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New mRNA Vaccines in Development for Cancer and Infections
Martina Prelog, MD, a pediatric and adolescent medicine specialist at the University Hospital of Würzburg in Germany, reported on the principles, research status, and perspectives for these vaccines at the 25th Travel and Health Forum of the Center for Travel Medicine in Berlin.
To understand the future, the immunologist first examined the past. “The induction of cellular and humoral immune responses by externally injected mRNA was discovered in the 1990s,” she said.
Instability Challenge
Significant hurdles in mRNA vaccinations included the instability of mRNA and the immune system’s ability to identify foreign mRNA as a threat and destroy mRNA fragments. “The breakthrough toward vaccination came through Dr. Katalin Karikó, who, along with Dr. Drew Weissman, both of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, discovered in 2005 that modifications of mRNA (replacing the nucleoside uridine with pseudouridine) enable better stability of mRNA, reduced immunogenicity, and higher translational capacity at the ribosomes,” said Dr. Prelog.
With this discovery, the two researchers paved the way for the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 and other diseases. They were awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for their discovery last year.
Improved Scalability
“Since 2009, mRNA vaccines have been studied as a treatment option for cancer,” said Dr. Prelog. “Since 2012, they have been studied for the influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus [RSV].” Consequently, several mRNA vaccines are currently in development or in approval studies. “The mRNA technology offers the advantage of quickly and flexibly responding to new variants of pathogens and the ability to scale up production when there is high demand for a particular vaccine.”
Different forms and designations of mRNA vaccines are used, depending on the application and desired effect, said Dr. Prelog.
In nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccines, modifications in the mRNA sequence enable the mRNA to remain in the body longer and to induce protein synthesis more effectively.
Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)–encapsulated mRNA vaccines protect the coding mRNA sequences against degradation by the body’s enzymes and facilitate the uptake of mRNA into cells, where it then triggers the production of the desired protein. In addition, LNPs are involved in cell stimulation and support the self-adjuvant effect of mRNA vaccines, thus eliminating the need for adjuvants.
Self-amplifying mRNA vaccines include a special mRNA that replicates itself in the cell and contains a sequence for RNA replicase, in addition to the coding sequence for the protein. This composition enables increased production of the target protein without the need for a high amount of external mRNA administration. Such vaccines could trigger a longer and stronger immune response because the immune system has more time to interact with the protein.
Cancer Immunotherapy
Dr. Prelog also discussed personalized vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. Personalized mRNA vaccines are tailored to the patient’s genetic characteristics and antigens. They could be used in cancer immunotherapy to activate the immune system selectively against tumor cells.
Multivalent mRNA vaccines contain mRNA that codes for multiple antigens rather than just one protein to generate an immune response. These vaccines could be particularly useful in fighting pathogens with variable or changing surface structures or in eliciting protection against multiple pathogens simultaneously.
The technology of mRNA-encoded antibodies involves introducing mRNA into the cell, which creates light and heavy chains of antibodies. This step leads to the formation of antibodies targeted against toxins (eg, diphtheria and tetanus), animal venoms, infectious agents, or tumor cells.
Genetic Engineering
Dr. Prelog also reviewed genetic engineering techniques. In regenerative therapy or protein replacement therapy, skin fibroblasts or other cells are transfected with mRNA to enable conversion into induced pluripotent stem cells. This approach avoids the risk for DNA integration into the genome and associated mutation risks.
Another approach is making post-transcriptional modifications through RNA interference. For example, RNA structures can be used to inhibit the translation of disease-causing proteins. This technique is currently being tested against HIV and tumors such as melanoma.
In addition, mRNA technologies can be combined with CRISPR/Cas9 technology (“gene scissors”) to influence the creation of gene products even more precisely. The advantage of this technique is that mRNA is only transiently expressed, thus preventing unwanted side effects. Furthermore, mRNA is translated directly in the cytoplasm, leading to a faster initiation of gene editing.
Of the numerous ongoing clinical mRNA vaccine studies, around 70% focus on infections, about 12% on cancer, and the rest on autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative disorders, said Dr. Prelog.
Research in Infections
Research in the fields of infectious diseases and oncology is the most advanced: mRNA vaccines against influenza and RSV are already in advanced clinical trials, Dr. Prelog told this news organization.
“Conventional influenza vaccines contain immunogenic surface molecules against hemagglutinin and neuraminidase in various combinations of influenza strains A and B and are produced in egg or cell cultures,” she said. “This is a time-consuming manufacturing process that takes months and, particularly with the egg-based process, bears the risk of changing the vaccine strain.”
“Additionally, influenza viruses undergo antigenic shift and drift through recombination, thus requiring annual adjustments to the vaccines. Thus, these influenza vaccines often lose accuracy in targeting circulating seasonal influenza strains.”
Several mRNA vaccines being tested contain not only coding sequences against hemagglutinin and neuraminidase but also for structural proteins of influenza viruses. “These are more conserved and mutate less easily, meaning they could serve as the basis for universal pandemic influenza vaccines,” said Dr. Prelog.
An advantage of mRNA vaccines, she added, is the strong cellular immune response that they elicit. This response is intended to provide additional protection alongside specific antibodies. An mRNA vaccine with coding sequences for the pre-fusion protein of RSV is in phase 3 trials for approval for vaccination in patients aged 60 years and older. It shows high effectiveness even in older patients and those with comorbidities.
Elaborate Purification Process
Bacterial origin plasmid DNA is used to produce mRNA vaccines. The mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 raised concerns that production-related DNA residues could pose a safety risk and cause autoimmune diseases.
These vaccines “typically undergo a very elaborate purification process,” said Dr. Prelog. “This involves enzymatic digestion with DNase to fragment and deplete plasmid DNA, followed by purification using chromatography columns, so that no safety-relevant DNA fragments should remain afterward.”
Thus, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut also pointed out the very small, fragmented plasmid DNA residues of bacterial origin in mRNA COVID-19 vaccines pose no risk, unlike residual DNA from animal cell culture might pose in other vaccines.
Prevention and Therapy
In addition to the numerous advantages of mRNA vaccines (such as rapid adaptability to new or mutated pathogens, scalability, rapid production capability, self-adjuvant effect, strong induction of cellular immune responses, and safety), there are also challenges in RNA technology as a preventive and therapeutic measure, according to Dr. Prelog.
“Stability and storability, as well as the costs of new vaccine developments, play a role, as do the long-term effects regarding the persistence of antibody and cellular responses,” she said. The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, for example, showed a well-maintained cellular immune response despite a tendency toward a rapid decline in humoral immune response.
“The experience with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and the new vaccine developments based on mRNA technology give hope for an efficient and safe preventive and therapeutic use, particularly in the fields of infectious diseases and oncology,” Dr. Prelog concluded.
This story was translated from the Medscape German edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Martina Prelog, MD, a pediatric and adolescent medicine specialist at the University Hospital of Würzburg in Germany, reported on the principles, research status, and perspectives for these vaccines at the 25th Travel and Health Forum of the Center for Travel Medicine in Berlin.
To understand the future, the immunologist first examined the past. “The induction of cellular and humoral immune responses by externally injected mRNA was discovered in the 1990s,” she said.
Instability Challenge
Significant hurdles in mRNA vaccinations included the instability of mRNA and the immune system’s ability to identify foreign mRNA as a threat and destroy mRNA fragments. “The breakthrough toward vaccination came through Dr. Katalin Karikó, who, along with Dr. Drew Weissman, both of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, discovered in 2005 that modifications of mRNA (replacing the nucleoside uridine with pseudouridine) enable better stability of mRNA, reduced immunogenicity, and higher translational capacity at the ribosomes,” said Dr. Prelog.
With this discovery, the two researchers paved the way for the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 and other diseases. They were awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for their discovery last year.
Improved Scalability
“Since 2009, mRNA vaccines have been studied as a treatment option for cancer,” said Dr. Prelog. “Since 2012, they have been studied for the influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus [RSV].” Consequently, several mRNA vaccines are currently in development or in approval studies. “The mRNA technology offers the advantage of quickly and flexibly responding to new variants of pathogens and the ability to scale up production when there is high demand for a particular vaccine.”
Different forms and designations of mRNA vaccines are used, depending on the application and desired effect, said Dr. Prelog.
In nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccines, modifications in the mRNA sequence enable the mRNA to remain in the body longer and to induce protein synthesis more effectively.
Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)–encapsulated mRNA vaccines protect the coding mRNA sequences against degradation by the body’s enzymes and facilitate the uptake of mRNA into cells, where it then triggers the production of the desired protein. In addition, LNPs are involved in cell stimulation and support the self-adjuvant effect of mRNA vaccines, thus eliminating the need for adjuvants.
Self-amplifying mRNA vaccines include a special mRNA that replicates itself in the cell and contains a sequence for RNA replicase, in addition to the coding sequence for the protein. This composition enables increased production of the target protein without the need for a high amount of external mRNA administration. Such vaccines could trigger a longer and stronger immune response because the immune system has more time to interact with the protein.
Cancer Immunotherapy
Dr. Prelog also discussed personalized vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. Personalized mRNA vaccines are tailored to the patient’s genetic characteristics and antigens. They could be used in cancer immunotherapy to activate the immune system selectively against tumor cells.
Multivalent mRNA vaccines contain mRNA that codes for multiple antigens rather than just one protein to generate an immune response. These vaccines could be particularly useful in fighting pathogens with variable or changing surface structures or in eliciting protection against multiple pathogens simultaneously.
The technology of mRNA-encoded antibodies involves introducing mRNA into the cell, which creates light and heavy chains of antibodies. This step leads to the formation of antibodies targeted against toxins (eg, diphtheria and tetanus), animal venoms, infectious agents, or tumor cells.
Genetic Engineering
Dr. Prelog also reviewed genetic engineering techniques. In regenerative therapy or protein replacement therapy, skin fibroblasts or other cells are transfected with mRNA to enable conversion into induced pluripotent stem cells. This approach avoids the risk for DNA integration into the genome and associated mutation risks.
Another approach is making post-transcriptional modifications through RNA interference. For example, RNA structures can be used to inhibit the translation of disease-causing proteins. This technique is currently being tested against HIV and tumors such as melanoma.
In addition, mRNA technologies can be combined with CRISPR/Cas9 technology (“gene scissors”) to influence the creation of gene products even more precisely. The advantage of this technique is that mRNA is only transiently expressed, thus preventing unwanted side effects. Furthermore, mRNA is translated directly in the cytoplasm, leading to a faster initiation of gene editing.
Of the numerous ongoing clinical mRNA vaccine studies, around 70% focus on infections, about 12% on cancer, and the rest on autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative disorders, said Dr. Prelog.
Research in Infections
Research in the fields of infectious diseases and oncology is the most advanced: mRNA vaccines against influenza and RSV are already in advanced clinical trials, Dr. Prelog told this news organization.
“Conventional influenza vaccines contain immunogenic surface molecules against hemagglutinin and neuraminidase in various combinations of influenza strains A and B and are produced in egg or cell cultures,” she said. “This is a time-consuming manufacturing process that takes months and, particularly with the egg-based process, bears the risk of changing the vaccine strain.”
“Additionally, influenza viruses undergo antigenic shift and drift through recombination, thus requiring annual adjustments to the vaccines. Thus, these influenza vaccines often lose accuracy in targeting circulating seasonal influenza strains.”
Several mRNA vaccines being tested contain not only coding sequences against hemagglutinin and neuraminidase but also for structural proteins of influenza viruses. “These are more conserved and mutate less easily, meaning they could serve as the basis for universal pandemic influenza vaccines,” said Dr. Prelog.
An advantage of mRNA vaccines, she added, is the strong cellular immune response that they elicit. This response is intended to provide additional protection alongside specific antibodies. An mRNA vaccine with coding sequences for the pre-fusion protein of RSV is in phase 3 trials for approval for vaccination in patients aged 60 years and older. It shows high effectiveness even in older patients and those with comorbidities.
Elaborate Purification Process
Bacterial origin plasmid DNA is used to produce mRNA vaccines. The mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 raised concerns that production-related DNA residues could pose a safety risk and cause autoimmune diseases.
These vaccines “typically undergo a very elaborate purification process,” said Dr. Prelog. “This involves enzymatic digestion with DNase to fragment and deplete plasmid DNA, followed by purification using chromatography columns, so that no safety-relevant DNA fragments should remain afterward.”
Thus, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut also pointed out the very small, fragmented plasmid DNA residues of bacterial origin in mRNA COVID-19 vaccines pose no risk, unlike residual DNA from animal cell culture might pose in other vaccines.
Prevention and Therapy
In addition to the numerous advantages of mRNA vaccines (such as rapid adaptability to new or mutated pathogens, scalability, rapid production capability, self-adjuvant effect, strong induction of cellular immune responses, and safety), there are also challenges in RNA technology as a preventive and therapeutic measure, according to Dr. Prelog.
“Stability and storability, as well as the costs of new vaccine developments, play a role, as do the long-term effects regarding the persistence of antibody and cellular responses,” she said. The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, for example, showed a well-maintained cellular immune response despite a tendency toward a rapid decline in humoral immune response.
“The experience with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and the new vaccine developments based on mRNA technology give hope for an efficient and safe preventive and therapeutic use, particularly in the fields of infectious diseases and oncology,” Dr. Prelog concluded.
This story was translated from the Medscape German edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Martina Prelog, MD, a pediatric and adolescent medicine specialist at the University Hospital of Würzburg in Germany, reported on the principles, research status, and perspectives for these vaccines at the 25th Travel and Health Forum of the Center for Travel Medicine in Berlin.
To understand the future, the immunologist first examined the past. “The induction of cellular and humoral immune responses by externally injected mRNA was discovered in the 1990s,” she said.
Instability Challenge
Significant hurdles in mRNA vaccinations included the instability of mRNA and the immune system’s ability to identify foreign mRNA as a threat and destroy mRNA fragments. “The breakthrough toward vaccination came through Dr. Katalin Karikó, who, along with Dr. Drew Weissman, both of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, discovered in 2005 that modifications of mRNA (replacing the nucleoside uridine with pseudouridine) enable better stability of mRNA, reduced immunogenicity, and higher translational capacity at the ribosomes,” said Dr. Prelog.
With this discovery, the two researchers paved the way for the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 and other diseases. They were awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for their discovery last year.
Improved Scalability
“Since 2009, mRNA vaccines have been studied as a treatment option for cancer,” said Dr. Prelog. “Since 2012, they have been studied for the influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus [RSV].” Consequently, several mRNA vaccines are currently in development or in approval studies. “The mRNA technology offers the advantage of quickly and flexibly responding to new variants of pathogens and the ability to scale up production when there is high demand for a particular vaccine.”
Different forms and designations of mRNA vaccines are used, depending on the application and desired effect, said Dr. Prelog.
In nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccines, modifications in the mRNA sequence enable the mRNA to remain in the body longer and to induce protein synthesis more effectively.
Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)–encapsulated mRNA vaccines protect the coding mRNA sequences against degradation by the body’s enzymes and facilitate the uptake of mRNA into cells, where it then triggers the production of the desired protein. In addition, LNPs are involved in cell stimulation and support the self-adjuvant effect of mRNA vaccines, thus eliminating the need for adjuvants.
Self-amplifying mRNA vaccines include a special mRNA that replicates itself in the cell and contains a sequence for RNA replicase, in addition to the coding sequence for the protein. This composition enables increased production of the target protein without the need for a high amount of external mRNA administration. Such vaccines could trigger a longer and stronger immune response because the immune system has more time to interact with the protein.
Cancer Immunotherapy
Dr. Prelog also discussed personalized vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. Personalized mRNA vaccines are tailored to the patient’s genetic characteristics and antigens. They could be used in cancer immunotherapy to activate the immune system selectively against tumor cells.
Multivalent mRNA vaccines contain mRNA that codes for multiple antigens rather than just one protein to generate an immune response. These vaccines could be particularly useful in fighting pathogens with variable or changing surface structures or in eliciting protection against multiple pathogens simultaneously.
The technology of mRNA-encoded antibodies involves introducing mRNA into the cell, which creates light and heavy chains of antibodies. This step leads to the formation of antibodies targeted against toxins (eg, diphtheria and tetanus), animal venoms, infectious agents, or tumor cells.
Genetic Engineering
Dr. Prelog also reviewed genetic engineering techniques. In regenerative therapy or protein replacement therapy, skin fibroblasts or other cells are transfected with mRNA to enable conversion into induced pluripotent stem cells. This approach avoids the risk for DNA integration into the genome and associated mutation risks.
Another approach is making post-transcriptional modifications through RNA interference. For example, RNA structures can be used to inhibit the translation of disease-causing proteins. This technique is currently being tested against HIV and tumors such as melanoma.
In addition, mRNA technologies can be combined with CRISPR/Cas9 technology (“gene scissors”) to influence the creation of gene products even more precisely. The advantage of this technique is that mRNA is only transiently expressed, thus preventing unwanted side effects. Furthermore, mRNA is translated directly in the cytoplasm, leading to a faster initiation of gene editing.
Of the numerous ongoing clinical mRNA vaccine studies, around 70% focus on infections, about 12% on cancer, and the rest on autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative disorders, said Dr. Prelog.
Research in Infections
Research in the fields of infectious diseases and oncology is the most advanced: mRNA vaccines against influenza and RSV are already in advanced clinical trials, Dr. Prelog told this news organization.
“Conventional influenza vaccines contain immunogenic surface molecules against hemagglutinin and neuraminidase in various combinations of influenza strains A and B and are produced in egg or cell cultures,” she said. “This is a time-consuming manufacturing process that takes months and, particularly with the egg-based process, bears the risk of changing the vaccine strain.”
“Additionally, influenza viruses undergo antigenic shift and drift through recombination, thus requiring annual adjustments to the vaccines. Thus, these influenza vaccines often lose accuracy in targeting circulating seasonal influenza strains.”
Several mRNA vaccines being tested contain not only coding sequences against hemagglutinin and neuraminidase but also for structural proteins of influenza viruses. “These are more conserved and mutate less easily, meaning they could serve as the basis for universal pandemic influenza vaccines,” said Dr. Prelog.
An advantage of mRNA vaccines, she added, is the strong cellular immune response that they elicit. This response is intended to provide additional protection alongside specific antibodies. An mRNA vaccine with coding sequences for the pre-fusion protein of RSV is in phase 3 trials for approval for vaccination in patients aged 60 years and older. It shows high effectiveness even in older patients and those with comorbidities.
Elaborate Purification Process
Bacterial origin plasmid DNA is used to produce mRNA vaccines. The mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 raised concerns that production-related DNA residues could pose a safety risk and cause autoimmune diseases.
These vaccines “typically undergo a very elaborate purification process,” said Dr. Prelog. “This involves enzymatic digestion with DNase to fragment and deplete plasmid DNA, followed by purification using chromatography columns, so that no safety-relevant DNA fragments should remain afterward.”
Thus, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut also pointed out the very small, fragmented plasmid DNA residues of bacterial origin in mRNA COVID-19 vaccines pose no risk, unlike residual DNA from animal cell culture might pose in other vaccines.
