ABSTRACT Introduction: there are few reports in the literature on the use of interferon in the treatment of the squamous cell carcinoma. In a primary care unit in Colon, Matanzas, HeberFERON® was implemented in this type of tumor with favorable experiences. Objective: to describe the effectiveness of HeberFERON® in epidermoid carcinoma. Materials and methods: an observational, descriptive study was conducted in 33 epidermoid carcinoma lesions in 29 patients. The doses were 7.0 and 10.5 MUI of antiviral activity, perilesionally infiltrated three times a week for three weeks. Clinical follow-up of patients was performed before the treatment and at 16 weeks from the beginning of the treatment. The variables were: age, sex, skin phototype, origin; location, clinical type, stage and clinical response to treatment. Four categories of response were considered: complete, partial, stable and progressive disease. The objective response (complete plus partial) was included. Data were collected in a clinical record. The Microsoft Excel and SPSS programs were used for statistical processing. Results: 65.5 % of patients were male. 58.6 % are phototype II and of urban origin. Ages ranging from 61 to 80 years (55.2 %) predominated. There was objective response in 57.6 % (five complete and 14 partials). The superficial keratotic squamous cell carcinoma and the nodular ulcerative one showed the best responses. Conclusions: interferon mixing was effective in all clinical subtypes of epidermoid carcinoma, although the authors suggest a second cycle of HeberFERON® or to associate it with chemotherapy when the response is not complete.

RESUMEN Introducción: en la literatura biomédica son escasos los reportes sobre el uso de los interferones como tratamiento en el carcinoma epidermoide. En una unidad de atención primaria, en Colón, Matanzas, se implementó el HeberFERON® en este tipo de tumor, con experiencias favorables. Objetivo: describir la efectividad del HeberFERON® en el carcinoma epidermoide. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo en 33 lesiones de carcinoma epidermoide en 29 pacientes. La dosis fue de 7,0 y 10,5 MUI de actividad antiviral, infiltrada de forma perilesional tres veces por semana durante tres semanas. Se realizó el seguimiento clínico de los pacientes antes del tratamiento y a las 16 semanas del inicio del mismo. Las variables fueron: edad, sexo, fototipo de piel, procedencia, localización, tipo clínico, estadio y respuesta clínica al tratamiento. Se consideraron cuatro categorías de respuesta: completa, parcial, enfermedad estable y progresiva. Se incluyó la respuesta objetiva (completa más parcial). Se recogieron los datos en una historia clínica. Se utilizaron los programas Microsoft Excel y SPSS para el procesamiento estadístico. Resultados: el 65,5 % de los pacientes correspondió al sexo masculino. Un 58,6 % son fototipo II y de procedencia urbana. Predominaron las edades entre 61 y 80 años (55,2 %). Hubo respuesta objetiva en 57,6 % (cinco completas y 14 parciales). Las mejores respuestas la mostraron el carcinoma epidermoide queratósico superficial y el noduloulceroso. Conclusiones: la mezcla de interferones fue efectiva en el carcinoma epidermoide en todos los subtipos clínicos, aunque los autores sugieren un segundo ciclo de HeberFERON® o asociarlo con quimioterapia cuando la respuesta no sea completa.

ABSTRACT Sezary syndrome is the leukemic part of the fungoid mycosis, characterized by erythroderma, surface adenopathies and atypical cells in blood. It predominates in men with a 2/1 proportion in respect to women, and in ages ranging from 60 to 70 years. It is a difficult treated disease, with a reserved prognosis because of the low survival. Due to its infrequency and possible similarity to other dermatosis, it is presented a case with antecedents of vulgar psoriasis of 5 years evolution, without improvement for around 6 months, in acute outbreak in spite of the indicated treatments.

RESUMEN El síndrome de Sézary constituye la fase leucémica de la micosis fungoide caracterizado por eritrodermia, adenopatías superficiales y células atípicas en sangre. Predomina en los hombres con una proporción 2/1 respecto a las mujeres, y en las edades entre los 60 y 70 años de edad. La enfermedad es de difícil tratamiento, con un pronóstico reservado por su baja supervivencia. Por ser infrecuente y su posible similitud con otras dermatosis, se presenta un caso con antecedentes de psoriasis vulgar con 5 años de evolución, que hacía aproximadamente 6 meses, se encontraba sin mejoría en brote de agudización a pesar de los tratamientos indicados.

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Interferons have been used to treat basal cell carcinoma with positive results. Cuba’s Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center developed HeberPAG, a combined formulation of interferons alpha-2b and gamma, for treatment of basal cell carcinoma of any size, subtype and location. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using Heber-PAG in primary care to treat basal cell carcinomas. METHODS A descriptive observational study was conducted of basal cell carcinoma treated with HeberPAG. The sample comprised 21 tumors in 19 patients who met selection criteria. The dose was 3.5 million international units of antiviral activity administered by perilesional infiltration 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Clinical monitoring and laboratory testing of patients was conducted before treatment initiation and at 4, 8, 16 and 52 weeks. Variables recorded were: age, sex, skin phototype, clinical and histologic type, clinical response to treatment, changes in tumor diameters and adverse events. Four response categories were included: complete response, partial response, stable disease and progressive disease. Data were recorded in medical dossiers. Microsoft Excel and SAS were used for data management and calculation of measures of frequency, central tendency and dispersion. RESULTS Of 19 patients studied, 63% were male, and 63% aged 61–80 years. At 16 weeks, there was an objective response in 76% of tumors (8 complete and 8 partial responses). Fewer objective responses were seen in rodent ulcer, advanced invasive and sclerosing clinical types and in the sclerodermiform histologic type. Mean sum of diameters decreased from 36.9 mm (SD 4.1 mm) to 10.3 mm (SD 18.3 mm). One-year recurrence was 10%. The most common adverse reaction was flu-like syndrome, consisting of fever, malaise, joint pain and muscle pain. CONCLUSIONS Basal cell carcinoma can be successfully treated in primary care settings with a combination of interferons alpha-2b and gamma administered by trained personnel. At the dose employed in this study, the formulation produces a favorable response in basal cell carcinomas of low clinical and histologic risk, and is well tolerated, with only mild side effects. CONTRIBUTION OF THIS RESEARCH This study demonstrates the feasiblity of treating basal cell carcinoma in primary care settings with a combined formulation of interferons alpha-2b and gamma, enabling management in primary care of a cancer usually treated in hospital.

