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Arch Dermatol Res 2021 Jun 24. Epub 2021 Jun 24.

Department of General and Transplantation Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka 59, 02-006, Warsaw, Poland.

Calcinosis cutis is a deposition of calcium in the skin and subcutaneous tissue, often accompanied by pain, reduced mobility, and chronic infections. Limited evidence is available about the feasibility and efficacy of therapies alternative to systemic treatment and surgical excision, both of which often lead to unsatisfactory results or complications. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical and intralesional sodium thiosulfate, extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL), and laser for calcinosis cutis. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021 Jun 21. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Department of Medicine, Divisions of Rheumatology and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Objective: The pathogenesis of calcinosis cutis, a disabling complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc), is poorly understood and effective treatments are lacking. Inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) is a key regulator of ectopic mineralization, and its deficiency has been implicated in ectopic mineralization disorders. We therefore sought to test the hypothesis that SSc may be associated with reduced circulating PPi, which might play a pathogenic role in calcinosis cutis. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021 Jun 21. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Objectives: Myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) define distinct clinical subsets of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). The anti-nuclear matrix protein 2 (NXP2) antibody, a MSA detected in juvenile/adult IIMs, has been reported to be associated with a high risk of subcutaneous calcinosis, subcutaneous oedema, and internal malignancies. The study aimed to clarify the clinical features of anti-NXP2 antibody-positive IIMs in detail. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2021 Jun 21. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.

Subepidermal calcified nodule (SCN) is a rare presentation of idiopathic calcinosis cutis. A literature review was conducted, with 109 cases reported in 268 articles. We report the demographic data, SCN clinical and histological characteristics, common differential diagnoses, and treatments performed from this analysis. Read More

Semin Arthritis Rheum 2021 May 8;51(4):735-740. Epub 2021 May 8.

Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University Medical Center, USA; Division of Rheumatology, Palo Alto VA Healthcare System, USA.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and clinical associations of ultrasound (US) findings of inflammatory arthritis and joint and soft tissue pathology in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: The hands and wrists of 43 SSc patients and 35 age-balanced controls were evaluated by clinical exam and musculoskeletal US. Synovial and tenosynovial pathology were assessed using semi-quantitative Gray Scale (GS) and Power Doppler (PD) scoring. Read More

Semin Arthritis Rheum 2021 Apr 28;51(4):728-734. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Muscle Disease Unit, Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland USA. Electronic address:

Objectives: To define the clinical features of anti-Ku-positive myositis patients and to determine the reliability of the Euroline assay to detect anti-Ku autoantibodies.

Methods: Serum samples were screened for anti-Ku autoantibodies by Euroline and positive samples were confirmed by ELISA. The prevalence and severity of clinical features at onset and during follow-up in patients with anti-Ku-positive myositis were compared to those with dermatomyositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), the antisynthetase syndrome (AS), inclusion body myositis (IBM), anti-U1-RNP-positive myositis, and anti-PM/Scl-positive myositis. Read More

Fac Rev 2021 5;10:43. Epub 2021 May 5.

Department of Dermatology, University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs and has significant clinical sequelae. Management of SSc cutaneous disease remains challenging and often is driven by extracutaneous manifestations. Methotrexate is the typical first-line therapy for patients with early progressive cutaneous disease. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2021 May 15;27(5). Epub 2021 May 15.

Department of Dermatology, Academic Hospital, Istanbul.

Milia-like idiopathic calcinosis cutis (MICC) and subepidermal calcified nodule (SCN) are described as different entities under the heading of idiopathic calcinosis cutis. Although there are some clinical differences, they share many features. Whereas MICC lesions are located mostly on the extremities and rarely on the face, SCN manifests itself mostly on the face, rarely on the extremities. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2021 Jun 7;22:e930026. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.

BACKGROUND Calciphylaxis is a rare and lifethreatening syndrome characterized by small vascular calcifications, which lead to the occlusion of blood vessels and painful skin lesions with tissue necrosis. Although the disease can develop in a population without kidney failure, it is typically detected in patients receiving dialysis, with an increasing frequency ranging from 1% to 4%. Therefore, the disease is also known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy. Read More

Dermatol Ther 2021 May 14:e14976. Epub 2021 May 14.

Department of Rheumatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.