Prevention and Therapy
In addition to the numerous advantages of mRNA vaccines (such as rapid adaptability to new or mutated pathogens, scalability, rapid production capability, self-adjuvant effect, strong induction of cellular immune responses, and safety), there are also challenges in RNA technology as a preventive and therapeutic measure, according to Dr. Prelog.
“Stability and storability, as well as the costs of new vaccine developments, play a role, as do the long-term effects regarding the persistence of antibody and cellular responses,” she said. The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, for example, showed a well-maintained cellular immune response despite a tendency toward a rapid decline in humoral immune response.
“The experience with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and the new vaccine developments based on mRNA technology give hope for an efficient and safe preventive and therapeutic use, particularly in the fields of infectious diseases and oncology,” Dr. Prelog concluded.
This story was translated from the Medscape German edition using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Rural Health System ‘Teetering on Brink’ of Collapse, Says AMA
Physicians are leaving healthcare in droves, “not because they don’t want to practice ... but because the system is making it more and more difficult for them to care for their patients,” Bruce Scott, MD, president-elect of the American Medical Association (AMA), said at a press conference May 9 at the National Rural Health Association’s Annual Conference in New Orleans.
He said that shrinking reimbursement rates and excessive administrative tasks are pushing doctors out of the workforce, exacerbating physician shortages in rural locations where 46 million Americans live.
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report found that people living in rural areas are more likely to die early from preventable causes than their urban counterparts, said Dr. Scott.
He said the AMA wants Congress to pass legislation to incentivize more physicians to work in rural areas and expand the number of rural and primary care residency spots. Historically, 80% of residents practice within 80 miles of where they complete residency, he said.
Dr. Scott also hopes Congress will revise the J-1 visa rules to allow qualified international medical graduates to continue to practice in the United States. He’d like to see the pandemic telehealth flexibilities made permanent because these loosened guidelines greatly improved care access for rural areas in recent years.
Lower Pay Affects Care in Rural, Urban Areas
Decreased reimbursements also have hit rural and urban doctors in independent practice particularly hard, Dr. Scott said. When adjusted for inflation, the current Medicare payment rate for physicians has dropped 29% since 2001, he said. Now that commercial payers tie their reimbursement models to the Medicare rate, physicians are experiencing “severe” financial stress amid rising practice costs and student loan debt.
He shared anecdotes about how these issues have affected his private otolaryngology practice in Louisville, Kentucky, a state where more than 2 million people live in federally designated primary care professional shortage areas.
“A major insurance company that controls over 60% of the private payer market in rural Kentucky [recently] offered us ... surgical rates less than they paid us 6 years ago,” he said.
Dr. Scott said physicians must make difficult choices. “Do we not invest in the latest physical equipment? Do we reduce our number of employees? Do we perhaps stop accepting new Medicare patients?”
He noted that physicians now spend twice as much time on prior authorizations and other administrative tasks as they do on direct patient care. According to a 2022 AMA survey, 33% of physicians reported that the cumbersome prior authorization process led to a serious adverse event for a patient. Eighty percent reported it caused their patient to forgo treatment altogether.
Dr. Scott, who will be sworn in as AMA president in June, said he experiences the frustration daily.
“I have to get on the phone and justify to an insurance person who rarely has gone to medical school, has never seen the patient, and heck, in my case, sometimes they can’t even say otolaryngology, much less tell me what the appropriate care is for my patient,” he said.
When asked about the impact of private equity in healthcare, Dr. Scott said there is room for all different modes of practice, but private equity could bring a unique benefit.
“They have deeper pockets to potentially invest in telehealth technology, AI, and better computer systems,” he said.
But, he said, some private equity-owned systems have abandoned rural areas, and in other regions they “push the physicians to move faster, see more patients, and do the things that are profit-driven.
“The key is to continue to provide ... quality medical care that is determined by an individual physician in consultation with the patient.”
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Physicians are leaving healthcare in droves, “not because they don’t want to practice ... but because the system is making it more and more difficult for them to care for their patients,” Bruce Scott, MD, president-elect of the American Medical Association (AMA), said at a press conference May 9 at the National Rural Health Association’s Annual Conference in New Orleans.
He said that shrinking reimbursement rates and excessive administrative tasks are pushing doctors out of the workforce, exacerbating physician shortages in rural locations where 46 million Americans live.
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report found that people living in rural areas are more likely to die early from preventable causes than their urban counterparts, said Dr. Scott.
He said the AMA wants Congress to pass legislation to incentivize more physicians to work in rural areas and expand the number of rural and primary care residency spots. Historically, 80% of residents practice within 80 miles of where they complete residency, he said.
Dr. Scott also hopes Congress will revise the J-1 visa rules to allow qualified international medical graduates to continue to practice in the United States. He’d like to see the pandemic telehealth flexibilities made permanent because these loosened guidelines greatly improved care access for rural areas in recent years.
Lower Pay Affects Care in Rural, Urban Areas
Decreased reimbursements also have hit rural and urban doctors in independent practice particularly hard, Dr. Scott said. When adjusted for inflation, the current Medicare payment rate for physicians has dropped 29% since 2001, he said. Now that commercial payers tie their reimbursement models to the Medicare rate, physicians are experiencing “severe” financial stress amid rising practice costs and student loan debt.
He shared anecdotes about how these issues have affected his private otolaryngology practice in Louisville, Kentucky, a state where more than 2 million people live in federally designated primary care professional shortage areas.
“A major insurance company that controls over 60% of the private payer market in rural Kentucky [recently] offered us ... surgical rates less than they paid us 6 years ago,” he said.
Dr. Scott said physicians must make difficult choices. “Do we not invest in the latest physical equipment? Do we reduce our number of employees? Do we perhaps stop accepting new Medicare patients?”
He noted that physicians now spend twice as much time on prior authorizations and other administrative tasks as they do on direct patient care. According to a 2022 AMA survey, 33% of physicians reported that the cumbersome prior authorization process led to a serious adverse event for a patient. Eighty percent reported it caused their patient to forgo treatment altogether.
Dr. Scott, who will be sworn in as AMA president in June, said he experiences the frustration daily.
“I have to get on the phone and justify to an insurance person who rarely has gone to medical school, has never seen the patient, and heck, in my case, sometimes they can’t even say otolaryngology, much less tell me what the appropriate care is for my patient,” he said.
When asked about the impact of private equity in healthcare, Dr. Scott said there is room for all different modes of practice, but private equity could bring a unique benefit.
“They have deeper pockets to potentially invest in telehealth technology, AI, and better computer systems,” he said.
But, he said, some private equity-owned systems have abandoned rural areas, and in other regions they “push the physicians to move faster, see more patients, and do the things that are profit-driven.
“The key is to continue to provide ... quality medical care that is determined by an individual physician in consultation with the patient.”
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Physicians are leaving healthcare in droves, “not because they don’t want to practice ... but because the system is making it more and more difficult for them to care for their patients,” Bruce Scott, MD, president-elect of the American Medical Association (AMA), said at a press conference May 9 at the National Rural Health Association’s Annual Conference in New Orleans.
He said that shrinking reimbursement rates and excessive administrative tasks are pushing doctors out of the workforce, exacerbating physician shortages in rural locations where 46 million Americans live.
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report found that people living in rural areas are more likely to die early from preventable causes than their urban counterparts, said Dr. Scott.
He said the AMA wants Congress to pass legislation to incentivize more physicians to work in rural areas and expand the number of rural and primary care residency spots. Historically, 80% of residents practice within 80 miles of where they complete residency, he said.
Dr. Scott also hopes Congress will revise the J-1 visa rules to allow qualified international medical graduates to continue to practice in the United States. He’d like to see the pandemic telehealth flexibilities made permanent because these loosened guidelines greatly improved care access for rural areas in recent years.
Lower Pay Affects Care in Rural, Urban Areas
Decreased reimbursements also have hit rural and urban doctors in independent practice particularly hard, Dr. Scott said. When adjusted for inflation, the current Medicare payment rate for physicians has dropped 29% since 2001, he said. Now that commercial payers tie their reimbursement models to the Medicare rate, physicians are experiencing “severe” financial stress amid rising practice costs and student loan debt.
He shared anecdotes about how these issues have affected his private otolaryngology practice in Louisville, Kentucky, a state where more than 2 million people live in federally designated primary care professional shortage areas.
“A major insurance company that controls over 60% of the private payer market in rural Kentucky [recently] offered us ... surgical rates less than they paid us 6 years ago,” he said.
Dr. Scott said physicians must make difficult choices. “Do we not invest in the latest physical equipment? Do we reduce our number of employees? Do we perhaps stop accepting new Medicare patients?”
He noted that physicians now spend twice as much time on prior authorizations and other administrative tasks as they do on direct patient care. According to a 2022 AMA survey, 33% of physicians reported that the cumbersome prior authorization process led to a serious adverse event for a patient. Eighty percent reported it caused their patient to forgo treatment altogether.
Dr. Scott, who will be sworn in as AMA president in June, said he experiences the frustration daily.
“I have to get on the phone and justify to an insurance person who rarely has gone to medical school, has never seen the patient, and heck, in my case, sometimes they can’t even say otolaryngology, much less tell me what the appropriate care is for my patient,” he said.
When asked about the impact of private equity in healthcare, Dr. Scott said there is room for all different modes of practice, but private equity could bring a unique benefit.
“They have deeper pockets to potentially invest in telehealth technology, AI, and better computer systems,” he said.
But, he said, some private equity-owned systems have abandoned rural areas, and in other regions they “push the physicians to move faster, see more patients, and do the things that are profit-driven.
“The key is to continue to provide ... quality medical care that is determined by an individual physician in consultation with the patient.”
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Can a Risk Score Predict Kidney Injury After Cisplatin?
Cisplatin is a preferred treatment for a wide range of cancers, including breast, head and neck, lung, ovary, and more. However, its side effects — particularly nephrotoxicity — can be severe. Kidney injury on cisplatin is associated with higher mortality and can jeopardize a patient’s eligibility for other therapies.
Now, in a large study using data from six US cancer centers, researchers have developed a risk algorithm to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) after cisplatin administration.
A risk prediction calculator based on the algorithm is available online for patients and providers to determine an individual patient›s risk for kidney injury from cisplatin using readily available clinical data.
Other risk scores and risk prediction models have been developed to help clinicians assess in advance whether a patient might develop AKI after receiving cisplatin, so that more careful monitoring, dose adjustments, or an alternative treatment, if available, might be considered.
However, previous models were limited by factors such as small sample sizes, lack of external validation, older data, and liberal definitions of AKI, said Shruti Gupta, MD, MPH, director of onco-nephrology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and David E. Leaf, MD, MMSc, director of clinical and translational research in AKI, Division of Renal Medicine, BWH, Boston.
Dr. Gupta and Dr. Leaf believe their risk score for predicting severe AKI after intravenous (IV) cisplatin, published online in The BMJ, is “more accurate and generalizable than prior models for several reasons,” they told this news organization in a joint email.
“First, we externally validated our findings across cancer centers other than the one where it was developed,” they said. “Second, we focused on moderate to severe kidney injury, the most clinically relevant form of kidney damage, whereas prior models examined more mild forms of kidney injury. Third, we collected data on nearly 25,000 patients receiving their first dose of IV cisplatin, which is larger than all previous studies combined.”
‘Herculean Effort’
“We conceived of this study back in 2018, contacted collaborators at each participating cancer center, and had numerous meetings to try to gather granular data on patients treated with their first dose of intravenous (IV) cisplatin,” Dr. Gupta and Dr. Leaf explained. They also incorporated patient feedback from focus groups and surveys.
“This was truly a Herculean effort that involved physicians, programmers, research coordinators, and patients,” they said.
The multicenter study included 24,717 patients — 11,766 in the derivation cohort and 12,951 in the validation cohort. Overall, the median age was about 60 years, about 58% were men, and about 78% were White.
The primary outcome was cisplatin-induced AKI (CP-AKI), defined as a twofold or greater increase in serum creatinine or kidney replacement therapy within 14 days of a first dose of IV cisplatin.
Their simple risk score consisting of nine covariates — age, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hemoglobin level, white blood cell count, platelet count, serum albumin level, serum magnesium level, and cisplatin dose — predicted a higher risk for CP-AKI in both cohorts.
Notably, adding serum creatinine to the model did not change the area under the curve, and therefore, serum creatinine, though also an independent risk factor for CP-AKI, was not included in the score.
Patients in the highest risk category had 24-fold higher odds of CP-AKI in the derivation cohort and close to 18-fold higher odds in the validation cohort than those in the lowest risk category.
The primary model had a C statistic of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.73-0.76) and showed better discrimination for CP-AKI than previously published models, for which the C statistics ranged from 0.60 to 0.68. The first author of a paper on an earlier model, Shveta Motwani, MD, MMSc, of BWH and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, is also a coauthor of the new study.
Greater severity of CP-AKI was associated with shorter 90-day survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.63; 95% CI, 3.56-6.02) for stage III CP-AKI vs no CP-AKI.
‘Definitive Work’
Joel M. Topf, MD, a nephrologist with expertise in chronic kidney disease in Detroit, who wasn’t involved in the development of the risk score, called the study “a definitive work on an important concept in oncology and nephrology.”
“While this is not the first attempt to devise a risk score, it is by far the biggest,” he told this news organization. Furthermore, the authors “used a diverse population, recruiting patients with a variety of cancers (previous attempts had often used a homogenous diagnosis, putting into question how generalizable the results were) from six different cancer centers.”
In addition, he said, “The authors did not restrict patients with chronic kidney disease or other significant comorbidities and used the geographic diversity to produce a cohort that has an age, gender, racial, and ethnic distribution, which is more representative of the US than previous, single-center attempts to risk score patients.”
An earlier model used the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI of an increase in serum creatinine of 0.3 mg/dL, he noted. “While a sensitive definition of AKI, it captures mild, hemodynamic increases in creatinine of questionable significance,” he said.
By contrast, the new score uses KDIGO stage II and above to define AKI. “This is a better choice, as we do not want to dissuade patients and doctors from choosing chemotherapy due to a fear of insignificant kidney damage,” he said.
All that said, Dr. Topf noted that neither the current score nor the earlier model included serum creatinine. “This is curious to me and may represent the small number of patients with representative elevated creatinine in the derivation cohort (only 1.3% with an estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 45).”
“Since the cohort is made up of people who received cis-platinum, the low prevalence of eGFRs < 45 may be due to physicians steering away from cis-platinum in this group,” he suggested. “It would be unfortunate if this risk score gave an unintentional ‘green light’ to these patients, exposing them to predictable harm.”
‘Certainly Useful’
Anushree Shirali, MD, an associate professor in the Section of Nephrology and consulting physician, Yale Onco-Nephrology, Yale School of Medicine, in New Haven, Connecticut, said that having a prediction score for which patients are more likely to develop AKI after a single dose of cisplatin would be helpful for oncologists, as well as nephrologists.
As a nephrologist, Dr. Shirali mostly sees patients who already have AKI, she told this news organization. But there are circumstances in which the tool could still be helpful.
“Let’s say someone has abnormal kidney function at baseline — ie, creatinine is higher than the normal range — and they were on dialysis 5 years ago for something else, and now, they have cancer and may be given cisplatin. They worry about their chances of getting AKI and needing dialysis again,” she said. “That’s just one scenario in which I might be asked to answer that question and the tool would certainly be useful.”
Other scenarios could include someone who has just one kidney because they donated a kidney for transplant years ago, and now, they have a malignancy and wonder what their actual risk is of getting kidney issues on cisplatin.
Oncologists could use the tool to determine whether a patient should be treated with cisplatin, or if they’re at high risk, whether an alternative that’s not nephrotoxic might be used. By contrast, “if somebody’s low risk and an oncologist thinks cisplatin is the best agent they have, then they might want to go ahead and use it,” Dr. Shirali said.
Future research could take into consideration that CP-AKI is dose dependent, she suggested, because a prediction score that included the number of cisplatin doses could be even more helpful to determine risk. And, even though the derivation and validation cohorts for the new tool are representative of the US population, additional research should also include more racial/ethnic diversity, she said.
Dr. Gupta and Dr. Leaf hope their tool “will be utilized immediately by patients and providers to help predict an individual’s risk of cisplatin-associated kidney damage. It is easy to use, available for free online, and incorporates readily available clinical variables.”
If a patient is at high risk, the clinical team can consider preventive measures such as administering more IV fluids before receiving cisplatin or monitoring kidney function more closely afterward, they suggested.
Dr. Gupta reported research support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. She also reported research funding from BTG International, GE HealthCare, and AstraZeneca outside the submitted work. She is a member of GlaxoSmithKline’s Global Anemia Council, a consultant for Secretome and Proletariat Therapeutics, and founder and president emeritus of the American Society of Onconephrology (unpaid). Dr. Leaf is supported by NIH grants, reported research support from BioPorto, BTG International, and Metro International Biotech, and has served as a consultant. Dr. Topf reported an ownership stake in a few DaVita-run dialysis clinics. He also runs a vascular access center and has participated in advisory boards with Cara Therapeutics, Vifor, Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Renibus Therapeutics, Travere Therapeutics, and GlaxoSmithKline. He is president of NephJC, a nonprofit educational organization with no industry support. Dr. Shirali declared no competing interests.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Cisplatin is a preferred treatment for a wide range of cancers, including breast, head and neck, lung, ovary, and more. However, its side effects — particularly nephrotoxicity — can be severe. Kidney injury on cisplatin is associated with higher mortality and can jeopardize a patient’s eligibility for other therapies.
Now, in a large study using data from six US cancer centers, researchers have developed a risk algorithm to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) after cisplatin administration.
A risk prediction calculator based on the algorithm is available online for patients and providers to determine an individual patient›s risk for kidney injury from cisplatin using readily available clinical data.
Other risk scores and risk prediction models have been developed to help clinicians assess in advance whether a patient might develop AKI after receiving cisplatin, so that more careful monitoring, dose adjustments, or an alternative treatment, if available, might be considered.
However, previous models were limited by factors such as small sample sizes, lack of external validation, older data, and liberal definitions of AKI, said Shruti Gupta, MD, MPH, director of onco-nephrology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and David E. Leaf, MD, MMSc, director of clinical and translational research in AKI, Division of Renal Medicine, BWH, Boston.
Dr. Gupta and Dr. Leaf believe their risk score for predicting severe AKI after intravenous (IV) cisplatin, published online in The BMJ, is “more accurate and generalizable than prior models for several reasons,” they told this news organization in a joint email.
“First, we externally validated our findings across cancer centers other than the one where it was developed,” they said. “Second, we focused on moderate to severe kidney injury, the most clinically relevant form of kidney damage, whereas prior models examined more mild forms of kidney injury. Third, we collected data on nearly 25,000 patients receiving their first dose of IV cisplatin, which is larger than all previous studies combined.”
‘Herculean Effort’
“We conceived of this study back in 2018, contacted collaborators at each participating cancer center, and had numerous meetings to try to gather granular data on patients treated with their first dose of intravenous (IV) cisplatin,” Dr. Gupta and Dr. Leaf explained. They also incorporated patient feedback from focus groups and surveys.
