Dermatopathology

Question 1

Name the 6 dermatology drugs that we should know (not counting UV light therapy, which is not a drug)

Answer 1

Hydrocortisone, cyclosporine, methotrexate, biologics, isotretinoin, and acitretin

Question 2

What derm drug is a steroid with 7 classes, where class I is the strongest and class VII is the weakest?

Answer 2

Hydrocortisone

Question 3

What 2 skin conditions is hydrocortisone used to treat?

Answer 3

Dermatitis and psoriasis

Question 4

Name 6 different possible treatments for psoriasis.

Answer 4

Hydrocortisone, cyclosporine, methotrexate, biologics, UV light therapy, and acitretin

Question 5

Which 2 derm drug are immunosuppressants? Which one of the two is also a folate analog that inhibits DHFR?

Answer 5

Cyclosporine and methotrexate; methotrexate

Question 6

Which derm drug can cause side effects of thin skin, stretch marks, talangiectasias, acne, and cataract or glaucoma if applied near the eye?

Answer 6

Hydrocortisone

Question 7

Which derm drug can cause growth retardation via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis if given systemically?

Answer 7

Hydrocortisone

Question 8

What are 2 long-term side effects of cyclosporine?

Answer 8

Increased blood pressure and renal damage

Question 9

Which derm drug can cause side effects of hepatotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, renal toxicity, and leukopenia?

Answer 9

Methotrexate

Question 10

Which 2 derm drugs are used to treat both inflammatory conditions (psoriasis) and arthritis?

Answer 10

TNF-α blocker (a biologic) and methotrexate

Question 11

List 2 problems with using a TNF-α blocker.

Answer 11

May unmask other diseases (ex. neurologic diseases, latent infections like TB, and malignancies) and is expensive

Question 12

UV light therapy is only used for what kind of skin conditions? Give up to 4 examples.

Answer 12

Inflammatory conditions, ex. atopic dermatitis, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, lichen planus, and psoriasis

Question 13

Term for photosensitizing agents that increase the efficacy of UV light therapy

Answer 13

Psoralens

Question 14

What skin treatment is associated with T-cell suppression via type I or type II reactions, leading to mono- or bifunctional adducts in DNA?

Answer 14

UV light therapy

Question 15

List 2 potential side effects of UV light therapy

Answer 15

Skin cancer, thin or leathery skin

Question 16

Give the 2 retinoid derm drugs, and the 2 mechanisms by which they work.

Answer 16

Isotretinoin and acitretin; both stimulate epithelial cell turnover and inhibit inflammation

Question 17

What condition is isotretinoin primarily used to treat?

Answer 17

Acne

Question 18

What is the major side effect of the retinoids, and how long does that effect persist for each drug?

Answer 18

Teratogenic effects; isotretinoin lasts 3 weeks while acitretin lasts 3 years