1/24. Phytophotodermatitis due to the application of citrus hystrix as a folk remedy.We report a case of extensive phytophotodermatitis in a hiker. This was caused by the application of the juice of a member of the rutaceae family, citrus hystrix, as a folk remedy to ward off biting insects. Besides the rutaceae, plants belonging to the families Umbelliferae, moraceae and Leguminosae also contain psoralens and can cause phytophotodermatitis. In temperate countries, cases are often seen among children playing outdoors during summer, when psoralens are most abundant in wild and garden plants.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/24. Parthenium dermatitis presenting as photosensitive lichenoid eruption. A new clinical variant.Parthenium hysterophorus is the commonest cause of airborne contact dermatitis (ABCD) in india. The disease usually manifests as itchy erythematous, papular, papulovesicular and plaque lesions on exposed areas of the body. Rarely, however, the disease may present as actinic reticuloid or photocontact dermatitis. We have observed a different clinical variant of this disease where certain patients with Parthenium dermatitis have presented with discrete, flat, violaceous papules and plaques on exposed areas of the body closely simulating photosensitive lichenoid eruption. We had 8 patients, 6 males and 2 females between 30 and 62 years of age, with itchy, violaceous, papules and plaques on the face, neck, ears, upper chest and dorsa of the hands for 6 months to 6.5 years. Four of these patients had a history of improvement of the lesions up to 30% in winter and aggravation of lesions on exposure to sunlight. There was no personal or family history of atopy. Cutaneous examination in all patients revealed multiple flat, violaceous, mildly erythematous papules and plaques on the forehead, sides and nape of neck, ears, 'V' area of the chest, and extensor aspects of the forearms and hands. skin biopsies from these lesions showed features of chronic non-specific dermatitis. Patch testing with standardized plant antigens showed a positive patch test reaction to Parthenium hysterophorus in all patients, with a titre of contact hypersensitivity (TCH) varying from undiluted to 1 : 100. We conclude that Parthenium dermatitis may occasionally present with lesions very similar to the lesions of photosensitive lichenoid eruption in morphology and distribution. This clinical presentation of Parthenium dermatitis needs to be recognized to avoid misdiagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/24. An unusual cause of burn injury: fig leaf decoction used as a remedy for a dermatitis of unknown etiology.Medicinal plant extracts are commonly used worldwide. Their use relies mostly on historical and anecdotal evidence and might be so hazardous. Phytophotodermatitis is a well-known entity that is caused by the sequential exposure to certain species of plants containing furocoumarins and then to sunlight. In this article, superficial burn lesions caused by fig leaf decoction that was applied to a patient's both upper extremity as a remedy for a dermatitis of unknown etiology is reported. Direct sun exposure is an essential component of phytophotodermatitis. All reported cases to date have in common that patients are exposed to direct sunlight or to artificial UVA lights (like solarium) of varying durations. In our case neither direct sun exposure, other than inevitable indoor UVA influence, nor blister formation was present. The etiologic factors, symptoms, signs, course, and treatment alternatives for phytophotodermatitis are also reviewed briefly.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/24. Cytofluorometry as a diagnosis of protoporphyria.Protoporphyria is a disorder that usually has cutaneous symptoms. Only in a few cases liver disease develops, invariably progressing to cirrhosis and liver failure. A case of a patient who suffered from photosensitivity as a result of protoporphyria since the age of 2 is described. At age 33, she first presented with cholestatic hepatitis. At age 40, liver failure developed requiring liver transplantation. Quantitative cytofluorometry proved to be a quick and simple method in the follow-up of her erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels before, during, and after transplantation. fluorescence correlated well with the protoporphyrin levels obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography (r = 0.98), a comparably cumbersome and complicated method for the determination of protoporphyrin. In addition, single cell analysis enabled us to follow the effects of transfusion therapy on protoporphyrin levels of the patient's own erythrocytes, which has not been possible by previous methods. Thus, cytofluorometry might prove to be elegant and useful for screening and future studies on therapy and pathophysiology of protoporphyria.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/24. Iatrogenic phytophotodermatitis resulting from herbal treatment of an allergic contact dermatitis.Phytophotodermatitis commonly occurs in skin exposed to sunlight after contact with plants containing furocoumarins. While it is recognized that the consumption of plants or vegetables containing furocoumarins can potentially trigger a phytophotodermatitis, there have been no reports to date of a phytophotodermatitis triggered by an ingested herbal remedy. We describe the case of a 56-year-old farmer who developed an extensive photo-induced dermatitis after ingesting a herbal decoction prescribed for his chronic hand dermatitis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/24. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: unusual skin and neurological problems after liver transplantation.The case of a woman with protoporphyria who developed liver failure and underwent liver transplantation is described. During the pretransplant episode of liver failure she developed quadriparesis that rapidly progressed after transplantation to a severe polyneuropathy. Following transplantation she also developed a second-degree burn of the light-exposed abdominal wall. The neuropathy resembled that observed in other forms of porphyria, and it is proposed that the extreme disturbance of protoporphyrin levels associated with protoporphyrin-induced liver failure caused this neuropathy. Such a neuropathy has not previously been described in protoporphyria. Erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels remain high and fecal levels normal, although results of liver tests are normal. She remains photosensitive, which emphasizes that although liver transplantation may be lifesaving in this disorder, it is not curative, and care must be taken to prevent photosensitive damage to skin and light-exposed internal organs.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.5keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/24. Phototoxicity due to Cachrys libanotis.After classification and identification of the plant, the alcoholic extract of Cachrys libanotis L. was analysed in order to identify the phototoxic agents. The substances responsible for photodermatitis were found to be 4 furocoumarins, of which 3 have been clearly identified, namely 5-methoxy-, 8-methoxy- and 5,8-dimethoxypsoralen. The structure of a 4th compound was not completely defined.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/24. Pseudoporphyria complicating etretinate therapy.etretinate is recognized to have unwanted cutaneous effects such as dryness of the skin, pruritus and hair thinning. Photosensitivity has rarely been observed as an adverse reaction but we now describe a renal transplant recipient who developed lesions of cutaneous porphyria apparently as a result of etretinate prescribed to suppress cutaneous neoplasia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/24. Phytophotodermatitis.Phytophotodermatitis is a skin eruption resulting from the interaction of the sun's radiant energy and photosensitizing compounds found in various plants. Common offenders are celery, limes and certain oranges, as well as natural grasses. The acute phase of the skin eruption is characterized by edema and erythema. In the chronic phase, hyperpigmentation may develop at the contact site.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/24. Phytophotodermatitis simulating child abuse.We explored the history in two children who had bizarre, hyperpigmented skin lesions suggestive of child abuse. A final diagnosis of phytophotodermatitis was established. The lesions resulted from inadvertent application of squeezed lime juice to the children's skin by their parents during the routine preparation of drinks, followed by sun exposure, which activated the applied plant psoralens (furocoumarins). Phytophotodermatitis can be induced by a number of plants, and, when unrecognized, may lead to inappropriate investigation of child abuse.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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