Vitamin C is a popular ingredient in over‐the‐counter cosmeceuticals due to its many biological functions in maintaining and improving skin health by treating UV damage, improving discoloration, and boosting collagen production. Several chemically modified derivatives of vitamin C have been developed in an attempt to increase the stability, percutaneous absorption, and overall activity of this ingredient in topical formulations. The goal of this review is to evaluate the differences between vitamin C derivatives that have been designed for cosmeceutical use and their efficacy.
Palisaded neutrophilic and granulomatous dermatitis (PNGD) represents a cutaneous histopathologic reaction spectrum associated with several underlying disorders. Few cases of PNGD have been associated with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), a malignant hematopoietic disorder with features in between those of a myeloproliferative neoplasm and myelodysplastic syndrome. We present a patient with a generalized papular skin reaction involving the neck, chest, and shoulders with histomorphological features on the spectrum of PNGD. Subsequent laboratory workup demonstrated a persistent mild monocytosis, raising concern for CMML. The diagnosis was ultimately confirmed with a bone marrow biopsy and associated mutational analysis through nextgeneration sequencing which identified deleterious variants in SRSF2, IDH2, and ASXL1. The findings in this case strengthen the previously made association between PNGD and SRSF2-mutated CMML and may help better define a unique recognizable clinicalhistopathological-molecular subtype for dermatopathologists.
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) and seronegative APS (SN-APS) are rare and severe variants of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Due to the significant morbidity and mortality associated with these variants, early recognition and adequate treatment with immunomodulatory agents and anticoagulation are crucial. Here, we report a rare presentation of seronegative CAPS in a young adult with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who presented with seizures, encephalopathy, and quadriplegia. Brain imaging revealed intracranial hemorrhage and attenuated vessels in the Circle of Willis suggestive of vasculitis. Imaging also revealed bilateral pulmonary emboli involving the main pulmonary, segmental, and subsegmental arteries; lower extremity deep vein thrombosis in the right common femoral vein; and superficial venous thrombi in the left cephalic and basilic veins. Due to the absence of APS seropositivity and the catastrophic nature of her presentation, namely the widespread thrombi formation and multiorgan involvement, there was high suspicion for a diagnosis of seronegative CAPS. After two weeks of high doses of immunomodulatory agents, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) treatment, the patient showed clinical improvement and a reduced burden of venous thrombi. The predicament of not being able to use anticoagulation in this patient due to cerebral hemorrhage added to the complexity and uniqueness of this case.
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