Acne Medications

Risk of High-Grade Skin Rash

Cetuximab, a chimeric antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor has emerged as an effective therapy for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) and head-neck cancer. However, severe skin toxicity may limit its use.

Its efficacy in the treatment of other cancers is also undergoing extensive investigation. We performed a systemic review and meta-analysis of published clinical trials to quantify the overall incidence and risk of severe skin rash.

Methods:
Databases Medline (OVID 1998 to July 2008), Web of Science, and abstracts presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conferences from 2004 through July 2008 were searched to identify relevant studies.

Eligible studies include phase II and III clinical trials in which patients were treated with a single agent, i.e. cetuximab at 400 mg/m(2) as initial dose followed by 250 mg/m(2) weekly. Incidence, relative risk (RR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a fixed-effects or random-effects model based on the heterogeneity of included studies.

Results:
A total of 2,037 patients with a variety of solid tumors from 16 trials were included for analysis. The overall incidence of all-grade skin rash was 88.2% (95% CI: 84.8-91.0%), with11.3% (95% CI: 8.8-14.3%) being high-grade (grade 3 or above). The overall incidence of all-grade acne-like skin rash was 81.6% (95% CI: 75.4-86.6%) with 6.5% (95% CI: 4.1-10.0%) being high-grade.

Notably, patients with CRC exhibited a significantly higher incidence of high-grade skin rash (12.6%, 95% CI: 9.7-16.4%) than those with non-CRC (6.6%, 95% CI: 3.6-11.8%) with a risk ratio of 1.9 (95% CI: 1.0-3.6, p = 0.049).

From randomized controlled studies, patients who received cetuximab had a significantly increased risk of developing high-grade skin rash in comparison with controls (RR 21.8, 95% CI: 6.9-68.8, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:
Cancer patients who received cetuximab have a substantial risk of developing high-grade skin rash. The risk may be particularly increased in patients with CRC. Further studies are strongly recommended for the prevention and treatment of high-grade skin rash.


Risk of High-Grade Skin Rash in Cancer Patients Treated with Cetuximab - an Antibody against Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor: Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Oncology. 2009 Jul 22; 77(2): 124-133Su X, Lacouture ME, Jia Y, Wu S(Hubmed.org)



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Aesthetic dermatology: fillers and lasers treatments

In esthetic dermatology, filling and laser treatments are two essential techniques. Several recent studies on calcium hydroxyapatite in filling treatments and facial volumetry, in esthetics, but also in HIV patients, have been published. It was also tested in accentuated melomental folds where it is superior to hyaluronic acid.

In aging of the skin of the dorsal aspect of the hands, hyaluronic acid provides slightly better results than collagen. Filler rhinoplasty can correct minor deformations of the nose. Lipofilling is advantageous for linear scleroderma of the face, at least in the forehead region, and adipocyte stem cells may be a future solution for facial aging or lipoatrophy. The risk of local and/or general sarcoid reactions related to interferon in patients having undergone filling injections has been reported.

In the field of laser treatment, fractionated photothermolysis has motivated much more research and seem particularly valuable in treating acne scars, aging of the dorsal aspect of the hands, and, more anecdotally, in colloid milium and pearly penile papules. Laser is also useful in preventing surgical scars where a mini-diode can also be used. For axillary hyperhidrosis, subdermic Nd-YAG laser competes with botulinum toxin, with longer-lasting results. Solutions are appearing for treatment of red or white striae cutis distensae.

Intense pulsed light is the reference technique for poikiloderma of Civatte, and seems effective, with new devices, for melasma. However, inappropriately used by nonphysicians, IPL can cause serious ocular accidents; one case of uveitis has been reported.



"What's new in aesthetic dermatology: fillers and lasers treatments"
Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2009 May; 136 Suppl 4: S152-9Beylot C (Hubmed)



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A Randomized Trial of Oral DHEA Treatment for Sexual Function, Well-Being, and Menopausal Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women with Low Libido.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate DHEAS, which are the most abundant steroids in women, decline with age. We have shown association between low sexual function and low circulating DHEAS levels in women.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether restoration of circulating DHEA levels in postmenopausal women to the levels seen in young individuals improves sexual function. Methods.

Ninety-three postmenopausal women not using concurrent estrogen therapy were enrolled in a 52-week randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial and received either DHEA 50 mg or placebo (PL) daily.

Main Outcome Measures. Efficacy was assessed through 26 weeks. The main outcome measures were the change in total satisfying sexual events (SSE) and the change in the Sabbatsberg Sexual Self-Rating Scale (SSS) total score. Secondary measures were the Psychological General Well-Being Questionnaire (PGWB), and the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL).

Hormonal levels, adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs) and clinical labs were evaluated over 52 weeks. Results. Eighty-five participants (91%) were included in the 26-week efficacy analysis. There were no significant differences between the DHEA and PL groups in the change in total SSE per month or the SSS, PGWB, and MENQOL change scores.

Overall AE reports and number of withdrawals as a result of AEs were similar in both groups; however more women in the DHEA group experienced androgenic effects of acne and increased hair growth. Conclusions. In this study treatment of postmenopausal women with low sexual desire with 50 mg/day DHEA resulted in no significant improvements in sexual function over PL therapy over 26 weeks.



A Randomized Trial of Oral DHEA Treatment for Sexual Function, Well-Being, and Menopausal Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women with Low Libido.
J Sex Med. 2009 Jul 10; Panjari M, Bell RJ, Jane F, Wolfe R, Adams J, Morrow C, Davis S (Hubmed)



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