“This was truly a Herculean effort that involved physicians, programmers, research coordinators, and patients,” they said.
The multicenter study included 24,717 patients — 11,766 in the derivation cohort and 12,951 in the validation cohort. Overall, the median age was about 60 years, about 58% were men, and about 78% were White.
The primary outcome was cisplatin-induced AKI (CP-AKI), defined as a twofold or greater increase in serum creatinine or kidney replacement therapy within 14 days of a first dose of IV cisplatin.
Their simple risk score consisting of nine covariates — age, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hemoglobin level, white blood cell count, platelet count, serum albumin level, serum magnesium level, and cisplatin dose — predicted a higher risk for CP-AKI in both cohorts.
Notably, adding serum creatinine to the model did not change the area under the curve, and therefore, serum creatinine, though also an independent risk factor for CP-AKI, was not included in the score.
Patients in the highest risk category had 24-fold higher odds of CP-AKI in the derivation cohort and close to 18-fold higher odds in the validation cohort than those in the lowest risk category.
The primary model had a C statistic of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.73-0.76) and showed better discrimination for CP-AKI than previously published models, for which the C statistics ranged from 0.60 to 0.68. The first author of a paper on an earlier model, Shveta Motwani, MD, MMSc, of BWH and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, is also a coauthor of the new study.
Greater severity of CP-AKI was associated with shorter 90-day survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.63; 95% CI, 3.56-6.02) for stage III CP-AKI vs no CP-AKI.
‘Definitive Work’
Joel M. Topf, MD, a nephrologist with expertise in chronic kidney disease in Detroit, who wasn’t involved in the development of the risk score, called the study “a definitive work on an important concept in oncology and nephrology.”
“While this is not the first attempt to devise a risk score, it is by far the biggest,” he told this news organization. Furthermore, the authors “used a diverse population, recruiting patients with a variety of cancers (previous attempts had often used a homogenous diagnosis, putting into question how generalizable the results were) from six different cancer centers.”
In addition, he said, “The authors did not restrict patients with chronic kidney disease or other significant comorbidities and used the geographic diversity to produce a cohort that has an age, gender, racial, and ethnic distribution, which is more representative of the US than previous, single-center attempts to risk score patients.”
An earlier model used the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI of an increase in serum creatinine of 0.3 mg/dL, he noted. “While a sensitive definition of AKI, it captures mild, hemodynamic increases in creatinine of questionable significance,” he said.
By contrast, the new score uses KDIGO stage II and above to define AKI. “This is a better choice, as we do not want to dissuade patients and doctors from choosing chemotherapy due to a fear of insignificant kidney damage,” he said.
All that said, Dr. Topf noted that neither the current score nor the earlier model included serum creatinine. “This is curious to me and may represent the small number of patients with representative elevated creatinine in the derivation cohort (only 1.3% with an estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 45).”
“Since the cohort is made up of people who received cis-platinum, the low prevalence of eGFRs < 45 may be due to physicians steering away from cis-platinum in this group,” he suggested. “It would be unfortunate if this risk score gave an unintentional ‘green light’ to these patients, exposing them to predictable harm.”
‘Certainly Useful’
Anushree Shirali, MD, an associate professor in the Section of Nephrology and consulting physician, Yale Onco-Nephrology, Yale School of Medicine, in New Haven, Connecticut, said that having a prediction score for which patients are more likely to develop AKI after a single dose of cisplatin would be helpful for oncologists, as well as nephrologists.
As a nephrologist, Dr. Shirali mostly sees patients who already have AKI, she told this news organization. But there are circumstances in which the tool could still be helpful.
“Let’s say someone has abnormal kidney function at baseline — ie, creatinine is higher than the normal range — and they were on dialysis 5 years ago for something else, and now, they have cancer and may be given cisplatin. They worry about their chances of getting AKI and needing dialysis again,” she said. “That’s just one scenario in which I might be asked to answer that question and the tool would certainly be useful.”
Other scenarios could include someone who has just one kidney because they donated a kidney for transplant years ago, and now, they have a malignancy and wonder what their actual risk is of getting kidney issues on cisplatin.
Oncologists could use the tool to determine whether a patient should be treated with cisplatin, or if they’re at high risk, whether an alternative that’s not nephrotoxic might be used. By contrast, “if somebody’s low risk and an oncologist thinks cisplatin is the best agent they have, then they might want to go ahead and use it,” Dr. Shirali said.
Future research could take into consideration that CP-AKI is dose dependent, she suggested, because a prediction score that included the number of cisplatin doses could be even more helpful to determine risk. And, even though the derivation and validation cohorts for the new tool are representative of the US population, additional research should also include more racial/ethnic diversity, she said.
Dr. Gupta and Dr. Leaf hope their tool “will be utilized immediately by patients and providers to help predict an individual’s risk of cisplatin-associated kidney damage. It is easy to use, available for free online, and incorporates readily available clinical variables.”
If a patient is at high risk, the clinical team can consider preventive measures such as administering more IV fluids before receiving cisplatin or monitoring kidney function more closely afterward, they suggested.
Dr. Gupta reported research support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. She also reported research funding from BTG International, GE HealthCare, and AstraZeneca outside the submitted work. She is a member of GlaxoSmithKline’s Global Anemia Council, a consultant for Secretome and Proletariat Therapeutics, and founder and president emeritus of the American Society of Onconephrology (unpaid). Dr. Leaf is supported by NIH grants, reported research support from BioPorto, BTG International, and Metro International Biotech, and has served as a consultant. Dr. Topf reported an ownership stake in a few DaVita-run dialysis clinics. He also runs a vascular access center and has participated in advisory boards with Cara Therapeutics, Vifor, Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Renibus Therapeutics, Travere Therapeutics, and GlaxoSmithKline. He is president of NephJC, a nonprofit educational organization with no industry support. Dr. Shirali declared no competing interests.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Cisplatin is a preferred treatment for a wide range of cancers, including breast, head and neck, lung, ovary, and more. However, its side effects — particularly nephrotoxicity — can be severe. Kidney injury on cisplatin is associated with higher mortality and can jeopardize a patient’s eligibility for other therapies.
Now, in a large study using data from six US cancer centers, researchers have developed a risk algorithm to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) after cisplatin administration.
A risk prediction calculator based on the algorithm is available online for patients and providers to determine an individual patient›s risk for kidney injury from cisplatin using readily available clinical data.
Other risk scores and risk prediction models have been developed to help clinicians assess in advance whether a patient might develop AKI after receiving cisplatin, so that more careful monitoring, dose adjustments, or an alternative treatment, if available, might be considered.
However, previous models were limited by factors such as small sample sizes, lack of external validation, older data, and liberal definitions of AKI, said Shruti Gupta, MD, MPH, director of onco-nephrology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and David E. Leaf, MD, MMSc, director of clinical and translational research in AKI, Division of Renal Medicine, BWH, Boston.
Dr. Gupta and Dr. Leaf believe their risk score for predicting severe AKI after intravenous (IV) cisplatin, published online in The BMJ, is “more accurate and generalizable than prior models for several reasons,” they told this news organization in a joint email.
“First, we externally validated our findings across cancer centers other than the one where it was developed,” they said. “Second, we focused on moderate to severe kidney injury, the most clinically relevant form of kidney damage, whereas prior models examined more mild forms of kidney injury. Third, we collected data on nearly 25,000 patients receiving their first dose of IV cisplatin, which is larger than all previous studies combined.”
‘Herculean Effort’
“We conceived of this study back in 2018, contacted collaborators at each participating cancer center, and had numerous meetings to try to gather granular data on patients treated with their first dose of intravenous (IV) cisplatin,” Dr. Gupta and Dr. Leaf explained. They also incorporated patient feedback from focus groups and surveys.
“This was truly a Herculean effort that involved physicians, programmers, research coordinators, and patients,” they said.
The multicenter study included 24,717 patients — 11,766 in the derivation cohort and 12,951 in the validation cohort. Overall, the median age was about 60 years, about 58% were men, and about 78% were White.
The primary outcome was cisplatin-induced AKI (CP-AKI), defined as a twofold or greater increase in serum creatinine or kidney replacement therapy within 14 days of a first dose of IV cisplatin.
Their simple risk score consisting of nine covariates — age, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hemoglobin level, white blood cell count, platelet count, serum albumin level, serum magnesium level, and cisplatin dose — predicted a higher risk for CP-AKI in both cohorts.
Notably, adding serum creatinine to the model did not change the area under the curve, and therefore, serum creatinine, though also an independent risk factor for CP-AKI, was not included in the score.
Patients in the highest risk category had 24-fold higher odds of CP-AKI in the derivation cohort and close to 18-fold higher odds in the validation cohort than those in the lowest risk category.
The primary model had a C statistic of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.73-0.76) and showed better discrimination for CP-AKI than previously published models, for which the C statistics ranged from 0.60 to 0.68. The first author of a paper on an earlier model, Shveta Motwani, MD, MMSc, of BWH and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, is also a coauthor of the new study.
Greater severity of CP-AKI was associated with shorter 90-day survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.63; 95% CI, 3.56-6.02) for stage III CP-AKI vs no CP-AKI.
‘Definitive Work’
Joel M. Topf, MD, a nephrologist with expertise in chronic kidney disease in Detroit, who wasn’t involved in the development of the risk score, called the study “a definitive work on an important concept in oncology and nephrology.”
“While this is not the first attempt to devise a risk score, it is by far the biggest,” he told this news organization. Furthermore, the authors “used a diverse population, recruiting patients with a variety of cancers (previous attempts had often used a homogenous diagnosis, putting into question how generalizable the results were) from six different cancer centers.”
In addition, he said, “The authors did not restrict patients with chronic kidney disease or other significant comorbidities and used the geographic diversity to produce a cohort that has an age, gender, racial, and ethnic distribution, which is more representative of the US than previous, single-center attempts to risk score patients.”
An earlier model used the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI of an increase in serum creatinine of 0.3 mg/dL, he noted. “While a sensitive definition of AKI, it captures mild, hemodynamic increases in creatinine of questionable significance,” he said.
By contrast, the new score uses KDIGO stage II and above to define AKI. “This is a better choice, as we do not want to dissuade patients and doctors from choosing chemotherapy due to a fear of insignificant kidney damage,” he said.
All that said, Dr. Topf noted that neither the current score nor the earlier model included serum creatinine. “This is curious to me and may represent the small number of patients with representative elevated creatinine in the derivation cohort (only 1.3% with an estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 45).”
“Since the cohort is made up of people who received cis-platinum, the low prevalence of eGFRs < 45 may be due to physicians steering away from cis-platinum in this group,” he suggested. “It would be unfortunate if this risk score gave an unintentional ‘green light’ to these patients, exposing them to predictable harm.”
‘Certainly Useful’
Anushree Shirali, MD, an associate professor in the Section of Nephrology and consulting physician, Yale Onco-Nephrology, Yale School of Medicine, in New Haven, Connecticut, said that having a prediction score for which patients are more likely to develop AKI after a single dose of cisplatin would be helpful for oncologists, as well as nephrologists.
As a nephrologist, Dr. Shirali mostly sees patients who already have AKI, she told this news organization. But there are circumstances in which the tool could still be helpful.
“Let’s say someone has abnormal kidney function at baseline — ie, creatinine is higher than the normal range — and they were on dialysis 5 years ago for something else, and now, they have cancer and may be given cisplatin. They worry about their chances of getting AKI and needing dialysis again,” she said. “That’s just one scenario in which I might be asked to answer that question and the tool would certainly be useful.”
Other scenarios could include someone who has just one kidney because they donated a kidney for transplant years ago, and now, they have a malignancy and wonder what their actual risk is of getting kidney issues on cisplatin.
Oncologists could use the tool to determine whether a patient should be treated with cisplatin, or if they’re at high risk, whether an alternative that’s not nephrotoxic might be used. By contrast, “if somebody’s low risk and an oncologist thinks cisplatin is the best agent they have, then they might want to go ahead and use it,” Dr. Shirali said.
Future research could take into consideration that CP-AKI is dose dependent, she suggested, because a prediction score that included the number of cisplatin doses could be even more helpful to determine risk. And, even though the derivation and validation cohorts for the new tool are representative of the US population, additional research should also include more racial/ethnic diversity, she said.
Dr. Gupta and Dr. Leaf hope their tool “will be utilized immediately by patients and providers to help predict an individual’s risk of cisplatin-associated kidney damage. It is easy to use, available for free online, and incorporates readily available clinical variables.”
If a patient is at high risk, the clinical team can consider preventive measures such as administering more IV fluids before receiving cisplatin or monitoring kidney function more closely afterward, they suggested.
Dr. Gupta reported research support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. She also reported research funding from BTG International, GE HealthCare, and AstraZeneca outside the submitted work. She is a member of GlaxoSmithKline’s Global Anemia Council, a consultant for Secretome and Proletariat Therapeutics, and founder and president emeritus of the American Society of Onconephrology (unpaid). Dr. Leaf is supported by NIH grants, reported research support from BioPorto, BTG International, and Metro International Biotech, and has served as a consultant. Dr. Topf reported an ownership stake in a few DaVita-run dialysis clinics. He also runs a vascular access center and has participated in advisory boards with Cara Therapeutics, Vifor, Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Renibus Therapeutics, Travere Therapeutics, and GlaxoSmithKline. He is president of NephJC, a nonprofit educational organization with no industry support. Dr. Shirali declared no competing interests.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
FROM THE BMJ
Jumpstart Your AI Learning: The Very Best Resources for Doctors
Like it or not, artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to medicine. For many physicians — maybe you — it’s already here.
More than a third of physicians use AI in their practice. And the vast majority of healthcare companies — 94%, according to Morgan Stanley — use some kind of AI machine learning.
“It’s incumbent on physicians, as well as physicians in training, to become familiar with at least the basics [of AI],” said internist Matthew DeCamp, MD, PhD, an associate professor in the Center for Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.
“Frankly, the people who are deciding whether to implement algorithms in our day-to-day lives are oftentimes not physicians,” noted Ravi B. Parikh, MD, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania and director of augmented and artificial intelligence at the Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation, Philadelphia. Yet, physicians are most qualified to assess an AI tool’s usefulness in clinical practice.
That brings us to the best starting place for your AI education: Your own institution. Find out what AI tools your organization is implementing — and how you can influence them.
“Getting involved with our hospital data governance is the best way not only to learn practically what these AI tools do but also to influence the development process in positive ways,” Dr. Parikh said.
From there, consider the following resources to enhance your AI knowledge.
Get a Lay of the Land: Free Primers
Many clinical societies and interest groups have put out AI primers, an easy way to get a broad overview of the technology. The following were recommended or developed by the experts we spoke to, and all are free:
- The American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) framework for advancing healthcare AI lays out actionable guidance. Ask three key questions, the AMA recommends: Does it work? Does it work for my patients? Does it improve health outcomes?
- The Coalition for Health AI’s Blueprint for Trustworthy AI Implementation Guidance and Assurance for Healthcare provides a high-level summary of how to evaluate AI in healthcare, plus steps for implementing it. AI systems should be useful, safe, accountable, explainable, fair, and secure, the report asserted.
- The National Academy of Medicine’s draft code of conduct for AI in healthcare proposes core principles and commitments. These “reflect simple guideposts to guide and gauge behavior in a complex system and provide a starting point for real-time decision-making,” the report said.
- Health AI Partnership — a collaboration of Duke Health and Microsoft — outlines eight key decision points to consider at any stage of AI implementation, whether you’re still planning how to use it or you’ve started but want to improve it. The site also provides a breakdown of standards by regulatory agencies, organizations, and oversight bodies — so you can make sure your practices align with their guidance.
Make the Most of Conferences
Next time you’re at a conference, check the agenda for sessions on AI. “For someone who’s interested in this, I would be looking for content in my next national meeting because, undoubtedly, it’s going to be there,” said Dr. DeCamp. In a fast-moving field like AI, it’s a great way to get fresh, up-to-the-moment insights.
Listen to This Podcast
The New England Journal of Medicine’s free monthly podcast AI Grand Rounds is made for researchers and clinicians. Available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, the pod is good for “someone who’s looking to see both where the field is going [and to hear] a retrospective on big-name papers,” said Dr. Parikh . Episodes run for about an hour.
To learn about the challenges of applying AI to biology: Listen to Daphne Koller, PhD, founder of AI-driven drug discovery and development company insitro. For insights on the potential of AI in medicine, tune into the one with Eric Horvitz, MD, PhD, Microsoft’s chief scientific officer.
Consider a Class
Look for courses that focus on AI applications in clinical practice rather than a deep dive into theory. (You need to understand how these tools will influence your work, not the intricacies of large language model development.) Be wary of corporate-funded training that centers on one product , which could present conflicts of interest, said Dr. DeCamp. See the chart for courses that meet these criteria.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Like it or not, artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to medicine. For many physicians — maybe you — it’s already here.
More than a third of physicians use AI in their practice. And the vast majority of healthcare companies — 94%, according to Morgan Stanley — use some kind of AI machine learning.
“It’s incumbent on physicians, as well as physicians in training, to become familiar with at least the basics [of AI],” said internist Matthew DeCamp, MD, PhD, an associate professor in the Center for Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.
“Frankly, the people who are deciding whether to implement algorithms in our day-to-day lives are oftentimes not physicians,” noted Ravi B. Parikh, MD, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania and director of augmented and artificial intelligence at the Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation, Philadelphia. Yet, physicians are most qualified to assess an AI tool’s usefulness in clinical practice.
That brings us to the best starting place for your AI education: Your own institution. Find out what AI tools your organization is implementing — and how you can influence them.
“Getting involved with our hospital data governance is the best way not only to learn practically what these AI tools do but also to influence the development process in positive ways,” Dr. Parikh said.
From there, consider the following resources to enhance your AI knowledge.
Get a Lay of the Land: Free Primers
Many clinical societies and interest groups have put out AI primers, an easy way to get a broad overview of the technology. The following were recommended or developed by the experts we spoke to, and all are free:
- The American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) framework for advancing healthcare AI lays out actionable guidance. Ask three key questions, the AMA recommends: Does it work? Does it work for my patients? Does it improve health outcomes?
- The Coalition for Health AI’s Blueprint for Trustworthy AI Implementation Guidance and Assurance for Healthcare provides a high-level summary of how to evaluate AI in healthcare, plus steps for implementing it. AI systems should be useful, safe, accountable, explainable, fair, and secure, the report asserted.
- The National Academy of Medicine’s draft code of conduct for AI in healthcare proposes core principles and commitments. These “reflect simple guideposts to guide and gauge behavior in a complex system and provide a starting point for real-time decision-making,” the report said.
- Health AI Partnership — a collaboration of Duke Health and Microsoft — outlines eight key decision points to consider at any stage of AI implementation, whether you’re still planning how to use it or you’ve started but want to improve it. The site also provides a breakdown of standards by regulatory agencies, organizations, and oversight bodies — so you can make sure your practices align with their guidance.