Gestational syphilis is transmitted from mother to child via the placenta and the birth canal. It is diagnosed in the child at the moment of birth. This hematogenous transmission of the treponema pallidum from the non-treated or inadequately treated pregnant woman to her new born child is called congenital syphilis. Preventing the maternal transmission of the syphilis to the fetus, or at least treating it in the uterus, is among the strategies of the Ministry of Public Health. To achieve this purpose serology should be carried out to the pregnant woman and her husband. The causes of a reactive serology might be different, but it is always necessary to thing of syphilis. Three cases of syphilis in pregnant women are presented and also their follow-up in a health area.

La sífilis gestacional se transmite de madre a hijo, por vía placentaria y por canal del parto. Es diagnosticada en el niño en el momento del nacimiento, esta transmisión hematógena del treponema pallidum de la gestante no tratada o tratada inadecuadamente a su recién nacido, se denomina sífilis congénita. Entre las estrategias del Ministerio de Salud Pública está prevenir la transmisión materna de la sífilis al feto, o al menos, tratarla en útero. Para lograr este propósito debe garantizarse la realización de serologías a la gestante y al esposo. Múltiples pueden ser las causas de una serología reactiva pero siempre se debe pensar en la sífilis. Se presentan tres casos de sífilis en gestantes y su seguimiento en área de salud.

Background: Dermoscopy is considered as an intermediate step between clinical and histopathology in the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, however it is unknown whether it is useful in the hands of a person who is specialized in the dermatoscope. Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and dermatoscopic criteria of a series of cases with clinical diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma and evaluate the dermoscopy-histopathology accuracy. Methodology: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was performed on 25 patients who attended the dermatology consultation with a clinical diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, with a total of 36 lesions observed at which the technique of dermoscopy was undergone. In all cases a lesion biopsy was taken and the clinical and histopathologic correlation was performed. Results: There was a predominance of male gender, age 71 and skin phototype II. The lesions were preferentially located in the head and neck, prevailing high risk lesions. The most common clinical range was nodular and the highest dermoscopic confusion was pigmented. The most represented dermoscopic structures were multiple ovoid nests, arborescent vessels, maple leaves and ulceration. There was a correlation between dermoscopic and histological diagnosis.

Fundamento: La dermatoscopía se considera como un paso intermedio entre la clínica y la histopatología en el diagnóstico de Carcinoma basocelular, sin embargo se desconoce si es útil en manos de una persona que esté especializada en el dermatoscopio. Objetivo: Describir los criterios epidemiológicos, clínicos y dermatoscópicos de una serie de casos con diagnóstico clínico de carcinoma basocelular y evaluar la precisión dermatoscopía-histopatología. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal en 25 pacientes que acudieron a la consulta de Dermatología con diagnóstico clínico de carcinoma basocelular, con un total de 36 lesiones observadas a las que se le realizó la técnica de dermatoscopía. En todos los casos se tomó biopsia de la lesión y se realizó la correlación clínico-dermatoscópica e histopatológica. Resultados: Predominó el sexo masculino, los mayores de 71 años y el fototipo de piel II. Las lesiones se localizaron preferentemente en cabeza y cuello, prevaleciendo las de alto riesgo. La variedad clínica más frecuente fue el nodular y el de mayor confusión dermatoscópica fue el pigmentado. Las estructuras dermatoscópicas más representadas fueron los múltiples nidos ovoides, los vasos arborescentes, las hojas de arce y la ulceración. Existió una concordancia entre el diagnóstico dermatoscópico y el histológico. Conclusiones: La precisión diagnóstica dermatoscópica-histopatológica fue demostrada lo que refuerza su utilidad previa a la toma de decisiones.

Stevens-Johnson’s Syndrome is a serious muco-cutaneous reaction. We present a case treated with steroids and Intacglobine. A patient aged 22 years was admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of leptospirosis and he was treated with penicillin and metamizole. At the time of discharge some ampullar lesions were observed that were considered a possible chicken pox. He was admitted again with a diagnosis of Major Multiform Erythema, using high doses of steroids for the first day, and then Intacglobin was incorporated at the fifth day, with the decrease of steroids doses and satisfactory evolution. This is an alternative requiring more terms endorsing it as a therapeutic modality.

El síndrome de Stevens-Johnson constituye una reacción mucocutánea grave. Se presenta un caso tratado con esteroides e intacglobin. Paciente de 22 años, ingresado con el diagnóstico de leptospirosis y tratado con penicilina y metamizol (dipirona). Al alta se observaron lesiones ampollares que atribuyeron a una posible varicela. Se ingresa nuevamente con el diagnóstico de un eritema multiforme mayor, y se utilizó altas dosis de esteroides en los primeros días, y se incorporó el intacglobín a partir del quinto día, con la disminución del esteroide y una satisfactoria evolución. Esta es una alternativa que requiere de más trabajos que la avalen como modalidad terapéutica.