams, NSAIDs, HMW, hapten-forming)
- Route (systemic)
- Dose
- Half-life
Exanthematous drug eruption?
- Most common (90%)
* Type IV hypersensitvity (4-21 days after taking drug)
s/s exanthematous drug eruption? (3)
- Widespread symmetrical rash (mucous membranes spared)
- Prutitus (itch)
- Fever
Indicators of potentially severe exanthematous drug reaction? (7)
- Involvement of mucous membrane + face
- Facial erythema + oedema
- Fever >38.5
- Skin pain
- Blisters, purpura, necrosis
- Lymphadenopathy, arthlargia
- SOB/wheezing
Drugs associated with exanthematous eruptions? (6)
- Antibiotics, allopurinol, anti-epilecptics (carbamazepine), NSAIDs
Urticarial drug reactions?
- Type I immediate
will blanche unlike purpura in exanthematous
Acute generalised exanthematous pustolsis (AGEP)? (3)
- Anibiotics, CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS, antimalarials
Drug-induced bullous pemphigoid? (3)
- ACE-I, penicillin, furosemide
Liner IgA disease?
Vancomycin = blistering rash in ring forms
Fixed drug eruptions?
Red, painful, well-demarcated round plaques
ALWAYS OCCURS in exactly the same spot!!!
Drugs associated with fixed drug eruptions?
- Cyclines, paracetamol, NSAIDs, carbamazepine
Severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions? (4)
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Toxic epidermal necrolysis
- DRESS
- AGEP
Phototoxic cutaneous drug reactions?
Non-immunological skin reaction - usually UVA
Drugs associated with phototoxicity? (6)
THIAZIDES, antibiotics, NSAIDs, amiodarone, chloropromazine, quinine
Skin prick test contraindicated in?
Type III and IV hypersensitivity as can cause SJS, TEN and DRESS
What infections/diseases can increase risk of drug eruptions? (4)
- Immunosuppression, virus, CF, lupus
Tx cutaneous drug eruptions? (3)
- Withdraw drug, topical corticosteroids, antihistamines (type I urticaria)
Creams?
Features of creams? (4)
Semisolid emulsion of oil in water
- Contain emulsifier and preservative (antibac)
- High water content (cools + moisturises)
- Non-greasy
- Cosmetically acceptable
Ointments?
Features of ointments? (3)
Semisolid grease/oil (soft paraffin)
- No preservative
- Occlusive + emolient
- Greasy (less cosmetically attractive)
Lotions?
Tx?
Liquid forulation
Treat scalp, hair-bearing areas
Gels?
Tx?
Thickened aqueous solutions
* Treat scalp, hair-bearing areas, face
Pastes?
Tx?
Semisolids containing finely powdered ZNO
Tx: used in soothing bandages
Foams?
Advantage? (2)
Colloid with 2-3 phases
Advantage = increased penetration of active agents + can spread easily over large areas of skin without being greasy/oily
Emollients tx?
For dry/scaly conditions e.g/ eczema
prescribe 300-500g weekly
Sodium laurel sulphate?
Strong irritant found in some shampoos/creams
Topical steroid effects? (3)
Tx? (4)
- Vasoconstrictive, anti-inflam, anti-prolif
Tx
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Lichen planus
- Keloid scars
Calicneurin inhibitors?
NSAID e.g. tacrolimus, pimecrolimus
avoids side effects of steroids
Antiviral agents used to treat? (3)
Herpes simplex - topical
Eczema herpeticum - oral antiviral
Herpes zoster - oral antiviral
Antipruritics? (4)
- Menthol, caspaicin, camphor/phenol, crotamiton (e.g. eurax)
Keratolytics?
Used to soften keratin e.g. warts, eczema, psoriasis, corns
Commensal skin bacteria? (3)
- Staph epidermidis
- Corynebacterium (diptheroids)
- Propionibacterium
Staph aureus culture? Coagulase neg staph?
- Staph aureus = golden
- Coagulase neg = white
(ONLY staph aureus is coagulase positive)
a-haemolytic strep? B-haemolytic? Non-haemolytic?
- a-haemolytic = strep pneumoniae, veridans
- B-haemolytic = GAS, group B, Group C
- Non-haemolytic = enterococcus (common cause of UTI)
Coagulase test for staph?
Latex agglutination
Tx staph aureus?
Fluclox
Tx MRSA? (5)
- Doxycycline
- Co-trimoxazole
- Clindamycin
- Vancomycin
- Linezolid
UTI infection in women of child-bearing age?
Staph. saprophyticus
Types of B-haemolytic strep? (2)
- Group A (throat, severe skin infections)
* Group B (neonatal meningitis)