Make the Most of Conferences
Next time you’re at a conference, check the agenda for sessions on AI. “For someone who’s interested in this, I would be looking for content in my next national meeting because, undoubtedly, it’s going to be there,” said Dr. DeCamp. In a fast-moving field like AI, it’s a great way to get fresh, up-to-the-moment insights.
Listen to This Podcast
The New England Journal of Medicine’s free monthly podcast AI Grand Rounds is made for researchers and clinicians. Available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, the pod is good for “someone who’s looking to see both where the field is going [and to hear] a retrospective on big-name papers,” said Dr. Parikh . Episodes run for about an hour.
To learn about the challenges of applying AI to biology: Listen to Daphne Koller, PhD, founder of AI-driven drug discovery and development company insitro. For insights on the potential of AI in medicine, tune into the one with Eric Horvitz, MD, PhD, Microsoft’s chief scientific officer.
Consider a Class
Look for courses that focus on AI applications in clinical practice rather than a deep dive into theory. (You need to understand how these tools will influence your work, not the intricacies of large language model development.) Be wary of corporate-funded training that centers on one product , which could present conflicts of interest, said Dr. DeCamp. See the chart for courses that meet these criteria.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Like it or not, artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to medicine. For many physicians — maybe you — it’s already here.
More than a third of physicians use AI in their practice. And the vast majority of healthcare companies — 94%, according to Morgan Stanley — use some kind of AI machine learning.
“It’s incumbent on physicians, as well as physicians in training, to become familiar with at least the basics [of AI],” said internist Matthew DeCamp, MD, PhD, an associate professor in the Center for Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.
“Frankly, the people who are deciding whether to implement algorithms in our day-to-day lives are oftentimes not physicians,” noted Ravi B. Parikh, MD, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania and director of augmented and artificial intelligence at the Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation, Philadelphia. Yet, physicians are most qualified to assess an AI tool’s usefulness in clinical practice.
That brings us to the best starting place for your AI education: Your own institution. Find out what AI tools your organization is implementing — and how you can influence them.
“Getting involved with our hospital data governance is the best way not only to learn practically what these AI tools do but also to influence the development process in positive ways,” Dr. Parikh said.
From there, consider the following resources to enhance your AI knowledge.
Get a Lay of the Land: Free Primers
Many clinical societies and interest groups have put out AI primers, an easy way to get a broad overview of the technology. The following were recommended or developed by the experts we spoke to, and all are free:
- The American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) framework for advancing healthcare AI lays out actionable guidance. Ask three key questions, the AMA recommends: Does it work? Does it work for my patients? Does it improve health outcomes?
- The Coalition for Health AI’s Blueprint for Trustworthy AI Implementation Guidance and Assurance for Healthcare provides a high-level summary of how to evaluate AI in healthcare, plus steps for implementing it. AI systems should be useful, safe, accountable, explainable, fair, and secure, the report asserted.
- The National Academy of Medicine’s draft code of conduct for AI in healthcare proposes core principles and commitments. These “reflect simple guideposts to guide and gauge behavior in a complex system and provide a starting point for real-time decision-making,” the report said.
- Health AI Partnership — a collaboration of Duke Health and Microsoft — outlines eight key decision points to consider at any stage of AI implementation, whether you’re still planning how to use it or you’ve started but want to improve it. The site also provides a breakdown of standards by regulatory agencies, organizations, and oversight bodies — so you can make sure your practices align with their guidance.
Make the Most of Conferences
Next time you’re at a conference, check the agenda for sessions on AI. “For someone who’s interested in this, I would be looking for content in my next national meeting because, undoubtedly, it’s going to be there,” said Dr. DeCamp. In a fast-moving field like AI, it’s a great way to get fresh, up-to-the-moment insights.
Listen to This Podcast
The New England Journal of Medicine’s free monthly podcast AI Grand Rounds is made for researchers and clinicians. Available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, the pod is good for “someone who’s looking to see both where the field is going [and to hear] a retrospective on big-name papers,” said Dr. Parikh . Episodes run for about an hour.
To learn about the challenges of applying AI to biology: Listen to Daphne Koller, PhD, founder of AI-driven drug discovery and development company insitro. For insights on the potential of AI in medicine, tune into the one with Eric Horvitz, MD, PhD, Microsoft’s chief scientific officer.
Consider a Class
Look for courses that focus on AI applications in clinical practice rather than a deep dive into theory. (You need to understand how these tools will influence your work, not the intricacies of large language model development.) Be wary of corporate-funded training that centers on one product , which could present conflicts of interest, said Dr. DeCamp. See the chart for courses that meet these criteria.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
A 6-Year-Old Female Presents With a Bruise-Like Lesion on the Lip, Tongue, and Chin Area Present Since Birth
Diagnosis: Venous Malformation
Although present at birth, they are not always clinically evident early in life. They also tend to grow with the child without spontaneous regression, causing potential cosmetic concerns or complications from impingement on surrounding tissue.
Venous malformations appear with a bluish color appearing beneath the skin and can vary significantly in size and severity. Venous malformations are compressible and characterized by low to stagnant blood flow, which can spontaneously thrombose. Clinically, this may cause pain, swelling, skin changes, tissue and limb overgrowth, or functional impairment depending on location and size.
Venous malformations result from disorganized angiogenesis secondary to sporadic mutations in somatic cells. The most common implicated gene is TEK, a receptor tyrosine kinase. PIK3CA has also been involved. Both genes are involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, which regulates cell growth, proliferation, and angiogenesis. In venous endothelial cells, abnormal angiogenesis and vessel maturation may lead to venous malformation formation. Dysplastic vessels frequently separate from normal veins but may be contiguous with the deep venous system.
Diagnosis involves clinical history and physical examination. Imaging with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be utilized. While ultrasound may be preferred for superficial venous malformations, MRI or MRI with MR angiography (MRA) is the preferred method for venous malformation assessment. Genetic testing may be appropriate for complex malformations, as classification of lesions by underlying mutation may allow targeted therapy.
This patient’s past MRI and MRA findings were consistent with a venous malformation.
Treatment
Venous malformations rarely regress spontaneously. Treatment is required if venous malformations are symptomatic, which may include pain, swelling, deformity, thrombosis, or interference with daily activities of living. Treatment plans require consideration of patient goals of care. The main categories of therapy are embolization/sclerotherapy, surgical resection, and molecular targeted therapy.
Sclerotherapy is a well-tolerated and efficacious first-line therapy. It can be used as either nonsurgical curative therapy or preoperative adjunct therapy to minimize blood loss before surgical resection. While surgical resection may cause scarring, multimodal approaches with sclerotherapy or laser therapy can decrease complications. Molecular therapies aim to reduce vascular proliferation and symptoms. Referral to hematology/oncology for evaluation and consideration of chemotherapeutic agents may be required. Sirolimus has been shown in mice models to inhibit an endothelial cell tyrosine kinase receptor that plays a role in venous malformation growth. Multiple studies have proved its efficacy in managing complicated vascular anomalies, including venous malformations. Alpelisib is an inhibitor of PI3KCA, which is part of the pathway that contributes to venous malformation formation. Dactolisib, a dual inhibitor of the PI3KA and mTOR pathways, and rebastinib, a TEK inhibitor, are being investigated.
Differential Diagnoses
The differential diagnosis includes dermal melanocytosis, nevus of Ota, hemangioma of infancy, and ashy dermatosis. In addition, venous malformations can be part of more complex vascular malformations.
Dermal melanocytosis, also known as Mongolian spots, are blue-gray patches of discoloration on the skin that appear at birth or shortly after. They result from the arrest of dermal melanocytes in the dermis during fetal life and tissue modeling. They are commonly observed in those of Asian or African descent with darker skin types. Most often, they are located in the lumbar or sacral-gluteal region. Unlike venous malformations, they are benign and do not involve vascular abnormalities. They typically fade over time.
Nevus of Ota is a benign congenital condition that presents with blue-gray or brown patches of pigmentation on the skin around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead. They are dermal melanocytes with a speckled instead of uniform appearance. Nevus of Ota primarily affects individuals of Asian descent and typically presents in the trigeminal nerve distribution region. Treatment can be done to minimize deformity, generally with pigmented laser surgery.
Hemangiomas of infancy are common benign tumors of infancy caused by endothelial cell proliferation. They are characterized by rapid growth followed by spontaneous involution within the first year of life and for several years. Hemangiomas can be superficial, deep, or mixed with features of both superficial and deep. Superficial hemangiomas present as raised, lobulated, and bright red while deep hemangiomas present as a bluish-hued nodule, plaque, or tumor. They are diagnosed clinically but skin biopsies and imaging can confirm the suspected diagnosis. While hemangiomas may self-resolve, complicated hemangiomas can be treated with topical timolol, oral propranolol, topical and intralesional corticosteroids, pulsed-dye laser, and surgical resection.
Ashy dermatosis is a term for asymptomatic, gray-blue or ashy patches distributed symmetrically on the trunk, head, neck, and upper extremities. It primarily affects individuals with darker skin types (Fitzpatrick III-V), and is more common in patients with Hispanic, Asian, or African backgrounds. The direct cause of ashy dermatosis is unknown but it is thought to be linked to drug ingestion, genetics, infection, and immune-mediated mechanisms. The general treatment includes topical corticosteroids, clofazimine, topical calcineurin inhibitors, oral dapsone, phototherapy, topical retinoids, or isotretinoin to reduce inflammation and pigmentation.
Danny Lee and Samuel Le serve as research fellows and Jolina Bui as research associate in the Pediatric Dermatology Division of the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego, and Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego. Dr. Eichenfield is Distinguished Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics and Vice-Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego, and Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego. The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
Suggested Reading
Agarwal P, Patel BC. Nevus of Ota and Ito. [Updated 2023 Jul 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
Dompmartin A et al. The VASCERN-VASCA Working Group Diagnostic and Management Pathways for Venous Malformations. J Vasc Anom (Phila). 2023 Mar 23;4(2):e064.
Dompmartin A et al. Venous malformation: Update on aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management. Phlebology. 2010 Oct;25(5):224-235.
Gupta D, Thappa DM. Mongolian spots. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2013 Jul-Aug;79(4):469-478.
Krowchuk DP et al. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Infantile Hemangiomas. Pediatrics. 2019 Jan;143(1):e20183475.
Nguyen K, Khachemoune A. Ashy dermatosis: A review. Dermatol Online J. 2019 May 15;25(5):13030/qt44f462s8.
Patel ND, Chong AT et al. Venous Malformations. Semin Intervent Radiol. 2022 Dec 20;39(5):498-507.
Diagnosis: Venous Malformation
Although present at birth, they are not always clinically evident early in life. They also tend to grow with the child without spontaneous regression, causing potential cosmetic concerns or complications from impingement on surrounding tissue.
Venous malformations appear with a bluish color appearing beneath the skin and can vary significantly in size and severity. Venous malformations are compressible and characterized by low to stagnant blood flow, which can spontaneously thrombose. Clinically, this may cause pain, swelling, skin changes, tissue and limb overgrowth, or functional impairment depending on location and size.
Venous malformations result from disorganized angiogenesis secondary to sporadic mutations in somatic cells. The most common implicated gene is TEK, a receptor tyrosine kinase. PIK3CA has also been involved. Both genes are involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, which regulates cell growth, proliferation, and angiogenesis. In venous endothelial cells, abnormal angiogenesis and vessel maturation may lead to venous malformation formation. Dysplastic vessels frequently separate from normal veins but may be contiguous with the deep venous system.
Diagnosis involves clinical history and physical examination. Imaging with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be utilized. While ultrasound may be preferred for superficial venous malformations, MRI or MRI with MR angiography (MRA) is the preferred method for venous malformation assessment. Genetic testing may be appropriate for complex malformations, as classification of lesions by underlying mutation may allow targeted therapy.
This patient’s past MRI and MRA findings were consistent with a venous malformation.
Treatment
Venous malformations rarely regress spontaneously. Treatment is required if venous malformations are symptomatic, which may include pain, swelling, deformity, thrombosis, or interference with daily activities of living. Treatment plans require consideration of patient goals of care. The main categories of therapy are embolization/sclerotherapy, surgical resection, and molecular targeted therapy.
Sclerotherapy is a well-tolerated and efficacious first-line therapy. It can be used as either nonsurgical curative therapy or preoperative adjunct therapy to minimize blood loss before surgical resection. While surgical resection may cause scarring, multimodal approaches with sclerotherapy or laser therapy can decrease complications. Molecular therapies aim to reduce vascular proliferation and symptoms. Referral to hematology/oncology for evaluation and consideration of chemotherapeutic agents may be required. Sirolimus has been shown in mice models to inhibit an endothelial cell tyrosine kinase receptor that plays a role in venous malformation growth. Multiple studies have proved its efficacy in managing complicated vascular anomalies, including venous malformations. Alpelisib is an inhibitor of PI3KCA, which is part of the pathway that contributes to venous malformation formation. Dactolisib, a dual inhibitor of the PI3KA and mTOR pathways, and rebastinib, a TEK inhibitor, are being investigated.
Differential Diagnoses
The differential diagnosis includes dermal melanocytosis, nevus of Ota, hemangioma of infancy, and ashy dermatosis. In addition, venous malformations can be part of more complex vascular malformations.
Dermal melanocytosis, also known as Mongolian spots, are blue-gray patches of discoloration on the skin that appear at birth or shortly after. They result from the arrest of dermal melanocytes in the dermis during fetal life and tissue modeling. They are commonly observed in those of Asian or African descent with darker skin types. Most often, they are located in the lumbar or sacral-gluteal region. Unlike venous malformations, they are benign and do not involve vascular abnormalities. They typically fade over time.
Nevus of Ota is a benign congenital condition that presents with blue-gray or brown patches of pigmentation on the skin around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead. They are dermal melanocytes with a speckled instead of uniform appearance. Nevus of Ota primarily affects individuals of Asian descent and typically presents in the trigeminal nerve distribution region. Treatment can be done to minimize deformity, generally with pigmented laser surgery.
Hemangiomas of infancy are common benign tumors of infancy caused by endothelial cell proliferation. They are characterized by rapid growth followed by spontaneous involution within the first year of life and for several years. Hemangiomas can be superficial, deep, or mixed with features of both superficial and deep. Superficial hemangiomas present as raised, lobulated, and bright red while deep hemangiomas present as a bluish-hued nodule, plaque, or tumor. They are diagnosed clinically but skin biopsies and imaging can confirm the suspected diagnosis. While hemangiomas may self-resolve, complicated hemangiomas can be treated with topical timolol, oral propranolol, topical and intralesional corticosteroids, pulsed-dye laser, and surgical resection.
Ashy dermatosis is a term for asymptomatic, gray-blue or ashy patches distributed symmetrically on the trunk, head, neck, and upper extremities. It primarily affects individuals with darker skin types (Fitzpatrick III-V), and is more common in patients with Hispanic, Asian, or African backgrounds. The direct cause of ashy dermatosis is unknown but it is thought to be linked to drug ingestion, genetics, infection, and immune-mediated mechanisms. The general treatment includes topical corticosteroids, clofazimine, topical calcineurin inhibitors, oral dapsone, phototherapy, topical retinoids, or isotretinoin to reduce inflammation and pigmentation.
Danny Lee and Samuel Le serve as research fellows and Jolina Bui as research associate in the Pediatric Dermatology Division of the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego, and Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego. Dr. Eichenfield is Distinguished Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics and Vice-Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego, and Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego. The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
Suggested Reading
Agarwal P, Patel BC. Nevus of Ota and Ito. [Updated 2023 Jul 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
Dompmartin A et al. The VASCERN-VASCA Working Group Diagnostic and Management Pathways for Venous Malformations. J Vasc Anom (Phila). 2023 Mar 23;4(2):e064.
Dompmartin A et al. Venous malformation: Update on aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management. Phlebology. 2010 Oct;25(5):224-235.
Gupta D, Thappa DM. Mongolian spots. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2013 Jul-Aug;79(4):469-478.
Krowchuk DP et al. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Infantile Hemangiomas. Pediatrics. 2019 Jan;143(1):e20183475.
Nguyen K, Khachemoune A. Ashy dermatosis: A review. Dermatol Online J. 2019 May 15;25(5):13030/qt44f462s8.
Patel ND, Chong AT et al. Venous Malformations. Semin Intervent Radiol. 2022 Dec 20;39(5):498-507.
Diagnosis: Venous Malformation
Although present at birth, they are not always clinically evident early in life. They also tend to grow with the child without spontaneous regression, causing potential cosmetic concerns or complications from impingement on surrounding tissue.
Venous malformations appear with a bluish color appearing beneath the skin and can vary significantly in size and severity. Venous malformations are compressible and characterized by low to stagnant blood flow, which can spontaneously thrombose. Clinically, this may cause pain, swelling, skin changes, tissue and limb overgrowth, or functional impairment depending on location and size.
Venous malformations result from disorganized angiogenesis secondary to sporadic mutations in somatic cells. The most common implicated gene is TEK, a receptor tyrosine kinase. PIK3CA has also been involved. Both genes are involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, which regulates cell growth, proliferation, and angiogenesis. In venous endothelial cells, abnormal angiogenesis and vessel maturation may lead to venous malformation formation. Dysplastic vessels frequently separate from normal veins but may be contiguous with the deep venous system.
Diagnosis involves clinical history and physical examination. Imaging with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be utilized. While ultrasound may be preferred for superficial venous malformations, MRI or MRI with MR angiography (MRA) is the preferred method for venous malformation assessment. Genetic testing may be appropriate for complex malformations, as classification of lesions by underlying mutation may allow targeted therapy.
This patient’s past MRI and MRA findings were consistent with a venous malformation.
Treatment
Venous malformations rarely regress spontaneously. Treatment is required if venous malformations are symptomatic, which may include pain, swelling, deformity, thrombosis, or interference with daily activities of living. Treatment plans require consideration of patient goals of care. The main categories of therapy are embolization/sclerotherapy, surgical resection, and molecular targeted therapy.
Sclerotherapy is a well-tolerated and efficacious first-line therapy. It can be used as either nonsurgical curative therapy or preoperative adjunct therapy to minimize blood loss before surgical resection. While surgical resection may cause scarring, multimodal approaches with sclerotherapy or laser therapy can decrease complications. Molecular therapies aim to reduce vascular proliferation and symptoms. Referral to hematology/oncology for evaluation and consideration of chemotherapeutic agents may be required. Sirolimus has been shown in mice models to inhibit an endothelial cell tyrosine kinase receptor that plays a role in venous malformation growth. Multiple studies have proved its efficacy in managing complicated vascular anomalies, including venous malformations. Alpelisib is an inhibitor of PI3KCA, which is part of the pathway that contributes to venous malformation formation. Dactolisib, a dual inhibitor of the PI3KA and mTOR pathways, and rebastinib, a TEK inhibitor, are being investigated.
Differential Diagnoses
The differential diagnosis includes dermal melanocytosis, nevus of Ota, hemangioma of infancy, and ashy dermatosis. In addition, venous malformations can be part of more complex vascular malformations.
