Leprosy remains prevalent in Brazil. ErbB2 is a receptor for leprosy bacilli entering Schwann cells, which mediates Mycobacterium leprae-induced demyelination and the ERBB2 gene lies within a leprosy susceptibility locus on chromosome 17q11-q21. To determine whether polymorphisms at the ERBB2 locus contribute to this linkage peak, three haplotype tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tag-SNPs) (rs2517956, rs2952156, rs1058808) were genotyped in 72 families (208 cases; 372 individuals) from the state of Pará (PA). All three tag-SNPs were associated with leprosy per se [best SNP rs2517959 odds ratio (OR) = 2.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-3.59; p = 0.001]. Lepromatous (LL) (OR = 3.25; 95% CI 1.37-7.70; p = 0.007) and tuberculoid (TT) (OR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.04-3.05; p = 0.034) leprosy both contributed to the association, which is consistent with the previous linkage to chromosome 17q11-q21 in the population from PA and supports the functional role of ErbB2 in disease pathogenesis. To attempt to replicate these findings, six SNPs (rs2517955, rs2517956, rs1810132, rs2952156, rs1801200, rs1058808) were genotyped in a population-based sample of 570 leprosy cases and 370 controls from the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) and the results were analysed using logistic regression analysis. However, none of the associations were replicated in the RN sample, whether analysed for leprosy per se, LL leprosy, TT leprosy, erythema nodosum leprosum or reversal reaction conditions. The role of polymorphisms at ERBB2 in controlling susceptibility to leprosy in Brazil therefore remains unclear.

A sarna norueguesa é uma infestação cutânea altamente contagiosa causada pelo ectoparasita Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, que atinge principalmente indivíduos imunossuprimidos. Clinicamente, pode simular várias dermatoses, tais como psoríase, doença de Darier, dermatite seborréica, entre outras. O artigo relata o caso de uma mulher de 33 anos, imunocompetente, porém com diagnóstico de transtorno de ansiedade generalizada e cancerofobia, que apresentava placas bem delimitadas, sobre base eritematosa, recobertas por crostas rupioides, nas regiões cervical, axilar, mamária, umbilical, inguinal, além de dorso superior e cotovelos, mimetizando uma variante extremamente rara de psoríase, denominada psoríase rupioide.

Norwegian scabies is a highly contagious skin infestation caused by an ectoparasite, Scarcoptes scabiei var. Hominis, which mainly affects immunosuppressed individuals. Clinically, it may simulate various dermatoses such as psoriasis, Darier's disease, seborrheic dermatitis, among others. This is a case report of a 33-year-old woman, immunocompetent, diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (cancer phobia), who had erythematous, well-defined plaques, covered with rupioid crusts, on her neck, axillary folds, breast, periumbilical region, groin area, besides upper back and elbows, mimicking an extremely rare variant of psoriasis, denominated rupioid psoriasis.

Os autores descrevem um caso de rosácea granulomatosa em um homem de 39 anos de idade, tratado com a associação de limeciclina oral e metronidazol gel tópico. A rosácea granulomatosa é uma variante da rosácea clássica, rara, caracterizada pela presença de pápulas vermelho-acastanhadas ou pequenos nódulos com base eritematosa e infiltrada, surgindo geralmente na superfície lateral da face e no pescoço. O exame histopatológico evidencia granulomas perifoliculares e perivasculares. A evolução é crônica, e o tratamento inclui antibióticos orais, como a tetraciclina e seus derivados, e medicações tópicas, como metronidazol, ácido retinóico, entre outras.

The authors describe a case of granolumatous rosacea in a 39-year-old male, successfully treated with oral limecycline and topical gel of metronidazole. Granulomatous rosacea is a rare form of classic rosacea, characterized by brownish-red papules or small nodules on a diffusely reddened background and thickened skin. Lesions generally appear on the lateral surfaces of the face and on the neck. Histopathological examination shows perifollicular and perivascular granulomas. The course is chronic and treatment involves oral antibiotics, such as tetracycline and derivates; and topicals, such as metronidazole and topical retinoids.

O escleromixedema é uma mucinose cutânea idiopática caracterizada por erupção papulosa, induração da pele e paraproteinemia. Histologicamente, se observa proliferação de fibroblastos na derme superior associada a depósito de mucina. O tratamento é difícil, não existindo na atualidade modalidade terapêutica totalmente eficaz para controlar a enfermidade. Relata-se o caso de um paciente de 68 anos com escleromixedema, sem manifestação sistêmica, que respondeu à terapia oral com corticosteróide.

Scleromyxedema is an idiopathic cutaneous mucinosis characterized by a papular eruption, skin induration and paraproteinemia. Histologically, fibrolast proliferation can be observed in the upper dermis associated with a mucine deposition. Treatment is difficult and at present there is no totally effective therapeutic modality to control the disease. The present report is on a 68-year-old patient with scleromyxedema without systemic manifestation, who responded to oral steroid therapy.