dermatology Flashcards
what does comprehensive assessment along with dermatological diagnostic skills allow?
prevent or reduce internal organ damage by early diagnosis
allow detection of internal malignancy
what are the ways in which the skin can be involved in systemic disease (with examples)?
skin targeted as part of multi-organ systemic disease (e.g. sarcoidosis)
skin displays sign of internal disorder (e.g. flushing in carcinoid syndrome)
“tell-tale” skin conditions suggestive of underlying condition (e.g. Pyoderma gangrenosum in inflammatory bowel disease)
skin disorder may cause secondary internal organ involvement (e.g. high output cardiac failure in erythroderma)
when considering neoplasia, what tests may be done?
imaging - examine for internal organ involvement
biopsy of affected skin
what are the 10 different routes to a diagnosis/categories of causes in diagnosis?
idiopathic
neoplastic
infection
inflammatory
drug-induced
autoimmune
traumatic
metabolic
genetic
what 5 clinical assessments are undertaken in diagnosis?
blood tests
microbiology
imaging
skin biopsy
specific
what blood tests may be done as part of diagnosis?
full blood count
renal profile
liver function tests
inflammatory markers
autoimmune serology
what microbiology may be done as part of diagnosis?
viral / bacterial serology swabs for bacteria C&S, viral PCR tissue culture / PCR
what imaging may be done as part of diagnosis?
internal organ involvement
vascular supply
what skin biopsy may be done as part of diagnosis?
microscopy
what specific clinical assessments may be done as part of diagnosis?
urinalysis
nerve conduction studies
endocrine investigations etc.
how can an interface pattern of inflammation be described?
vacuoles (little white spaces) and lymphocytes along dermal epidermal junction
where is an interface pattern of inflammation seen?
lupus (and others)
what does a line along the dermal epidermal junction in an immunofluorescence assay indicate?
presence of autoantibodies
what are the 2 main groups of lupus erythematosus?
systemic lupus erythematosus cutaneous (discoid) lupus erythematosus (overlap)
what are the mucocutaneous diagnostic criteria for lupus erythematosus?
cutaneous lupus - acute cutaneous lupus -chronic oral ulcers alopecia
what are the haematological diagnostic criteria for lupus erythematosus?
haemolytic anaemia thrombocytopenia leukopenia
what are the immunological diagnostic criteria for lupus erythematosus?
ANA anti-dsDNA anti-Sm antiphospholipid low complement direct Coomb’s test
what are other diagnostic criteria for lupus erythematosus?
synovitis serositis (pleurisy or pericarditis) renal disorder neurological disorder
what are some features appearing on the skin in lupus erythematosus?
chilblains photodistributed (sun-exposed areas) erythematous rash
what are the cutaneous manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus?
photodistributed rash cutaneous vasculitis manifesting as palpable purpura chilblains alopecia livedo reticularis (net-like pattern of redness) subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE) - annular/semi-annular scaly erythema photodistributed
what are the typical features of cutaneous (discoid) lupus erythematosus?
scarring noticeable when it’s present on the scalp - results in alopecia as hair follicle unit is replaced by scar tissue may also have subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE) - annular/semi-annular scaly erythema photodistributed
what is the suspected underlying disorder in a newborn with an annular rash affecting the forehead and zygomatic prominences?
suspected neonatal lupus (associated with Ro antibodies)
what test is needed in a newborn with an annular rash affecting the forehead and zygomatic prominences?
ECG needed - 50% chance of heart block
what is dermatomyositis?
autoimmune connective tissue disease