Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau

Antithyroid drugs have been used for more than 50 years for the management of hyperthyroidism. Most patients tolerate treatment well, but some may develop rare life threatening side effects such as agranulocytosis and aplastic anaemia. Clinical experience with the latter condition is extremely limited. We report on a case of carbimazole-induced aplastic anaemia caused by hypocellular bone marrow and associated plasmacytosis in a thyrotoxic patient chronically treated with carbimazole. This resolved after substitution with propylthiouracil. The clinical course was complicated by neutropaenic septicaemia and atrial fibrillation.
Thyrotoxicosis

Background: Psoriasis has been shown to be associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with psoriasis and study the association between psoriasis and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: This was a hospital based case-control study conducted at the Dermatology Clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) from May 2010 to March 2011. A total of 131 adult patients with psoriasis and 129 age-, gender- and race-matched controls were recruited. All subjects answered a standardised cardiovascular risks questionnaire and had anthropometric measurements recorded. Laboratory investigations included fasting glucose / lipid profile, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein (CRP), urine microalbumin:creatinine ratio and an electrocardiogram. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was made using the harmonised criteria for metabolic syndrome in South East Asians. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical processing software (SPSS-17). Results: Metabolic syndrome was significantly higher among patients with psoriasis (64.9% versus 51.9%) (p = 0.034). The presence of metabolic syndrome was associated with low high density lipoprotein (HDL) (p=0.002) and high triglyceride (TG) levels (p = 0.014). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was also significantly higher among patients with psoriasis (46.6% versus 27.1%) (p = 0.001). Hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, smoking and obesity were not significantly higher among patients with psoriasis. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate an association between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome which was primarily due to diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia.

We report a 33-year-old Malay lady who presented with fever, tonsillitis and pharyngitis a month after initiation of antithyroid therapy (carbimazole 15 mg tds) for thyrotoxicosis by her general practitioner. She was still clinically and biochemically thyrotoxic but not in thyroid storm. At that time, she was also confirmed to be four weeks pregnant. Her full blood count revealed neutropaenia with an absolute neutrophil count of 0.036 × 109/L. Bone marrow aspirate and trephine were compatible with carbimazole-related agranulocytosis. Carbimazole was discontinued and she was given broad spectrum antibiotics and Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (GCSF), to which she responded. Verapamil was used for symptomatic heart rate control instead of beta-blockers as she had a history of bronchial asthma. The patient subsequently opted for termination of pregnancy after which she was given radioactive iodine I131 (10 mCi) for definitive therapy of her thyrotoxicosis. In conclusion, carbimazole-related agranulocytosis is an important entity to recognise and treat early to prevent morbidity and mortality. Termination of pregnancy was carried out as the treatment given during the episode of agranulocytosis may have negative effects on foetal viability and growth.