Background
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains a prioritized neglected tropical disease. CL novel presentations call for updating its features.
Methods
A multiregional cohort of 396 patients with confirmed CL was reviewed. Lesion's clinical stage and eruption type were assigned. Disease was considered as extensive if numerous (≥5), large (>3 cm), disfiguring, threatening vital sensory organs, and/or older than 12 months. Microscopically, Ackerman's inflammatory pattern, Ridley's pattern (RP), and parasitic index (PI) were recorded. Microscopic variables pertaining to the organisms, epidermis, and host's inflammatory response were also assessed. All cases were confirmed and speciated molecularly.
Results
In our region, 71.8% of cases showed extensive disease with 15.7% exceeding 12 months duration. Leishmania tropica accounted for 91.3% of cases while Leishmania major constituted 8.7% and presented solely as dry lesions. The dominant inflammatory composite consisted of plasma cells, lymphocytes, and histiocytes. Granulomatous inflammation was present in 55.5%. Most cases showed interface changes (72.7%), spongiosis (75.3%), and marked epidermal hyperplasia (63.9%). Transepidermal elimination of organisms was present in 29.2% of cases. None of traditional classification patterns (clinical stage, microscopic pattern, and RP) showed the predicted linear correlation with lesion age. High and low PI levels correlated with early and healing microscopic patterns, respectively, but did not correlate with the corresponding RPs. PI was bimodal with peaks at 3–6 and 9–12 months.
Conclusion
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an evolving disease defying the traditional prediction classifications. Our study sets the ground for adopting updated clinical courses, microscopic presentation, and species mapping.
Background:To date, there is no data on switching to dual pathway inhibition (DPI) patients who have completed a guideline-recommended dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) regimen.
Objectives: To assess the feasibility of switching from DAPT to DPI and to compare the pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles of these treatments.
Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, PD study conducted in 90 patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) on DAPT with aspirin (81mg/qd) plus a P2Y12 inhibitor [clopidogrel (75 mg/qd; n=30), ticagrelor (90mg/bid; n=30), or prasugrel (10mg/qd; n=30)]. Patients in each cohort were randomized to maintain DAPT or switch to DPI (aspirin 81mg/qd plus rivaroxaban 2.5mg/bid). PD assessments included: VerifyNow P2Y12 reaction units; light transmittance aggregometry following stimuli with adenosine diphosphate (ADP), tissue factor (TF), and a combination of collagen, ADP, and TF (CATF, maximum platelet aggregation %); thrombin generation (TG). Assays were performed at baseline and 30 days post-randomization.
Results: Switching from DAPT to DPI occurred without major side effects. DAPT was associated with enhanced P2Y12 inhibition, while DPI with reduced TG. Platelet-mediated global thrombogenicity (primary endpoint) showed no differences between DAPT and DPI in the ticagrelor (14.5% [0.0–63.0] vs. 20.0% [0.0–70.0]; p=0.477) and prasugrel (20.0% [0.0–66.0] vs. 4.0% [0.0–70.0]; p=0.482), but not clopidogrel (27.0% [0.0–68.0] vs. 53.0% [0.0–81.0]; p=0.011), cohorts.
Conclusion: In patients with CCS, switching from different DAPT regimens to DPI was feasible, showing enhanced P2Y12 inhibition with DAPT and reduced TG with DPI, with no differences in platelet-mediated global thrombogenicity between DPI and ticagrelor- and prasugrel, but not clopidogrel-, based DAPT.
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