Dermal melanocytosis, also known as Mongolian spots, are blue-gray patches of discoloration on the skin that appear at birth or shortly after. They result from the arrest of dermal melanocytes in the dermis during fetal life and tissue modeling. They are commonly observed in those of Asian or African descent with darker skin types. Most often, they are located in the lumbar or sacral-gluteal region. Unlike venous malformations, they are benign and do not involve vascular abnormalities. They typically fade over time.
Nevus of Ota is a benign congenital condition that presents with blue-gray or brown patches of pigmentation on the skin around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead. They are dermal melanocytes with a speckled instead of uniform appearance. Nevus of Ota primarily affects individuals of Asian descent and typically presents in the trigeminal nerve distribution region. Treatment can be done to minimize deformity, generally with pigmented laser surgery.
Hemangiomas of infancy are common benign tumors of infancy caused by endothelial cell proliferation. They are characterized by rapid growth followed by spontaneous involution within the first year of life and for several years. Hemangiomas can be superficial, deep, or mixed with features of both superficial and deep. Superficial hemangiomas present as raised, lobulated, and bright red while deep hemangiomas present as a bluish-hued nodule, plaque, or tumor. They are diagnosed clinically but skin biopsies and imaging can confirm the suspected diagnosis. While hemangiomas may self-resolve, complicated hemangiomas can be treated with topical timolol, oral propranolol, topical and intralesional corticosteroids, pulsed-dye laser, and surgical resection.
Ashy dermatosis is a term for asymptomatic, gray-blue or ashy patches distributed symmetrically on the trunk, head, neck, and upper extremities. It primarily affects individuals with darker skin types (Fitzpatrick III-V), and is more common in patients with Hispanic, Asian, or African backgrounds. The direct cause of ashy dermatosis is unknown but it is thought to be linked to drug ingestion, genetics, infection, and immune-mediated mechanisms. The general treatment includes topical corticosteroids, clofazimine, topical calcineurin inhibitors, oral dapsone, phototherapy, topical retinoids, or isotretinoin to reduce inflammation and pigmentation.
Danny Lee and Samuel Le serve as research fellows and Jolina Bui as research associate in the Pediatric Dermatology Division of the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego, and Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego. Dr. Eichenfield is Distinguished Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics and Vice-Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego, and Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego. The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
Suggested Reading
Agarwal P, Patel BC. Nevus of Ota and Ito. [Updated 2023 Jul 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
Dompmartin A et al. The VASCERN-VASCA Working Group Diagnostic and Management Pathways for Venous Malformations. J Vasc Anom (Phila). 2023 Mar 23;4(2):e064.
Dompmartin A et al. Venous malformation: Update on aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management. Phlebology. 2010 Oct;25(5):224-235.
Gupta D, Thappa DM. Mongolian spots. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2013 Jul-Aug;79(4):469-478.
Krowchuk DP et al. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Infantile Hemangiomas. Pediatrics. 2019 Jan;143(1):e20183475.
Nguyen K, Khachemoune A. Ashy dermatosis: A review. Dermatol Online J. 2019 May 15;25(5):13030/qt44f462s8.
Patel ND, Chong AT et al. Venous Malformations. Semin Intervent Radiol. 2022 Dec 20;39(5):498-507.
A 6-year-old girl presents with a bruise-like lesion on the lip, tongue, and chin area present since birth. The family states that her tongue has been increasing in size and is painful. On physical exam, she presents with left lower mucosal lip fullness and an overlying violaceous hue extending into the oral mucosa and onto the left tongue. The left portion of the dorsal tongue displays an increased thickness and bluish discoloration and there is a pink, smooth papule on the left anterolateral tongue.
Growing Periumbilical Plaque: A Case of Perforating Calcific Elastosis
To the Editor:
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a genetic perforating dermatosis characterized by fragmentation and calcification of elastic fibers that most commonly manifests on the skin, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, or cardiovascular system.1 Classic skin findings include multiple symmetric yellowish papules favoring the flexural surfaces of the body and neck as well as the periumbilical and inguinal regions.1,2 Many life-threatening complications from this disease can occur due to calcification of elastic fibers in other parts of the body, such as the internal elastic lamina of arteries, which can cause gastrointestinal tract bleeding and accelerated cardiovascular disease including valvular disease.2,3 If PXE is localized to the skin only without systemic involvement or a family history, a diagnosis of perforating calcific elastosis (PCE) can be made. We report a case of PCE in a patient with a growing umbilical lesion.
A 49-year-old multiparous (gravida 3, para 3) woman presented for evaluation of an evolving periumbilical lesion of 4 months’ duration. She denied pain, bleeding, or drainage from the area, as well as any systemic symptoms. The patient had a surgical history of a laparoscopic hysterectomy 7 years prior to the current presentation due to uterine fibroids, which resulted in a periumbilical scar. At the current presentation, physical examination revealed 2 hyperpigmented to violaceous periumbilical papules coalescing into a plaque with overlying hyperkeratosis and crusting (Figure 1). A punch biopsy was performed and histopathology showed diffuse dermal collections of degenerated eosinophilic distorted elastic fibers with calcification (Figure 2). Further sections showed a transepidermal channel in which the elastic fibers extruded from the dermis through the epidermis (Figure 3). The diagnosis of acquired PCE was made based on the clinical presentation, relevant medical history, and lack of underlying medical conditions or family history of PXE. No further workup was needed, and the patient reported no further progression and rather some improvement (decrease in size) of the lesion at 3-month follow-up.
Perforating calcific elastosis (also known as periumbilical perforating PXE) is a rare acquired condition that is seen predominantly in multiparous middle-aged women.4-6 This diagnosis consists of degenerated calcified elastic fibers that may perforate the skin of the abdominal or periumbilical region. It clinically manifests as multiple painless hyperkeratotic papules surrounding the periumbilical region.4-6
The etiology and pathogenesis of PCE have not been defined but have been attributed to recurrent stressing of elastic fibers due to repeat traumas,1 which is proposed to lead to degeneration of elastic fibers and calcification of damaged tissue.4-7 As a result, PCE most commonly manifests in multiparous, obese, middle-aged women and patients with multiple abdominal surgeries or ascites.1 It also has been reported in patients with renal failure due to deposition of abnormal calcium phosphate products onto elastic fibers.4 In our patient, the development of PCE was related to both multiparity and trauma from prior surgery.
The histopathologic findings of PCE and PXE are similar, warranting differentiation via thorough clinical examination as well as further investigation of the patient’s medical and family history. Both show degenerated, fragmented, curly elastic fibers with calcium deposition throughout the dermis and a transepidermal channel extruding these elastic fibers.7,8 The biopsies stain positive for elastic fibers and calcium deposition. Calcium staining can help to differentiate these entities from elastosis perforans serpiginosa, which lacks the presence of calcium staining.7
There are no definitive treatments for PCE. A single case report of a patient with PCE and renal failure showed regression with hemodialysis.9 In a study evaluating patients with inherited PXE, notable improvement was seen in skin lesions treated with bisphosphonates, possibly suggesting that regulating serum calcium may contribute to improvement of the disease.3 Most cases spontaneously resolve with atrophic plaques. Our patient required no additional treatment with no further progression and reported improvement of the lesion with spontaneous decrease in size.
- Jha AK, Zheeshan MD, Sinha BK, et al. Periumbilical perforating pseudoxanthoma elasticum: a rare case report. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2018;8:75-77. doi:10.5826/dpc.0802a02
- Ko JH, Shih YC, Huang YC, et al. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Lancet. 2013;381:565.
- Sherer DW, Singer G, Uribarri J, et al. Oral phosphate binders in the treatment of pseudoxanthoma elasticum. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005;53:610-615.
- Lal NR, Bandyopadhyay D, Verma R, et al. Perforating calcific elastosis: revisiting a rare entity. Indian J Dermatol. 2018;63:186-188. doi:10.4103/ijd.IJD_111_17
- Kocatürk E, Kavala M, Zindanci I, et al. Periumbilical perforating pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2009;75:329.
- Bressan AL, Vasconcelos BN, Silva RDS, et al. Periumbilical and periareolar perforating pseudoxanthoma elasticum. An Bras Dermatol. 2010;85:705-707. doi:10.1590/s0365-05962010000500018
- Hosen MJ, Lamoen A, De Paepe A, et al. Histopathology of pseudoxanthoma elasticum and related disorders: histological hallmarks and diagnostic clues. Scientifica (Cairo). 2012;2012:598262.
- Bathina M, Hedge SP, Shanavaz AA, et al. Pruritic periumbilical plaque as a presentation of rare perforating dermatosis. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2020;11:68-71. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_95_19
- Sapadin AN, Lebwohl MG, Teich SA, et al. Periumbilical pseudoxanthoma elasticum associated with chronic renal failure and angioid streaks—apparent regression with hemodialysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998;39:338-344.
To the Editor:
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a genetic perforating dermatosis characterized by fragmentation and calcification of elastic fibers that most commonly manifests on the skin, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, or cardiovascular system.1 Classic skin findings include multiple symmetric yellowish papules favoring the flexural surfaces of the body and neck as well as the periumbilical and inguinal regions.1,2 Many life-threatening complications from this disease can occur due to calcification of elastic fibers in other parts of the body, such as the internal elastic lamina of arteries, which can cause gastrointestinal tract bleeding and accelerated cardiovascular disease including valvular disease.2,3 If PXE is localized to the skin only without systemic involvement or a family history, a diagnosis of perforating calcific elastosis (PCE) can be made. We report a case of PCE in a patient with a growing umbilical lesion.
A 49-year-old multiparous (gravida 3, para 3) woman presented for evaluation of an evolving periumbilical lesion of 4 months’ duration. She denied pain, bleeding, or drainage from the area, as well as any systemic symptoms. The patient had a surgical history of a laparoscopic hysterectomy 7 years prior to the current presentation due to uterine fibroids, which resulted in a periumbilical scar. At the current presentation, physical examination revealed 2 hyperpigmented to violaceous periumbilical papules coalescing into a plaque with overlying hyperkeratosis and crusting (Figure 1). A punch biopsy was performed and histopathology showed diffuse dermal collections of degenerated eosinophilic distorted elastic fibers with calcification (Figure 2). Further sections showed a transepidermal channel in which the elastic fibers extruded from the dermis through the epidermis (Figure 3). The diagnosis of acquired PCE was made based on the clinical presentation, relevant medical history, and lack of underlying medical conditions or family history of PXE. No further workup was needed, and the patient reported no further progression and rather some improvement (decrease in size) of the lesion at 3-month follow-up.
Perforating calcific elastosis (also known as periumbilical perforating PXE) is a rare acquired condition that is seen predominantly in multiparous middle-aged women.4-6 This diagnosis consists of degenerated calcified elastic fibers that may perforate the skin of the abdominal or periumbilical region. It clinically manifests as multiple painless hyperkeratotic papules surrounding the periumbilical region.4-6
The etiology and pathogenesis of PCE have not been defined but have been attributed to recurrent stressing of elastic fibers due to repeat traumas,1 which is proposed to lead to degeneration of elastic fibers and calcification of damaged tissue.4-7 As a result, PCE most commonly manifests in multiparous, obese, middle-aged women and patients with multiple abdominal surgeries or ascites.1 It also has been reported in patients with renal failure due to deposition of abnormal calcium phosphate products onto elastic fibers.4 In our patient, the development of PCE was related to both multiparity and trauma from prior surgery.
The histopathologic findings of PCE and PXE are similar, warranting differentiation via thorough clinical examination as well as further investigation of the patient’s medical and family history. Both show degenerated, fragmented, curly elastic fibers with calcium deposition throughout the dermis and a transepidermal channel extruding these elastic fibers.7,8 The biopsies stain positive for elastic fibers and calcium deposition. Calcium staining can help to differentiate these entities from elastosis perforans serpiginosa, which lacks the presence of calcium staining.7
There are no definitive treatments for PCE. A single case report of a patient with PCE and renal failure showed regression with hemodialysis.9 In a study evaluating patients with inherited PXE, notable improvement was seen in skin lesions treated with bisphosphonates, possibly suggesting that regulating serum calcium may contribute to improvement of the disease.3 Most cases spontaneously resolve with atrophic plaques. Our patient required no additional treatment with no further progression and reported improvement of the lesion with spontaneous decrease in size.
To the Editor:
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a genetic perforating dermatosis characterized by fragmentation and calcification of elastic fibers that most commonly manifests on the skin, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, or cardiovascular system.1 Classic skin findings include multiple symmetric yellowish papules favoring the flexural surfaces of the body and neck as well as the periumbilical and inguinal regions.1,2 Many life-threatening complications from this disease can occur due to calcification of elastic fibers in other parts of the body, such as the internal elastic lamina of arteries, which can cause gastrointestinal tract bleeding and accelerated cardiovascular disease including valvular disease.2,3 If PXE is localized to the skin only without systemic involvement or a family history, a diagnosis of perforating calcific elastosis (PCE) can be made. We report a case of PCE in a patient with a growing umbilical lesion.
A 49-year-old multiparous (gravida 3, para 3) woman presented for evaluation of an evolving periumbilical lesion of 4 months’ duration. She denied pain, bleeding, or drainage from the area, as well as any systemic symptoms. The patient had a surgical history of a laparoscopic hysterectomy 7 years prior to the current presentation due to uterine fibroids, which resulted in a periumbilical scar. At the current presentation, physical examination revealed 2 hyperpigmented to violaceous periumbilical papules coalescing into a plaque with overlying hyperkeratosis and crusting (Figure 1). A punch biopsy was performed and histopathology showed diffuse dermal collections of degenerated eosinophilic distorted elastic fibers with calcification (Figure 2). Further sections showed a transepidermal channel in which the elastic fibers extruded from the dermis through the epidermis (Figure 3). The diagnosis of acquired PCE was made based on the clinical presentation, relevant medical history, and lack of underlying medical conditions or family history of PXE. No further workup was needed, and the patient reported no further progression and rather some improvement (decrease in size) of the lesion at 3-month follow-up.
Perforating calcific elastosis (also known as periumbilical perforating PXE) is a rare acquired condition that is seen predominantly in multiparous middle-aged women.4-6 This diagnosis consists of degenerated calcified elastic fibers that may perforate the skin of the abdominal or periumbilical region. It clinically manifests as multiple painless hyperkeratotic papules surrounding the periumbilical region.4-6
The etiology and pathogenesis of PCE have not been defined but have been attributed to recurrent stressing of elastic fibers due to repeat traumas,1 which is proposed to lead to degeneration of elastic fibers and calcification of damaged tissue.4-7 As a result, PCE most commonly manifests in multiparous, obese, middle-aged women and patients with multiple abdominal surgeries or ascites.1 It also has been reported in patients with renal failure due to deposition of abnormal calcium phosphate products onto elastic fibers.4 In our patient, the development of PCE was related to both multiparity and trauma from prior surgery.
The histopathologic findings of PCE and PXE are similar, warranting differentiation via thorough clinical examination as well as further investigation of the patient’s medical and family history. Both show degenerated, fragmented, curly elastic fibers with calcium deposition throughout the dermis and a transepidermal channel extruding these elastic fibers.7,8 The biopsies stain positive for elastic fibers and calcium deposition. Calcium staining can help to differentiate these entities from elastosis perforans serpiginosa, which lacks the presence of calcium staining.7
There are no definitive treatments for PCE. A single case report of a patient with PCE and renal failure showed regression with hemodialysis.9 In a study evaluating patients with inherited PXE, notable improvement was seen in skin lesions treated with bisphosphonates, possibly suggesting that regulating serum calcium may contribute to improvement of the disease.3 Most cases spontaneously resolve with atrophic plaques. Our patient required no additional treatment with no further progression and reported improvement of the lesion with spontaneous decrease in size.
- Jha AK, Zheeshan MD, Sinha BK, et al. Periumbilical perforating pseudoxanthoma elasticum: a rare case report. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2018;8:75-77. doi:10.5826/dpc.0802a02
- Ko JH, Shih YC, Huang YC, et al. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Lancet. 2013;381:565.
- Sherer DW, Singer G, Uribarri J, et al. Oral phosphate binders in the treatment of pseudoxanthoma elasticum. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005;53:610-615.
- Lal NR, Bandyopadhyay D, Verma R, et al. Perforating calcific elastosis: revisiting a rare entity. Indian J Dermatol. 2018;63:186-188. doi:10.4103/ijd.IJD_111_17
- Kocatürk E, Kavala M, Zindanci I, et al. Periumbilical perforating pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2009;75:329.
- Bressan AL, Vasconcelos BN, Silva RDS, et al. Periumbilical and periareolar perforating pseudoxanthoma elasticum. An Bras Dermatol. 2010;85:705-707. doi:10.1590/s0365-05962010000500018
- Hosen MJ, Lamoen A, De Paepe A, et al. Histopathology of pseudoxanthoma elasticum and related disorders: histological hallmarks and diagnostic clues. Scientifica (Cairo). 2012;2012:598262.
- Bathina M, Hedge SP, Shanavaz AA, et al. Pruritic periumbilical plaque as a presentation of rare perforating dermatosis. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2020;11:68-71. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_95_19
- Sapadin AN, Lebwohl MG, Teich SA, et al. Periumbilical pseudoxanthoma elasticum associated with chronic renal failure and angioid streaks—apparent regression with hemodialysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998;39:338-344.
- Jha AK, Zheeshan MD, Sinha BK, et al. Periumbilical perforating pseudoxanthoma elasticum: a rare case report. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2018;8:75-77. doi:10.5826/dpc.0802a02
- Ko JH, Shih YC, Huang YC, et al. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Lancet. 2013;381:565.
- Sherer DW, Singer G, Uribarri J, et al. Oral phosphate binders in the treatment of pseudoxanthoma elasticum. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005;53:610-615.
- Lal NR, Bandyopadhyay D, Verma R, et al. Perforating calcific elastosis: revisiting a rare entity. Indian J Dermatol. 2018;63:186-188. doi:10.4103/ijd.IJD_111_17
- Kocatürk E, Kavala M, Zindanci I, et al. Periumbilical perforating pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2009;75:329.
- Bressan AL, Vasconcelos BN, Silva RDS, et al. Periumbilical and periareolar perforating pseudoxanthoma elasticum. An Bras Dermatol. 2010;85:705-707. doi:10.1590/s0365-05962010000500018
- Hosen MJ, Lamoen A, De Paepe A, et al. Histopathology of pseudoxanthoma elasticum and related disorders: histological hallmarks and diagnostic clues. Scientifica (Cairo). 2012;2012:598262.
- Bathina M, Hedge SP, Shanavaz AA, et al. Pruritic periumbilical plaque as a presentation of rare perforating dermatosis. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2020;11:68-71. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_95_19
- Sapadin AN, Lebwohl MG, Teich SA, et al. Periumbilical pseudoxanthoma elasticum associated with chronic renal failure and angioid streaks—apparent regression with hemodialysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998;39:338-344.
PRACTICE POINTS
- Perforating calcific elastosis (PCE) is a rare, localized, acquired variant of the inherited connective tissue disorder pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE).
- Histopathologic findings are identical for PCE and PXE, warranting differentiation via thorough clinical examination as well as further investigation of the patient’s medical and family history.
- Although there are no definitive treatments, most cases of PCE resolve spontaneously.