Anti-TNF treatment may be useful for patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of infliximab (IFX) in the management of IIMs. Two databases (ie, PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched up to Nov 2020 for studies investigating skin lesions and muscular weakness in patients with IIMs treated with IFX. Read More

J Wound Care 2021 May;30(5):390-393

Grenoble University Hospital, Department of Vascular Medicine, F-38000 Grenoble, France.

Vancomycin is a tricyclic glycopeptide antibiotic produced from . There is much variation in the literature with regard to the recommended dose, dilution rate and type of infusion. Given the vesicant properties of vancomycin at supratherapeutic doses (>10mg/ml), tissue damage including blistering and necrosis have been reported. Read More

JBMR Plus 2021 May 22;5(5):e10470. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health Bethesda MD USA.

Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis (HFTC) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in , , , or FGF23 autoantibodies. Prominent features include high blood phosphate and calcific masses, usually adjacent to large joints. Dental defects have been reported, but not systematically described. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 11;14(5). Epub 2021 May 11.

Endocrinology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Calcinosis cutis is an unusual disorder characterised by calcium-phosphate deposition into cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues. There are five subtypes: dystrophic, metastatic, idiopathic, iatrogenic and calciphylaxis. Our objective was to report a patient with a history of haemodialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who developed metastatic calcinosis cutis, which is usually associated with abnormalities of calcium-phosphate metabolism in renal failure. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Apr 27;22(9). Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96817, USA.

Pathological (ectopic) mineralization of soft tissues occurs during aging, in several common conditions such as diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and renal failure and in certain genetic disorders. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a multi-organ disease affecting dermal, ocular, and cardiovascular tissues, is a model for ectopic mineralization disorders. ABCC6 dysfunction is the primary cause of PXE, but also some cases of generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI). Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2021 Jun 28;24(6):803-808. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Aim: Calcinosis is often observed in systemic sclerosis (SSc), but its pathogenesis remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to explore the association of clinical features with calcinosis in patients with SSc.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed analyzing 416 SSc patients from our SSc database. Read More

Curr Pediatr Rev 2021 Apr 25. Epub 2021 Apr 25.

Department of Family Medicine, The University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Background: Juvenile dermatomyositis is the most common inflammatory myopathy in the pediatric age group and a major cause of mortality and morbidity in individuals with childhood rheumatic diseases. Mounting evidence suggests that early diagnosis and timely aggressive treatment are associated with better outcomes.

Objective: This purpose of this article is to provide readers with an update on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of juvenile dermatomyositis. Read More

Ann Transl Med 2021 Mar;9(5):436

Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a strikingly heterogenous disease characterized by a broad and ever-evolving spectrum of cutaneous manifestations that transcend the classic "hallmarks" defined by Peter and Bohan in 1975. Despite the increasing preponderance and ubiquity of autoantibody, radiologic, and electrophysiologic testing, the diagnosis of DM still hinges largely on prompt detection of cutaneous manifestations of this condition. While pathognomonic cutaneous features of DM are more readily recognizable, many patients present with subtle and/or atypical skin manifestations, and diagnosis of DM may require clinician identification of these cutaneous clues. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2021 Feb 15;27(2). Epub 2021 Feb 15.

Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran.

Dermatol Online J 2021 Feb 15;27(2). Epub 2021 Feb 15.

San Diego Family Dermatology, National City, CA Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine, Vallejo, CA.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) can be a component of a collision tumor in which the skin cancer is present at the same cutaneous site as either a benign tumor or a malignant neoplasm. However, BCC can also concurrently occur at the same skin location as a non-neoplastic cutaneous condition. These include autoimmune diseases (vitiligo), cutaneous disorders (Darier disease), dermal conditions (granuloma faciale), dermal depositions (amyloid, calcinosis cutis, cutaneous focal mucinosis, osteoma cutis, and tattoo), dermatitis, miscellaneous conditions (rhinophyma, sarcoidal reaction, and varicose veins), scars, surgical sites, systemic diseases (sarcoidosis), systemic infections (leischmaniasis, leprosy and lupus vulgaris), and ulcers. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Apr 1;14(4). Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Pediatric Rheumatology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is the most common inflammatory myopathy in children and is characterised by the presence of proximal muscle weakness, heliotrope dermatitis, Gottron's papules and occasionally auto antibodies. The disease primarily affects skin and muscles, but can also affect other organs. Renal manifestations though common in autoimmune conditions like lupus are rare in JDM. Read More

