1.Ectodermal dysplasia in a pair of siblings
Malaysian Journal of Dermatology 2008;21(-):95-97
Ectoderrmal dysplasias are a heterogenous group of disorders, in which more than 150 different syndromes have been identified. It is defined by primary defects in the development of two or more tissues derived
from embryonic ectoderm, characterized by abnormalities in the skin, sweat glands, hair, teeth and nails. Other parts, including the lens of the
eye, parts of the inner ear, or nerves, may also fail to develop normally.
2.D-penicillamine - induced pemphigus in a patient with Wilson disease
Loh LC ; Goh KL ; Rosnah Zain
Malaysian Journal of Dermatology 2008;21(-):87-89
Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disease characterized by circulating autoantibodies directed against the keratinocyte cell surface.
Majority of patients with pemphigus develop the disease
spontaneously. However, there is a small group of patients who develop pemphigus after treatment with certain medications, of which Dpenicillamine
(DPA) and captopril are the best documented. We report
a case of DPA-induced pemphigus vulgaris in a young Chinese lady treated with DPA for Wilson disease.
3.Cutaneous tuberculosis confirmed by PCR in a patient with culture negative for mycobacterium tuberculosis
Malaysian Journal of Dermatology 2008;21(-):121-123
Cutaneous tuberculosis is an old and rare infectious disease. Laennec reported the first case of cutaneous tuberculosis in 1826 and M.tuberculosis was discovered by Koch in 18821. Since then, many cases of cutaneous tuberculosis have been described
and classified. The different forms of diseases correlate with the immunologic status of the host, host’s prior sensitization, route of disease transmission, layer of skin primarily involved and rate of disease
progression. Nevertheless, the most widely accepted classification is based on the mechanism of disease propagation which can be via direct
inoculation, through contiguous infection or via hematogenous route2.
Bacterial load has also been used to categorize this disease into multibacillary and paucibacillary forms.
Diseases under the multibacillary forms include primary inoculation tuberculosis (tuberculous chancre), scrofuloderma, tuberculous perioficialis, acute miliary tuberculosis and tuberculous gumma.
Paucibacillary forms include lupus vulgaris, tuberculosis verrucosa cutis and tuberculids.
Strains of M. Tuberculosis complex that can be isolated include M.tuberculosis, M. africanum, M. canetti and M. bovis, M. microti and M.bovis BCG.
4.Sweet's Syndrome with Extracutaneous Involvement
Malaysian Journal of Dermatology 2007;19(-):107-110
Sweet’s syndrome was first described by Dr. Robert Douglas
Sweet in 19641. It was originally described as an ‘acute
febrile neutrophilic dermatosis’1. There are primarily three subtypes of Sweet’s syndrome, ie. classical Sweet’s
syndrome, malignancy-associated Sweet’s syndrome and
drug-induced Sweet’s syndrome.We are reporting a case of
classical Sweet’s syndrome in a 47-year-old man.
5.Efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis - Malaysian experience
Ng TG ; Mardziah A ; Roshidah BB ; Heng YH ; Najeeb A ; Lo Kang SC ; Pubalan M ; Loh LC ; Suraiya HH
Malaysian Journal of Dermatology 2009;22(-):47-54
Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment 0.1% in adult and 0.03% in
pediatric patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in Malaysia.
Methods This is an open-labeled and single arm multi-center study. 36 adult and 37 pediatric
patients were enrolled. Tacrolimus ointment is applied twice daily for four weeks. The primary
efficacy outcome is based on the Physician’s Global Evaluation of Clinical Response (PG) at Week
4. The secondary efficacy outcomes are Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score, changes
from baseline in individual scores of signs and symptoms and body surface area affected and
Patients Assessment of Treatment Effects.
Results Overall success rate were 97.1% and 91.2% in the adult and pediatric groups respectively.
The decline in EASI, percentage of total BSA affected and patient’s assessment of pruritus were
significant (P<0.001). Of adults and pediatric patients, 97.2% and 75.7% respectively reported
adverse effect. The most common adverse effect reported was skin burning sensation in 91.7% adult
patients and pruritus in 67.6% pediatric patients.
Conclusion Tacrolimus ointment 0.1% in adult and 0.03% in pediatric patients is effective for the
treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in Malaysia.