- Dermatologists should be aware of the importance of clinically differentiating PCE from PXE to prevent extensive workup, which can lead to unnecessary testing and increased morbidity in patients.
Early Treatment of Lyme Disease Prompted by Histopathologic Analysis of the Abdomen of an Engorged Tick
To the Editor:
Lyme disease is caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex and transmitted to humans by the bite of the Ixodes scapularis tick. It was first classified as a nationally notifiable disease in 1991, and the incidence has risen remarkably since then.1 More than 63,000 cases are reported annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; however, this number reflects severe underreporting, as the true incidence of the disease is projected to be closer to 476,000 cases per year.2 Additionally, 95% of US cases occur in the Northeast and upper Midwest.3 Given the pervasiveness of Lyme disease, early and reliable diagnostic methodology is critical, especially in cases in which the timeline of inoculation is unclear. We present a case of Lyme disease that was discovered during a routine dermatologic visit.
A 77-year-old White man with no relevant medical history presented to a dermatology clinic in west-central Virginia for a routine skin check. Physical examination revealed a well-appearing patient without overt skin abnormalities. However, on closer evaluation, a 0.2×0.1-cm engorged black I scapularis tick was visualized on the left lateral upper back. There was a surrounding zone of erythema that measured less than the 5-cm-diameter criterion for erythema migrans.1
Upon questioning, the patient reported that he was unaware of the tick and could not provide a timeline for inoculation. To ensure proper treatment, the tick was removed in the office and a specimen was sent for histopathology. The arthropod was formalin fixed and paraffin embedded, and it was examined using hematoxylin and eosin and Warthin-Starry stains. Histopathology of the specimen revealed a blood-engorged arthropod. Warthin-Starry stain of the abdomen of the tick highlighted tiny strandlike spirochetes within the gut that were compatible with B burgdorferi (Figure). This finding prompted treatment with a 3-week course of doxycycline. Following treatment, erythema resolved. The patient experienced no sequelae.
Lyme disease can cause a range of serious complications if left untreated, including arthritis, neurologic deficits, and heart block. During the early stages of disease, the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic methods such as serologic testing are limited.4 The gold standard for the diagnosis of Lyme disease comprises culture and subsequent confirmation by polymerase chain reaction.1 However, cultivation of B burgdorferi is challenging.5 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 2-tiered serologic antibody analysis, which has 27% sensitivity during the first week of cutaneous symptoms, and involves an enzyme-linked immunoassay followed by reflexive immunoblotting for positive or indeterminate cases.2,6 The precision of this method is limited by several variables; for example, seroconversion fails to occur in approximately 40% of cases, even after proven exposure to the spirochete.7 Furthermore, the sensitivity of the test is particularly low during the first 4 to 6 weeks of infection—before the body mounts a proper immune response; fewer than 50% of patients exhibit a positive response to the test at initial presentation.3
Clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease is possible, though the pathognomonic erythema migrans rash can be delayed for as long as 30 days and remains absent in 20% to 30% of patients.1 Prophylactic treatment can be offered to individuals who reside in a hyperendemic area and have a rash or have had an engorged Ixodes tick attached for longer than 36 hours.8
More definitive techniques for early diagnosis are needed to enable selective and accurate treatment. The standard of care for Lyme disease includes a 10-day course of doxycycline or a 14-day course of cefuroxime axetil or amoxicillin.9 Many patients tolerate treatment and achieve resolution of disease, but antibiotics are not benign, as some patients experience drug-related adverse effects such as photosensitivity, urticaria, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, esophagitis, hepatotoxicity, and the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (fever, chills, rigors, nausea and vomiting, headache, tachycardia, hypotension, hyperventilation, flushing, myalgia, and exacerbation of lesions).10,11 In a group of 123 patients with Lyme disease, 30% treated with cefuroxime axetil and 32% treated with doxycycline had 1 or more drug-related adverse events.10 Additionally, avoidable antibiotic use is associated with increasing antibiotic resistance.12 Improved diagnostic accuracy would prevent unnecessary treatment. Galan and colleagues7 reported that Warthin-Starry staining of prepared sections of the abdomen of a tick allowed for detection of B burgdorferi with a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 83%. This technique did not delay the final biopsy report and may be a promising adjunct to the diagnosis of early Lyme disease.7
Anecdotally, many patients who present with an attached and engorged tick are unaware of the timeline of their exposure. Histologic analysis of a removed tick could aid in early clinical decision-making—ie, when the diagnosis is unclear and treatment guidelines vary by region and circumstance. Improved sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis can prevent unnecessary antibiotic treatment, which is associated with adverse effects and escalation of antibiotic resistance.
- Borchers AT, Keen CL, Huntley AC, et al. Lyme disease: a rigorous review of diagnostic criteria and treatment. J Autoimmun. 2015;57:82-115. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2014.09.004
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme disease: data and surveillance. February 14, 2024. Accessed March 5, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/datasurveillance/index.html
- Marques AR. Laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015;29:295-307. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2015.02.005
- Bratton RL, Whiteside JW, Hovan MJ, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83:566-571. doi:10.4065/83.5.566
- Berger B, Johnson R, Kodner C. Cultivation of Borrelia burgdorferi from human tick bite sites: a guide to the risk of infection. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995;32(2 pt 1):184-187. doi:10.1016/0190-9622(95)90123-x
- Branda JA, Linskey K, Kim YA, et al. Two-tiered antibody testing for Lyme disease with use of 2 enzyme immunoassays, a whole-cell sonicate enzyme immunoassay followed by a VlsE C6 peptide enzyme immunoassay. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;53:541-547. doi:10.1093/cid/cir464
- Galan A, Kupernik P, Cowper SE. Detection of Borrelia in Ixodes scapularis ticks by silver stain, immunohistochemical and direct immunofluorescent methods. J Cutan Pathol. 2018;45:473-477. doi:10.1111/cup.13143
- Nadelman RB, Nowakowski J, Fish D, et al; Prophylaxis with single-dose doxycycline for the prevention of Lyme disease after an Ixodes scapularis tick bite. N Engl J Med. 2001;345:79-84. doi:10.1056/NEJM200107123450201
- Lantos PM, Rumbaugh J, Bockenstedt LK, et al. Clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and American College of Rheumatology (ACR): 2020 guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021;73:12-20. doi:10.1002/art.41562
- Nadelman RB, Luger SW, Frank E, et al. Comparison of cefuroxime axetil and doxycycline in the treatment of early Lyme disease. Ann Intern Med. 1992;117:273-280. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-117-4-273
- Gresser U. Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid therapy may be associated with severe side effects—review of the literature. Eur J Med Res. 2001;6:139-149.
- Nathan C, Cars O. Antibiotic resistance—problems, progress, and prospects. N Engl J Med. 2014;371:1761-1763. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1408040
To the Editor:
Lyme disease is caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex and transmitted to humans by the bite of the Ixodes scapularis tick. It was first classified as a nationally notifiable disease in 1991, and the incidence has risen remarkably since then.1 More than 63,000 cases are reported annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; however, this number reflects severe underreporting, as the true incidence of the disease is projected to be closer to 476,000 cases per year.2 Additionally, 95% of US cases occur in the Northeast and upper Midwest.3 Given the pervasiveness of Lyme disease, early and reliable diagnostic methodology is critical, especially in cases in which the timeline of inoculation is unclear. We present a case of Lyme disease that was discovered during a routine dermatologic visit.
A 77-year-old White man with no relevant medical history presented to a dermatology clinic in west-central Virginia for a routine skin check. Physical examination revealed a well-appearing patient without overt skin abnormalities. However, on closer evaluation, a 0.2×0.1-cm engorged black I scapularis tick was visualized on the left lateral upper back. There was a surrounding zone of erythema that measured less than the 5-cm-diameter criterion for erythema migrans.1
Upon questioning, the patient reported that he was unaware of the tick and could not provide a timeline for inoculation. To ensure proper treatment, the tick was removed in the office and a specimen was sent for histopathology. The arthropod was formalin fixed and paraffin embedded, and it was examined using hematoxylin and eosin and Warthin-Starry stains. Histopathology of the specimen revealed a blood-engorged arthropod. Warthin-Starry stain of the abdomen of the tick highlighted tiny strandlike spirochetes within the gut that were compatible with B burgdorferi (Figure). This finding prompted treatment with a 3-week course of doxycycline. Following treatment, erythema resolved. The patient experienced no sequelae.
Lyme disease can cause a range of serious complications if left untreated, including arthritis, neurologic deficits, and heart block. During the early stages of disease, the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic methods such as serologic testing are limited.4 The gold standard for the diagnosis of Lyme disease comprises culture and subsequent confirmation by polymerase chain reaction.1 However, cultivation of B burgdorferi is challenging.5 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 2-tiered serologic antibody analysis, which has 27% sensitivity during the first week of cutaneous symptoms, and involves an enzyme-linked immunoassay followed by reflexive immunoblotting for positive or indeterminate cases.2,6 The precision of this method is limited by several variables; for example, seroconversion fails to occur in approximately 40% of cases, even after proven exposure to the spirochete.7 Furthermore, the sensitivity of the test is particularly low during the first 4 to 6 weeks of infection—before the body mounts a proper immune response; fewer than 50% of patients exhibit a positive response to the test at initial presentation.3
Clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease is possible, though the pathognomonic erythema migrans rash can be delayed for as long as 30 days and remains absent in 20% to 30% of patients.1 Prophylactic treatment can be offered to individuals who reside in a hyperendemic area and have a rash or have had an engorged Ixodes tick attached for longer than 36 hours.8
More definitive techniques for early diagnosis are needed to enable selective and accurate treatment. The standard of care for Lyme disease includes a 10-day course of doxycycline or a 14-day course of cefuroxime axetil or amoxicillin.9 Many patients tolerate treatment and achieve resolution of disease, but antibiotics are not benign, as some patients experience drug-related adverse effects such as photosensitivity, urticaria, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, esophagitis, hepatotoxicity, and the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (fever, chills, rigors, nausea and vomiting, headache, tachycardia, hypotension, hyperventilation, flushing, myalgia, and exacerbation of lesions).10,11 In a group of 123 patients with Lyme disease, 30% treated with cefuroxime axetil and 32% treated with doxycycline had 1 or more drug-related adverse events.10 Additionally, avoidable antibiotic use is associated with increasing antibiotic resistance.12 Improved diagnostic accuracy would prevent unnecessary treatment. Galan and colleagues7 reported that Warthin-Starry staining of prepared sections of the abdomen of a tick allowed for detection of B burgdorferi with a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 83%. This technique did not delay the final biopsy report and may be a promising adjunct to the diagnosis of early Lyme disease.7
Anecdotally, many patients who present with an attached and engorged tick are unaware of the timeline of their exposure. Histologic analysis of a removed tick could aid in early clinical decision-making—ie, when the diagnosis is unclear and treatment guidelines vary by region and circumstance. Improved sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis can prevent unnecessary antibiotic treatment, which is associated with adverse effects and escalation of antibiotic resistance.
To the Editor:
Lyme disease is caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex and transmitted to humans by the bite of the Ixodes scapularis tick. It was first classified as a nationally notifiable disease in 1991, and the incidence has risen remarkably since then.1 More than 63,000 cases are reported annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; however, this number reflects severe underreporting, as the true incidence of the disease is projected to be closer to 476,000 cases per year.2 Additionally, 95% of US cases occur in the Northeast and upper Midwest.3 Given the pervasiveness of Lyme disease, early and reliable diagnostic methodology is critical, especially in cases in which the timeline of inoculation is unclear. We present a case of Lyme disease that was discovered during a routine dermatologic visit.
A 77-year-old White man with no relevant medical history presented to a dermatology clinic in west-central Virginia for a routine skin check. Physical examination revealed a well-appearing patient without overt skin abnormalities. However, on closer evaluation, a 0.2×0.1-cm engorged black I scapularis tick was visualized on the left lateral upper back. There was a surrounding zone of erythema that measured less than the 5-cm-diameter criterion for erythema migrans.1
Upon questioning, the patient reported that he was unaware of the tick and could not provide a timeline for inoculation. To ensure proper treatment, the tick was removed in the office and a specimen was sent for histopathology. The arthropod was formalin fixed and paraffin embedded, and it was examined using hematoxylin and eosin and Warthin-Starry stains. Histopathology of the specimen revealed a blood-engorged arthropod. Warthin-Starry stain of the abdomen of the tick highlighted tiny strandlike spirochetes within the gut that were compatible with B burgdorferi (Figure). This finding prompted treatment with a 3-week course of doxycycline. Following treatment, erythema resolved. The patient experienced no sequelae.
Lyme disease can cause a range of serious complications if left untreated, including arthritis, neurologic deficits, and heart block. During the early stages of disease, the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic methods such as serologic testing are limited.4 The gold standard for the diagnosis of Lyme disease comprises culture and subsequent confirmation by polymerase chain reaction.1 However, cultivation of B burgdorferi is challenging.5 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 2-tiered serologic antibody analysis, which has 27% sensitivity during the first week of cutaneous symptoms, and involves an enzyme-linked immunoassay followed by reflexive immunoblotting for positive or indeterminate cases.2,6 The precision of this method is limited by several variables; for example, seroconversion fails to occur in approximately 40% of cases, even after proven exposure to the spirochete.7 Furthermore, the sensitivity of the test is particularly low during the first 4 to 6 weeks of infection—before the body mounts a proper immune response; fewer than 50% of patients exhibit a positive response to the test at initial presentation.3
Clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease is possible, though the pathognomonic erythema migrans rash can be delayed for as long as 30 days and remains absent in 20% to 30% of patients.1 Prophylactic treatment can be offered to individuals who reside in a hyperendemic area and have a rash or have had an engorged Ixodes tick attached for longer than 36 hours.8
More definitive techniques for early diagnosis are needed to enable selective and accurate treatment. The standard of care for Lyme disease includes a 10-day course of doxycycline or a 14-day course of cefuroxime axetil or amoxicillin.9 Many patients tolerate treatment and achieve resolution of disease, but antibiotics are not benign, as some patients experience drug-related adverse effects such as photosensitivity, urticaria, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, esophagitis, hepatotoxicity, and the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (fever, chills, rigors, nausea and vomiting, headache, tachycardia, hypotension, hyperventilation, flushing, myalgia, and exacerbation of lesions).10,11 In a group of 123 patients with Lyme disease, 30% treated with cefuroxime axetil and 32% treated with doxycycline had 1 or more drug-related adverse events.10 Additionally, avoidable antibiotic use is associated with increasing antibiotic resistance.12 Improved diagnostic accuracy would prevent unnecessary treatment. Galan and colleagues7 reported that Warthin-Starry staining of prepared sections of the abdomen of a tick allowed for detection of B burgdorferi with a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 83%. This technique did not delay the final biopsy report and may be a promising adjunct to the diagnosis of early Lyme disease.7
Anecdotally, many patients who present with an attached and engorged tick are unaware of the timeline of their exposure. Histologic analysis of a removed tick could aid in early clinical decision-making—ie, when the diagnosis is unclear and treatment guidelines vary by region and circumstance. Improved sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis can prevent unnecessary antibiotic treatment, which is associated with adverse effects and escalation of antibiotic resistance.
- Borchers AT, Keen CL, Huntley AC, et al. Lyme disease: a rigorous review of diagnostic criteria and treatment. J Autoimmun. 2015;57:82-115. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2014.09.004
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme disease: data and surveillance. February 14, 2024. Accessed March 5, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/datasurveillance/index.html
- Marques AR. Laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015;29:295-307. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2015.02.005
- Bratton RL, Whiteside JW, Hovan MJ, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83:566-571. doi:10.4065/83.5.566
- Berger B, Johnson R, Kodner C. Cultivation of Borrelia burgdorferi from human tick bite sites: a guide to the risk of infection. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995;32(2 pt 1):184-187. doi:10.1016/0190-9622(95)90123-x
- Branda JA, Linskey K, Kim YA, et al. Two-tiered antibody testing for Lyme disease with use of 2 enzyme immunoassays, a whole-cell sonicate enzyme immunoassay followed by a VlsE C6 peptide enzyme immunoassay. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;53:541-547. doi:10.1093/cid/cir464
- Galan A, Kupernik P, Cowper SE. Detection of Borrelia in Ixodes scapularis ticks by silver stain, immunohistochemical and direct immunofluorescent methods. J Cutan Pathol. 2018;45:473-477. doi:10.1111/cup.13143
- Nadelman RB, Nowakowski J, Fish D, et al; Prophylaxis with single-dose doxycycline for the prevention of Lyme disease after an Ixodes scapularis tick bite. N Engl J Med. 2001;345:79-84. doi:10.1056/NEJM200107123450201
- Lantos PM, Rumbaugh J, Bockenstedt LK, et al. Clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and American College of Rheumatology (ACR): 2020 guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021;73:12-20. doi:10.1002/art.41562
- Nadelman RB, Luger SW, Frank E, et al. Comparison of cefuroxime axetil and doxycycline in the treatment of early Lyme disease. Ann Intern Med. 1992;117:273-280. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-117-4-273
- Gresser U. Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid therapy may be associated with severe side effects—review of the literature. Eur J Med Res. 2001;6:139-149.
- Nathan C, Cars O. Antibiotic resistance—problems, progress, and prospects. N Engl J Med. 2014;371:1761-1763. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1408040
- Borchers AT, Keen CL, Huntley AC, et al. Lyme disease: a rigorous review of diagnostic criteria and treatment. J Autoimmun. 2015;57:82-115. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2014.09.004
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme disease: data and surveillance. February 14, 2024. Accessed March 5, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/datasurveillance/index.html
- Marques AR. Laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015;29:295-307. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2015.02.005
- Bratton RL, Whiteside JW, Hovan MJ, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83:566-571. doi:10.4065/83.5.566
- Berger B, Johnson R, Kodner C. Cultivation of Borrelia burgdorferi from human tick bite sites: a guide to the risk of infection. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995;32(2 pt 1):184-187. doi:10.1016/0190-9622(95)90123-x
- Branda JA, Linskey K, Kim YA, et al. Two-tiered antibody testing for Lyme disease with use of 2 enzyme immunoassays, a whole-cell sonicate enzyme immunoassay followed by a VlsE C6 peptide enzyme immunoassay. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;53:541-547. doi:10.1093/cid/cir464
- Galan A, Kupernik P, Cowper SE. Detection of Borrelia in Ixodes scapularis ticks by silver stain, immunohistochemical and direct immunofluorescent methods. J Cutan Pathol. 2018;45:473-477. doi:10.1111/cup.13143
- Nadelman RB, Nowakowski J, Fish D, et al; Prophylaxis with single-dose doxycycline for the prevention of Lyme disease after an Ixodes scapularis tick bite. N Engl J Med. 2001;345:79-84. doi:10.1056/NEJM200107123450201
- Lantos PM, Rumbaugh J, Bockenstedt LK, et al. Clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and American College of Rheumatology (ACR): 2020 guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021;73:12-20. doi:10.1002/art.41562
- Nadelman RB, Luger SW, Frank E, et al. Comparison of cefuroxime axetil and doxycycline in the treatment of early Lyme disease. Ann Intern Med. 1992;117:273-280. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-117-4-273
- Gresser U. Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid therapy may be associated with severe side effects—review of the literature. Eur J Med Res. 2001;6:139-149.
