OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of skin biopsy in nitrofurantoin peripheral neuropathy. DESIGN We describe the clinical features and skin biopsies of 2 cases of non-length-dependent small-fiber neuropathy/ganglionopathy attributable to nitrofurantoin. SETTING Clinical evaluation and skin biopsies were performed at a tertiary teaching hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. PATIENTS A 59-year-o...

This study investigated whether peripheral nerve damage in patients with leprosy impairs local cellular immune responses, thereby reducing wound healing and leading to chronic skin ulceration. Anesthetic and contralateral sensitive skin sites in 42 patients with leprosy were compared for delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to purified protein derivative (PPD) of tuberculin. Leukocyte recrui...

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common and exceptionally drug-resistant neuropathic pain condition. In this cross-sectional skin biopsy study, seeking information on the responsible pathophysiological mechanisms we assessed how ophthalmic PHN affects sensory and autonomic skin innervation. We took 2-mm supraorbital punch skin biopsies from the affected and unaffected sides in 10 patients with...

Small-fiber sensory neuropathy with neuropathic pain had been a diagnostic challenge for neurologists. We and several groups have developed skin biopsy with quantitation of intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density as a diagnostic approach. In the skin with small-fiber sensory neuropathy, there are pathological hallmarks: reduced IENF density with degeneration of subepidermal nerve plexuses and...

purpose: to describe a patient with eyelid sarcoidosis. case report: a 54 year-old patient was referred for an eyelid mass from 6 months ago.excisional biopsy showed inflammatory granuloma with tuton gaint cells. chest radiograph demonstrated bilateral hilar adenopathy, increased absorption on gallium scan was noted and bronchoalveolar lavage confirmed a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. treatment with...

OBJECTIVE To review the results of skin biopsies and patient-provided specimens from patients whose assessment was consistent with delusional infestation, including delusions of parasitosis. DESIGN Retrospective medical record review. SETTING Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. PATIENTS The study population comprised all patients who were seen at Mayo Clinic and had a diagnosis of delusion...

BACKGROUND The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique has been frequently used in the molecular diagnosis of leprosy. OBJECTIVES To compare the results of PCR with four pairs of Mycobacterium leprae specific primers as well as to compare these results to multibacillary (MB) and paucibacillary (PB) leprosy according to the WHO operational classification. METHOD 28 DNA samples, collected f...

PATIENT Male, 36 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Levamisole-induced vasculopathy Symptoms: Purpuric skin lesions Medication: Levamisole Clinical Procedure: - Specialty: Internal Medicine. OBJECTIVE Unusual clinical course. BACKGROUND Levamisole has been detected in seized cocaine samples and a levamisole-induced vasculopathy (LIV) has been described, mainly focused on skin. CASE REPORT A 36-year-old Cau...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) may contribute to the development of diabetic neuropathy. To assess its relevance in humans, this study examined the expression of RAGE in the skin biopsy samples of patients with diabetes mellitus, and investigated its correlation with intraepidermal nerve-fiber density (IENFD) and clinical measures of neuropathy se...

BACKGROUND The skin biopsy requisition form (RF) serves as a key communication tool for transfer of relevant information related to skin biopsy between clinicians and pathologists. Clinical information in the skin biopsy RF is frequently missing or incomplete. OBJECTIVE To determine the rates of provision of critical clinical information necessary for histopathologic interpretation in the ski...