J Hand Surg Am 2021 Mar 29. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Electronic address:

Purpose: To determine whether elective calcinosis debulking surgery of the hands and/or upper extremities is a safe and effective treatment for painful symptomatic scleroderma. Our hypothesis was that calcinosis debulking surgery would result in improvement in patient-reported pain and range of motion (ROM) with relatively little postoperative surgical pain for scleroderma patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of scleroderma patients who underwent elective calcinosis debulking surgery by a single surgeon between August 2014 and August 2019. Read More

J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2021 Jan-Mar;33(1):165-168

Malla Reddy Medical College, Hyderabad, India.

The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumour (CEOT) is a rare but well recognized benign odontogenic tumour for any Pathologist. Histologically, it shows sheets of polyhedral epithelial cells with prominent intercellular bridges, hyperchromatic nuclei and globules of amyloid-like material among tumour cells which undergoes calcification. We present a case of CEOT with classical histopathological picture in a 37-year-old HIV positive patient with long evolution history. Read More

Clin Imaging 2021 Mar 20;78:110-112. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, United States of America. Electronic address:

Massive periarticular calcinosis is poorly understood process arising either primarily (tumoral calcinosis) or secondary to underlying medical conditions, including connective tissue disease, soft tissue sarcoma, and metabolic dysregulation. The calcific deposits can cause functional limitation, skin ulceration, and cosmetic deformity. Treatment of the calcific deposits depends on the underlying cause but can be problematic with resistance to surgical and non-surgical treatments. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Mar 24;14(3). Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Internal Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

Calciphylaxis is a rare life-threatening condition, with calcification of small and medium-sized vessels leading to skin necrosis. It has a high morbidity and mortality, and most of the patients die from wound superinfection and sepsis. A 48-year-old man with a history of end-stage renal disease on haemodialysis and Coumadin therapy for venous thromboembolism presented with pulmonary oedema after missing two haemodialysis treatment. Read More

Adv Clin Exp Med 2021 Mar;30(3):273-278

Breast Unit, Division of Breast Surgery, Lower Silesian Oncology Center, Wrocław, Poland.

Background: The Sentimag hand-held probe detects the magnetic response from iron oxide particles trapped in a sentinel node.

Objectives: To investigate if an electromagnetic probe can be helpful in the identification of a hook wire tip located in an occult breast lesion.

Material And Methods: Forty-two patients undergoing lumpectomy without axillary procedure were enrolled. Read More

QJM 2021 Mar 12. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India.

Soft tissue calcification is seen in some rheumatological diseases, including systemic sclerosis. We herein present a clinical image of calcinosis cutis of finger pulps and its characteristic radiographic image in a patient with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis. Read More

Indian J Pediatr 2021 Mar 10. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Allergy Immunology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.

Objective: To study autoantibody profile in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and to look for phenotypic associations of these autoantibodies, if any.

Methods: Thirty-four children with JDM with a minimum follow-up duration of 24 mo were enrolled. Clinical findings and investigations at the time of diagnosis were noted from the clinic records. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2021 Mar 2. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.

BMC Rheumatol 2021 Feb 26;5(1). Epub 2021 Feb 26.

Department of Pediatric Rheumatology at Valley Children's Hospital, 9300 Valley Children's Place, Madera, CA, 93720, USA.

Introduction: Calcinosis cutis is a common complication of pediatric rheumatologic diseases. However, there is currently no consensus on first-line treatment. Bisphosphonates have been described as a successful treatment in several case studies, but most of these cases are limited to patients with isolated juvenile dermatomyositis or systemic sclerosis. Read More

Rev Med Suisse 2021 Feb;17(727):394-398

Service de néphrologie et d'hypertension artérielle, Département de médecine, Réseau hospitalier neuchâtelois, 2000 Neuchâtel.

Calciphylaxis is a rare but devastating condition characterized by a calcifying thrombosing microangiopathy resulting in painful necrotic skin lesions. Risk factors are multiple, the most important being obesity, disorders of phosphocalcic metabolism and acenocoumarol. Largely unknown by the medical community, its pathogenesis is still incompletely elucidated; its diagnosis by skin biopsy remains difficult and increasingly debated because potentially associated with an aggravation of lesions. Read More