- Nathan C, Cars O. Antibiotic resistance—problems, progress, and prospects. N Engl J Med. 2014;371:1761-1763. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1408040
PRACTICE POINTS
- Lyme disease is increasingly common in the United States.
- Lyme disease can cause debilitating sequelae if left untreated, including arthritis, neurologic deficits, and heart block.
- Diagnostic methods for identifying early Lyme disease have limited sensitivity and specificity, necessitating alternative strategies for making an accurate diagnosis and initiating treatment.
Purpuric Eruption in a Patient With Hairy Cell Leukemia
The Diagnosis: Purpuric Drug Eruption
Histopathology revealed interface dermatitis, spongiosis, and a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate with extravasated red blood cells consistent with a purpuric drug eruption. Our patient achieved remission of hairy cell leukemia after receiving only 2 of 5 expected doses of cladribine. The rash resolved completely in 3 weeks following a prednisone taper (Figure).
Hairy cell leukemia is a rare indolent lymphoproliferative disorder of B cells that accounts for approximately 2% of adult leukemias in the United States. Cladribine, a purine nucleoside analog that impairs DNA synthesis and repair, has become the mainstay of therapy, demonstrating a 95% complete response rate.1 Although few reports have addressed the cutaneous reactions seen with cladribine therapy, they can occur in more than 50% of patients.1,2 The most common skin manifestation associated with cladribine therapy is a morbilliform rash, but Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been reported.1
Few cases of purpuric eruption secondary to cladribine treatment have been described, and nearly all reports involve concomitant medications such as allopurinol, which our patient was taking, and antibiotics including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and penicillins.1,3,4 In a cohort of 35 patients receiving cladribine,1 only concomitant treatment with cladribine and allopurinol caused cutaneous reactions, further supporting the hypothesis of cladribine-induced drug sensitivity. Allopurinol often is prescribed during induction therapy for prophylaxis against tumor lysis syndrome; similarly, antibiotics frequently are given prophylactically and therapeutically for neutropenic fever. It is believed that T-cell imbalance and profound lymphopenia induced by cladribine increase susceptibility to drug hypersensitivity reactions.1,3
The typical purpuric eruption develops within 2 days of starting cladribine therapy. Diascopy will reveal petechiae, and biopsy should be performed to rule out other serious drug-induced reactions, such as erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and TEN. A cladribine-induced purpuric eruption typically is self-resolving and carries a favorable prognosis, though high-dose corticosteroids often are prescribed to hasten recovery. The rare reports of serious cutaneous reactions secondary to cladribine therapy have been with maculopapular, not purpuric eruptions.2 Based on limited available data, cladribine-induced purpura should not be a limitation to continued treatment in patients who need it.1 Careful consideration of concomitant drug use is necessary, as the current literature demonstrates resolution of rash with withdrawal of other therapies, namely allopurinol.2-4 Future studies are needed to examine the safety of withholding offending medications and to further elucidate the mechanisms contributing to drug hypersensitivity due to cladribine.
Widespread purpura and petechiae can pose a wide differential; the patient’s recent history of cladribine administration pointed to a classic purpuric eruption. Other diagnoses such as toxic erythema of chemotherapy (TEC) and TEN are not purpuric, though plaques can be violaceous. Lack of bullae, blisters, and facial or mucosal surface involvement suggest TEN.5 Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and disseminated intravascular coagulation do manifest with petechiae and purpura, though such a robust eruption in the context of recent cladribine therapy is less likely. The classic retiform purpura and necrosis were not present to suggest purpura fulminans from disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Several of the proposed diagnoses as well as a purpuric drug eruption would demonstrate extravasated red blood cells on histopathology, but the presence of interface dermatitis narrows the differential to a purpuric drug eruption. Necrotic keratinocytes and full-thickness necrosis were not present on biopsy to support a diagnosis of TEN in our patient. Characteristic features of TEC—including eccrine squamous syringometaplasia, dermal edema, and keratinocyte atypia—were not present on biopsy.6 Finally, although TEN should resolve with steroid treatment, TEC is self-limited and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and disseminated intravascular coagulation would not resolve with use of steroids alone.
- Ganzel C, Gatt ME, Maly A, et al. High incidence of skin rash in patients with hairy cell leukemia treated with cladribine. Leuk Lymphoma. 2012;53:1169-1173. doi:10.3109/10428194.2011.635864
- Chubar Y, Bennett M. Cutaneous reactions in hairy cell leukaemia treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine and allopurinol. Br J Haematol. 2003;122:768-770. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2141.2003.04506.x
- Espinosa Lara P, Quirós Redondo V, Aguado Lobo M, et al. Purpuric exanthema in a patient with hairy cell leukemia treated with cladribine and allopurinol. Ann Hematol. 2017;96:1209-1210. doi:10.1007 /s00277-017-2992-z
- Hendrick A. Purpuric rash following treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine. Clin Lab Haematol. 2001;23:67-68. doi:10.1046 /j.1365-2257.2001.0346b.x
- Kang S, Amagai M, Bruckner AL, et al, eds. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology. 9th ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2019.
- Bolognia JL, Cooper DL, Glusac EJ. Toxic erythema of chemotherapy: a useful clinical term. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:524-529.
The Diagnosis: Purpuric Drug Eruption
Histopathology revealed interface dermatitis, spongiosis, and a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate with extravasated red blood cells consistent with a purpuric drug eruption. Our patient achieved remission of hairy cell leukemia after receiving only 2 of 5 expected doses of cladribine. The rash resolved completely in 3 weeks following a prednisone taper (Figure).
Hairy cell leukemia is a rare indolent lymphoproliferative disorder of B cells that accounts for approximately 2% of adult leukemias in the United States. Cladribine, a purine nucleoside analog that impairs DNA synthesis and repair, has become the mainstay of therapy, demonstrating a 95% complete response rate.1 Although few reports have addressed the cutaneous reactions seen with cladribine therapy, they can occur in more than 50% of patients.1,2 The most common skin manifestation associated with cladribine therapy is a morbilliform rash, but Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been reported.1
Few cases of purpuric eruption secondary to cladribine treatment have been described, and nearly all reports involve concomitant medications such as allopurinol, which our patient was taking, and antibiotics including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and penicillins.1,3,4 In a cohort of 35 patients receiving cladribine,1 only concomitant treatment with cladribine and allopurinol caused cutaneous reactions, further supporting the hypothesis of cladribine-induced drug sensitivity. Allopurinol often is prescribed during induction therapy for prophylaxis against tumor lysis syndrome; similarly, antibiotics frequently are given prophylactically and therapeutically for neutropenic fever. It is believed that T-cell imbalance and profound lymphopenia induced by cladribine increase susceptibility to drug hypersensitivity reactions.1,3
The typical purpuric eruption develops within 2 days of starting cladribine therapy. Diascopy will reveal petechiae, and biopsy should be performed to rule out other serious drug-induced reactions, such as erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and TEN. A cladribine-induced purpuric eruption typically is self-resolving and carries a favorable prognosis, though high-dose corticosteroids often are prescribed to hasten recovery. The rare reports of serious cutaneous reactions secondary to cladribine therapy have been with maculopapular, not purpuric eruptions.2 Based on limited available data, cladribine-induced purpura should not be a limitation to continued treatment in patients who need it.1 Careful consideration of concomitant drug use is necessary, as the current literature demonstrates resolution of rash with withdrawal of other therapies, namely allopurinol.2-4 Future studies are needed to examine the safety of withholding offending medications and to further elucidate the mechanisms contributing to drug hypersensitivity due to cladribine.
Widespread purpura and petechiae can pose a wide differential; the patient’s recent history of cladribine administration pointed to a classic purpuric eruption. Other diagnoses such as toxic erythema of chemotherapy (TEC) and TEN are not purpuric, though plaques can be violaceous. Lack of bullae, blisters, and facial or mucosal surface involvement suggest TEN.5 Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and disseminated intravascular coagulation do manifest with petechiae and purpura, though such a robust eruption in the context of recent cladribine therapy is less likely. The classic retiform purpura and necrosis were not present to suggest purpura fulminans from disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Several of the proposed diagnoses as well as a purpuric drug eruption would demonstrate extravasated red blood cells on histopathology, but the presence of interface dermatitis narrows the differential to a purpuric drug eruption. Necrotic keratinocytes and full-thickness necrosis were not present on biopsy to support a diagnosis of TEN in our patient. Characteristic features of TEC—including eccrine squamous syringometaplasia, dermal edema, and keratinocyte atypia—were not present on biopsy.6 Finally, although TEN should resolve with steroid treatment, TEC is self-limited and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and disseminated intravascular coagulation would not resolve with use of steroids alone.
The Diagnosis: Purpuric Drug Eruption
Histopathology revealed interface dermatitis, spongiosis, and a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate with extravasated red blood cells consistent with a purpuric drug eruption. Our patient achieved remission of hairy cell leukemia after receiving only 2 of 5 expected doses of cladribine. The rash resolved completely in 3 weeks following a prednisone taper (Figure).
Hairy cell leukemia is a rare indolent lymphoproliferative disorder of B cells that accounts for approximately 2% of adult leukemias in the United States. Cladribine, a purine nucleoside analog that impairs DNA synthesis and repair, has become the mainstay of therapy, demonstrating a 95% complete response rate.1 Although few reports have addressed the cutaneous reactions seen with cladribine therapy, they can occur in more than 50% of patients.1,2 The most common skin manifestation associated with cladribine therapy is a morbilliform rash, but Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been reported.1
Few cases of purpuric eruption secondary to cladribine treatment have been described, and nearly all reports involve concomitant medications such as allopurinol, which our patient was taking, and antibiotics including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and penicillins.1,3,4 In a cohort of 35 patients receiving cladribine,1 only concomitant treatment with cladribine and allopurinol caused cutaneous reactions, further supporting the hypothesis of cladribine-induced drug sensitivity. Allopurinol often is prescribed during induction therapy for prophylaxis against tumor lysis syndrome; similarly, antibiotics frequently are given prophylactically and therapeutically for neutropenic fever. It is believed that T-cell imbalance and profound lymphopenia induced by cladribine increase susceptibility to drug hypersensitivity reactions.1,3
The typical purpuric eruption develops within 2 days of starting cladribine therapy. Diascopy will reveal petechiae, and biopsy should be performed to rule out other serious drug-induced reactions, such as erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and TEN. A cladribine-induced purpuric eruption typically is self-resolving and carries a favorable prognosis, though high-dose corticosteroids often are prescribed to hasten recovery. The rare reports of serious cutaneous reactions secondary to cladribine therapy have been with maculopapular, not purpuric eruptions.2 Based on limited available data, cladribine-induced purpura should not be a limitation to continued treatment in patients who need it.1 Careful consideration of concomitant drug use is necessary, as the current literature demonstrates resolution of rash with withdrawal of other therapies, namely allopurinol.2-4 Future studies are needed to examine the safety of withholding offending medications and to further elucidate the mechanisms contributing to drug hypersensitivity due to cladribine.
Widespread purpura and petechiae can pose a wide differential; the patient’s recent history of cladribine administration pointed to a classic purpuric eruption. Other diagnoses such as toxic erythema of chemotherapy (TEC) and TEN are not purpuric, though plaques can be violaceous. Lack of bullae, blisters, and facial or mucosal surface involvement suggest TEN.5 Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and disseminated intravascular coagulation do manifest with petechiae and purpura, though such a robust eruption in the context of recent cladribine therapy is less likely. The classic retiform purpura and necrosis were not present to suggest purpura fulminans from disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Several of the proposed diagnoses as well as a purpuric drug eruption would demonstrate extravasated red blood cells on histopathology, but the presence of interface dermatitis narrows the differential to a purpuric drug eruption. Necrotic keratinocytes and full-thickness necrosis were not present on biopsy to support a diagnosis of TEN in our patient. Characteristic features of TEC—including eccrine squamous syringometaplasia, dermal edema, and keratinocyte atypia—were not present on biopsy.6 Finally, although TEN should resolve with steroid treatment, TEC is self-limited and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and disseminated intravascular coagulation would not resolve with use of steroids alone.
- Ganzel C, Gatt ME, Maly A, et al. High incidence of skin rash in patients with hairy cell leukemia treated with cladribine. Leuk Lymphoma. 2012;53:1169-1173. doi:10.3109/10428194.2011.635864
- Chubar Y, Bennett M. Cutaneous reactions in hairy cell leukaemia treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine and allopurinol. Br J Haematol. 2003;122:768-770. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2141.2003.04506.x
- Espinosa Lara P, Quirós Redondo V, Aguado Lobo M, et al. Purpuric exanthema in a patient with hairy cell leukemia treated with cladribine and allopurinol. Ann Hematol. 2017;96:1209-1210. doi:10.1007 /s00277-017-2992-z
- Hendrick A. Purpuric rash following treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine. Clin Lab Haematol. 2001;23:67-68. doi:10.1046 /j.1365-2257.2001.0346b.x
- Kang S, Amagai M, Bruckner AL, et al, eds. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology. 9th ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2019.
- Bolognia JL, Cooper DL, Glusac EJ. Toxic erythema of chemotherapy: a useful clinical term. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:524-529.
- Ganzel C, Gatt ME, Maly A, et al. High incidence of skin rash in patients with hairy cell leukemia treated with cladribine. Leuk Lymphoma. 2012;53:1169-1173. doi:10.3109/10428194.2011.635864
- Chubar Y, Bennett M. Cutaneous reactions in hairy cell leukaemia treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine and allopurinol. Br J Haematol. 2003;122:768-770. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2141.2003.04506.x
- Espinosa Lara P, Quirós Redondo V, Aguado Lobo M, et al. Purpuric exanthema in a patient with hairy cell leukemia treated with cladribine and allopurinol. Ann Hematol. 2017;96:1209-1210. doi:10.1007 /s00277-017-2992-z
- Hendrick A. Purpuric rash following treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine. Clin Lab Haematol. 2001;23:67-68. doi:10.1046 /j.1365-2257.2001.0346b.x
- Kang S, Amagai M, Bruckner AL, et al, eds. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology. 9th ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2019.
- Bolognia JL, Cooper DL, Glusac EJ. Toxic erythema of chemotherapy: a useful clinical term. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:524-529.
A 68-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with neutropenic fever and a rash over the body after receiving 2 doses of cladribine therapy for hairy cell leukemia. Physical examination demonstrated marked facial (top), lip, and tongue swelling, as well as a diffuse dusky nonpalpable purpuric rash on the abdomen (bottom) and back involving 90% of the body surface area. Bilateral ear edema was appreciated with accentuation of the earlobe crease. The patient exhibited subconjunctival hemorrhage, ectropion, and scleral injection. A punch biopsy of the thigh was performed.
Plastic Surgeon Illegally Restricted Negative Reviews, Judge Rules
A plastic surgeon broke federal law when he restricted patients from posting negative reviews by requiring them to sign nondisclosure agreements before they received care, a district judge has ruled.
Seattle-based surgeon Javad Sajan, MD, ran afoul of the Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA) by requiring more than 10,000 patients to sign the agreements, according to a recent decision by US District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez. The law protects consumers’ rights to post truthful reviews about businesses.
Judge Martinez wrote that the terms of Dr. Sajan’s nondisclosure agreements “clearly include language prohibiting or restricting patients from posting negative reviews,” in violation of CRFA. Penalties for the offense will be determined at a September trial.
This news organization contacted Dr. Sajan’s office and his attorney for comment but did not get a response.
The decision is the latest development in an ongoing legal dispute between Dr. Sajan and the State of Washington over whether the surgeon’s efforts to limit negative online reviews were illegal.
Beginning in 2017, Dr. Sajan and his practice, Allure Esthetic, introduced agreements that “forced” patients to contact the business directly if they had concerns rather than post a negative review, according to a 2022 lawsuit against Dr. Sajan filed by Washington Attorney General Robert Ferguson.
“Online reviews are often the first stop when consumers are determining who to trust,” Mr. Ferguson said in a statement. “That’s especially critical when those services deal with a patient’s health and safety. We will take action against those who illegally stop Washingtonians from sharing reviews with the public.”
If patients posted negative reviews, the clinic, in some cases, threatened litigation, according to the complaint. In other cases, patients were allegedly offered money and free services in exchange for taking the reviews down. Patients who accepted cash or services were required to sign a second agreement forbidding them from posting future negative reviews and imposing a $250,000 penalty for failure to comply, according to court documents.
In court documents, Dr. Sajan’s attorneys argued the agreements did not violate CRFA because patients had the opportunity to modify the language or decline signing them, which hundreds did. The CRFA requires Mr. Ferguson to prove that consumers lacked a meaningful opportunity to negotiate the terms, attorneys for Dr. Sajan argued in court records.
But Judge Martinez wrote that the patients who declined to sign the agreements or changed the terms represented only a “tiny fraction” of the affected patients.
The agreement language restricts patients from speaking out by forcing dissatisfied patients to work with Allure until a resolution is reached, Judge Martinez noted in his decision. “At the very least, this would delay patients from posting such reviews and force patients to interact in some way with Allure, and it certainly appears to prohibit posting reviews until Allure agrees to some kind of favorable resolution.”
Surgeon Posted Fake Positive Reviews to Counteract Bad Reviews, AG Says
Employee accounts in court documents describe a physician fixated on reviews who went to great lengths to ensure positive reviews about his work outweighed the negative.
Former employees said they were instructed to track down patients who left negative reviews and either “threaten” them to take the posts down or offer them “money” or other things, according to Mr. Ferguson’s lawsuit. If patients could not be identified, the practice would file a defamation lawsuit against the anonymous person who posted the review and use litigation to subpoena the website for the reviewer’s IP address in order to identify them, according to court documents.
Employees testified they had regular meetings to review current negative reviews and discuss what steps they were taking to get them removed. At team meetings, in-house counsel would regularly present an Excel spreadsheet with updates on progress in getting patients to remove negative reviews, according to court documents.
In addition to restricting negative reviews, Mr. Ferguson accuses Dr. Sajan of posting fake positive reviews and “buying” thousands of fake followers on social media.
At Dr. Sajan’s direction, employees created Gmail accounts using stock photos for their profile pictures and used the accounts to post fake reviews of Allure Esthetic and Dr. Sajan, according to the complaint. The practice also used members of an online forum called BlackHatWorld.com to create fake email accounts and to post fake reviews, the attorney general alleges. Many of the fake positive reviews, including the fake Google reviews, still appear on online review sites today, the attorney general contends.
Dr. Sajan and his practice also allegedly manipulated social media to appear more popular. Mr. Ferguson claims that Dr. Sajan instructed his former web designer to purchase 60,000 followers through a vendor on BlackHatWorld.com. Most of Dr. Sajan’s current Instagram followers are not real, according to Mr. Ferguson.
The practice also used a social media bot tool to buy thousands of fake likes on Instagram, YouTube, and other social media, according to court documents.
In addition, Dr. Sajan and his practice are accused of significantly altering “before and after” photos of patients and using fake email accounts to allow the clinic to take skincare rebates intended for patients.
All of these practices violated HIPAA, the state Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and the federal CRFA, according to Mr. Ferguson.
Surgeon Claims Competitor Behind Allegations
Attorneys for Dr. Sajan argue a competitor is behind the accusations and that other regulatory entities determined the practice did nothing wrong.
The competitor, a Seattle-based plastic surgeon, filed numerous complaints about Dr. Sajan to the Washington Medical Commission (WMC), according to court documents. The medical commission reviewed the third agreement and closed its investigation, finding that if the allegations were true, “no violation of law occurred,” court records show.
“Defendants relied upon this closing code from the WMC that the (non-disclosure) forms were lawful,” Dr. Sajan’s attorneys wrote in court documents.
The US Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) also reviewed and audited Dr. Sajan’s use of the agreements, his attorneys noted. In a notice from OCR included in court exhibits, the agency wrote that all matters at issue have now been resolved through the practice’s voluntary compliance actions and that it was closing its investigation.
Attorneys for Dr. Sajan accuse Mr. Ferguson and state investigators of withholding the full extent of the competitor’s involvement in their investigation and failing to identify the competitor in written discovery or any of its initial disclosures. Dr. Sajan and his team discovered that the competitor was a source of key information through public records requests, according to court documents.
The remaining claims against Dr. Sajan will be addressed at trial, set for September 9, 2024.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
A plastic surgeon broke federal law when he restricted patients from posting negative reviews by requiring them to sign nondisclosure agreements before they received care, a district judge has ruled.
Seattle-based surgeon Javad Sajan, MD, ran afoul of the Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA) by requiring more than 10,000 patients to sign the agreements, according to a recent decision by US District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez. The law protects consumers’ rights to post truthful reviews about businesses.
Judge Martinez wrote that the terms of Dr. Sajan’s nondisclosure agreements “clearly include language prohibiting or restricting patients from posting negative reviews,” in violation of CRFA. Penalties for the offense will be determined at a September trial.
This news organization contacted Dr. Sajan’s office and his attorney for comment but did not get a response.
The decision is the latest development in an ongoing legal dispute between Dr. Sajan and the State of Washington over whether the surgeon’s efforts to limit negative online reviews were illegal.
Beginning in 2017, Dr. Sajan and his practice, Allure Esthetic, introduced agreements that “forced” patients to contact the business directly if they had concerns rather than post a negative review, according to a 2022 lawsuit against Dr. Sajan filed by Washington Attorney General Robert Ferguson.
“Online reviews are often the first stop when consumers are determining who to trust,” Mr. Ferguson said in a statement. “That’s especially critical when those services deal with a patient’s health and safety. We will take action against those who illegally stop Washingtonians from sharing reviews with the public.”
If patients posted negative reviews, the clinic, in some cases, threatened litigation, according to the complaint. In other cases, patients were allegedly offered money and free services in exchange for taking the reviews down. Patients who accepted cash or services were required to sign a second agreement forbidding them from posting future negative reviews and imposing a $250,000 penalty for failure to comply, according to court documents.
In court documents, Dr. Sajan’s attorneys argued the agreements did not violate CRFA because patients had the opportunity to modify the language or decline signing them, which hundreds did. The CRFA requires Mr. Ferguson to prove that consumers lacked a meaningful opportunity to negotiate the terms, attorneys for Dr. Sajan argued in court records.
But Judge Martinez wrote that the patients who declined to sign the agreements or changed the terms represented only a “tiny fraction” of the affected patients.
The agreement language restricts patients from speaking out by forcing dissatisfied patients to work with Allure until a resolution is reached, Judge Martinez noted in his decision. “At the very least, this would delay patients from posting such reviews and force patients to interact in some way with Allure, and it certainly appears to prohibit posting reviews until Allure agrees to some kind of favorable resolution.”
Surgeon Posted Fake Positive Reviews to Counteract Bad Reviews, AG Says
Employee accounts in court documents describe a physician fixated on reviews who went to great lengths to ensure positive reviews about his work outweighed the negative.
Former employees said they were instructed to track down patients who left negative reviews and either “threaten” them to take the posts down or offer them “money” or other things, according to Mr. Ferguson’s lawsuit. If patients could not be identified, the practice would file a defamation lawsuit against the anonymous person who posted the review and use litigation to subpoena the website for the reviewer’s IP address in order to identify them, according to court documents.
Employees testified they had regular meetings to review current negative reviews and discuss what steps they were taking to get them removed. At team meetings, in-house counsel would regularly present an Excel spreadsheet with updates on progress in getting patients to remove negative reviews, according to court documents.
In addition to restricting negative reviews, Mr. Ferguson accuses Dr. Sajan of posting fake positive reviews and “buying” thousands of fake followers on social media.
At Dr. Sajan’s direction, employees created Gmail accounts using stock photos for their profile pictures and used the accounts to post fake reviews of Allure Esthetic and Dr. Sajan, according to the complaint. The practice also used members of an online forum called BlackHatWorld.com to create fake email accounts and to post fake reviews, the attorney general alleges. Many of the fake positive reviews, including the fake Google reviews, still appear on online review sites today, the attorney general contends.
Dr. Sajan and his practice also allegedly manipulated social media to appear more popular. Mr. Ferguson claims that Dr. Sajan instructed his former web designer to purchase 60,000 followers through a vendor on BlackHatWorld.com. Most of Dr. Sajan’s current Instagram followers are not real, according to Mr. Ferguson.
The practice also used a social media bot tool to buy thousands of fake likes on Instagram, YouTube, and other social media, according to court documents.
In addition, Dr. Sajan and his practice are accused of significantly altering “before and after” photos of patients and using fake email accounts to allow the clinic to take skincare rebates intended for patients.
All of these practices violated HIPAA, the state Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and the federal CRFA, according to Mr. Ferguson.
Surgeon Claims Competitor Behind Allegations
Attorneys for Dr. Sajan argue a competitor is behind the accusations and that other regulatory entities determined the practice did nothing wrong.
The competitor, a Seattle-based plastic surgeon, filed numerous complaints about Dr. Sajan to the Washington Medical Commission (WMC), according to court documents. The medical commission reviewed the third agreement and closed its investigation, finding that if the allegations were true, “no violation of law occurred,” court records show.
“Defendants relied upon this closing code from the WMC that the (non-disclosure) forms were lawful,” Dr. Sajan’s attorneys wrote in court documents.
The US Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) also reviewed and audited Dr. Sajan’s use of the agreements, his attorneys noted. In a notice from OCR included in court exhibits, the agency wrote that all matters at issue have now been resolved through the practice’s voluntary compliance actions and that it was closing its investigation.
Attorneys for Dr. Sajan accuse Mr. Ferguson and state investigators of withholding the full extent of the competitor’s involvement in their investigation and failing to identify the competitor in written discovery or any of its initial disclosures. Dr. Sajan and his team discovered that the competitor was a source of key information through public records requests, according to court documents.
The remaining claims against Dr. Sajan will be addressed at trial, set for September 9, 2024.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
A plastic surgeon broke federal law when he restricted patients from posting negative reviews by requiring them to sign nondisclosure agreements before they received care, a district judge has ruled.
Seattle-based surgeon Javad Sajan, MD, ran afoul of the Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA) by requiring more than 10,000 patients to sign the agreements, according to a recent decision by US District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez. The law protects consumers’ rights to post truthful reviews about businesses.
Judge Martinez wrote that the terms of Dr. Sajan’s nondisclosure agreements “clearly include language prohibiting or restricting patients from posting negative reviews,” in violation of CRFA. Penalties for the offense will be determined at a September trial.
This news organization contacted Dr. Sajan’s office and his attorney for comment but did not get a response.
The decision is the latest development in an ongoing legal dispute between Dr. Sajan and the State of Washington over whether the surgeon’s efforts to limit negative online reviews were illegal.
Beginning in 2017, Dr. Sajan and his practice, Allure Esthetic, introduced agreements that “forced” patients to contact the business directly if they had concerns rather than post a negative review, according to a 2022 lawsuit against Dr. Sajan filed by Washington Attorney General Robert Ferguson.
“Online reviews are often the first stop when consumers are determining who to trust,” Mr. Ferguson said in a statement. “That’s especially critical when those services deal with a patient’s health and safety. We will take action against those who illegally stop Washingtonians from sharing reviews with the public.”
If patients posted negative reviews, the clinic, in some cases, threatened litigation, according to the complaint. In other cases, patients were allegedly offered money and free services in exchange for taking the reviews down. Patients who accepted cash or services were required to sign a second agreement forbidding them from posting future negative reviews and imposing a $250,000 penalty for failure to comply, according to court documents.
In court documents, Dr. Sajan’s attorneys argued the agreements did not violate CRFA because patients had the opportunity to modify the language or decline signing them, which hundreds did. The CRFA requires Mr. Ferguson to prove that consumers lacked a meaningful opportunity to negotiate the terms, attorneys for Dr. Sajan argued in court records.
But Judge Martinez wrote that the patients who declined to sign the agreements or changed the terms represented only a “tiny fraction” of the affected patients.
The agreement language restricts patients from speaking out by forcing dissatisfied patients to work with Allure until a resolution is reached, Judge Martinez noted in his decision. “At the very least, this would delay patients from posting such reviews and force patients to interact in some way with Allure, and it certainly appears to prohibit posting reviews until Allure agrees to some kind of favorable resolution.”
Surgeon Posted Fake Positive Reviews to Counteract Bad Reviews, AG Says
Employee accounts in court documents describe a physician fixated on reviews who went to great lengths to ensure positive reviews about his work outweighed the negative.
Former employees said they were instructed to track down patients who left negative reviews and either “threaten” them to take the posts down or offer them “money” or other things, according to Mr. Ferguson’s lawsuit. If patients could not be identified, the practice would file a defamation lawsuit against the anonymous person who posted the review and use litigation to subpoena the website for the reviewer’s IP address in order to identify them, according to court documents.
Employees testified they had regular meetings to review current negative reviews and discuss what steps they were taking to get them removed. At team meetings, in-house counsel would regularly present an Excel spreadsheet with updates on progress in getting patients to remove negative reviews, according to court documents.
In addition to restricting negative reviews, Mr. Ferguson accuses Dr. Sajan of posting fake positive reviews and “buying” thousands of fake followers on social media.
At Dr. Sajan’s direction, employees created Gmail accounts using stock photos for their profile pictures and used the accounts to post fake reviews of Allure Esthetic and Dr. Sajan, according to the complaint. The practice also used members of an online forum called BlackHatWorld.com to create fake email accounts and to post fake reviews, the attorney general alleges. Many of the fake positive reviews, including the fake Google reviews, still appear on online review sites today, the attorney general contends.
Dr. Sajan and his practice also allegedly manipulated social media to appear more popular. Mr. Ferguson claims that Dr. Sajan instructed his former web designer to purchase 60,000 followers through a vendor on BlackHatWorld.com. Most of Dr. Sajan’s current Instagram followers are not real, according to Mr. Ferguson.
The practice also used a social media bot tool to buy thousands of fake likes on Instagram, YouTube, and other social media, according to court documents.
In addition, Dr. Sajan and his practice are accused of significantly altering “before and after” photos of patients and using fake email accounts to allow the clinic to take skincare rebates intended for patients.
All of these practices violated HIPAA, the state Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and the federal CRFA, according to Mr. Ferguson.
Surgeon Claims Competitor Behind Allegations
Attorneys for Dr. Sajan argue a competitor is behind the accusations and that other regulatory entities determined the practice did nothing wrong.
The competitor, a Seattle-based plastic surgeon, filed numerous complaints about Dr. Sajan to the Washington Medical Commission (WMC), according to court documents. The medical commission reviewed the third agreement and closed its investigation, finding that if the allegations were true, “no violation of law occurred,” court records show.
“Defendants relied upon this closing code from the WMC that the (non-disclosure) forms were lawful,” Dr. Sajan’s attorneys wrote in court documents.
The US Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) also reviewed and audited Dr. Sajan’s use of the agreements, his attorneys noted. In a notice from OCR included in court exhibits, the agency wrote that all matters at issue have now been resolved through the practice’s voluntary compliance actions and that it was closing its investigation.
Attorneys for Dr. Sajan accuse Mr. Ferguson and state investigators of withholding the full extent of the competitor’s involvement in their investigation and failing to identify the competitor in written discovery or any of its initial disclosures. Dr. Sajan and his team discovered that the competitor was a source of key information through public records requests, according to court documents.
The remaining claims against Dr. Sajan will be addressed at trial, set for September 9, 2024.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
Study Evaluates CVD, Mortality Risks In Patients With Prurigo Nodularis
TOPLINE:
, particularly among women and White patients.
METHODOLOGY:
- Studies have shown increased risks for cardiovascular diseases in patients with PN, but limited sample sizes have hindered further subgroup analysis. Given PN’s pronounced sex and ethnicity skew, it is important to examine underrepresented groups to accurately assess their cardiovascular risk.
- In this propensity-score matched analysis, researchers identified 64,801 patients (59.44% women) with PN using electronic health reports from the Global Collaborative Network of TriNetX and matched to individuals without PN.
- Researchers calculated risks for 15 cardiovascular endpoints and all-cause mortality within 10 years of diagnosis. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) included acute cerebral and myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death.
TAKEAWAY:
- Patients with PN showed a higher risk for death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.1243) and MACE (HR, 1.117) (P < .0001 for both).
- PN was also associated with a higher risk for heart failure (HR, 1.062), thrombotic venous disease (HR, 1.26), angina pectoris (HR, 1.096), and peripheral arterial diseases (HR, 1.082) (P < .0001 for all) and for acute MI (HR, 1.11; P = .0015) and valve disorders (HR, 1.08; P = .0018).
- White patients with PN had a significantly increased risk for MACE, death, heart failure, cardiac arrest, vascular diseases, and acute MI, but this was not observed in people of color.
- Women exhibited a higher risk for MACE, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, acute MI, conduction disease, and valve disorders, while men did not have an increased risk for major or acute cardiovascular events. Both men and women had a higher risk for death, chronic ischemic heart disease, and venous disease.
IN PRACTICE:
“Although no novel PN-specific treatment rationale can be derived from the presented data, the potential risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease should be considered in the care of patients with PN, which includes screening and optimal management of other additional cardiovascular risk factors,” the authors wrote.
LIMITATIONS:
Retrospective observational design introduced inherent biases. Misdiagnosis or false coding in electronic health records could affect the data accuracy and ethnicity-specific analyses.
SOURCE:
This work, led by Henning Olbrich, from the Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Germany, was published online in eBioMedicine.
DISCLOSURES:
The study was supported by the University of Lübeck, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and the State of Schleswig-Holstein. One author declared financial ties outside this work, and one author is an employee of TriNetX.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
, particularly among women and White patients.
METHODOLOGY:
- Studies have shown increased risks for cardiovascular diseases in patients with PN, but limited sample sizes have hindered further subgroup analysis. Given PN’s pronounced sex and ethnicity skew, it is important to examine underrepresented groups to accurately assess their cardiovascular risk.
- In this propensity-score matched analysis, researchers identified 64,801 patients (59.44% women) with PN using electronic health reports from the Global Collaborative Network of TriNetX and matched to individuals without PN.
- Researchers calculated risks for 15 cardiovascular endpoints and all-cause mortality within 10 years of diagnosis. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) included acute cerebral and myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death.
TAKEAWAY:
- Patients with PN showed a higher risk for death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.1243) and MACE (HR, 1.117) (P < .0001 for both).
- PN was also associated with a higher risk for heart failure (HR, 1.062), thrombotic venous disease (HR, 1.26), angina pectoris (HR, 1.096), and peripheral arterial diseases (HR, 1.082) (P < .0001 for all) and for acute MI (HR, 1.11; P = .0015) and valve disorders (HR, 1.08; P = .0018).
- White patients with PN had a significantly increased risk for MACE, death, heart failure, cardiac arrest, vascular diseases, and acute MI, but this was not observed in people of color.
- Women exhibited a higher risk for MACE, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, acute MI, conduction disease, and valve disorders, while men did not have an increased risk for major or acute cardiovascular events. Both men and women had a higher risk for death, chronic ischemic heart disease, and venous disease.
IN PRACTICE:
“Although no novel PN-specific treatment rationale can be derived from the presented data, the potential risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease should be considered in the care of patients with PN, which includes screening and optimal management of other additional cardiovascular risk factors,” the authors wrote.
LIMITATIONS:
Retrospective observational design introduced inherent biases. Misdiagnosis or false coding in electronic health records could affect the data accuracy and ethnicity-specific analyses.
SOURCE:
This work, led by Henning Olbrich, from the Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Germany, was published online in eBioMedicine.
DISCLOSURES:
The study was supported by the University of Lübeck, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and the State of Schleswig-Holstein. One author declared financial ties outside this work, and one author is an employee of TriNetX.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
, particularly among women and White patients.
METHODOLOGY:
- Studies have shown increased risks for cardiovascular diseases in patients with PN, but limited sample sizes have hindered further subgroup analysis. Given PN’s pronounced sex and ethnicity skew, it is important to examine underrepresented groups to accurately assess their cardiovascular risk.
- In this propensity-score matched analysis, researchers identified 64,801 patients (59.44% women) with PN using electronic health reports from the Global Collaborative Network of TriNetX and matched to individuals without PN.
- Researchers calculated risks for 15 cardiovascular endpoints and all-cause mortality within 10 years of diagnosis. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) included acute cerebral and myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death.
TAKEAWAY:
- Patients with PN showed a higher risk for death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.1243) and MACE (HR, 1.117) (P < .0001 for both).
- PN was also associated with a higher risk for heart failure (HR, 1.062), thrombotic venous disease (HR, 1.26), angina pectoris (HR, 1.096), and peripheral arterial diseases (HR, 1.082) (P < .0001 for all) and for acute MI (HR, 1.11; P = .0015) and valve disorders (HR, 1.08; P = .0018).
- White patients with PN had a significantly increased risk for MACE, death, heart failure, cardiac arrest, vascular diseases, and acute MI, but this was not observed in people of color.
- Women exhibited a higher risk for MACE, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, acute MI, conduction disease, and valve disorders, while men did not have an increased risk for major or acute cardiovascular events. Both men and women had a higher risk for death, chronic ischemic heart disease, and venous disease.
IN PRACTICE:
“Although no novel PN-specific treatment rationale can be derived from the presented data, the potential risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease should be considered in the care of patients with PN, which includes screening and optimal management of other additional cardiovascular risk factors,” the authors wrote.
LIMITATIONS:
Retrospective observational design introduced inherent biases. Misdiagnosis or false coding in electronic health records could affect the data accuracy and ethnicity-specific analyses.
SOURCE:
This work, led by Henning Olbrich, from the Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Germany, was published online in eBioMedicine.
DISCLOSURES:
The study was supported by the University of Lübeck, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and the State of Schleswig-Holstein. One author declared financial ties outside this work, and one author is an employee of TriNetX.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.