Arsenical Keratosis (arsenical + keratosis)

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Selected Abstracts


Chronic arsenic toxicity from Ayurvedic medicines

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
DNB (DERMAT), MNAMS, Sujay Khandpur MD (DERMAT)
Background, Ayurvedic medicines are known to contain arsenic and concentrations up to toxic levels have been reported in certain formulations. However, clinical disease due to arsenic containing ayurvedic medicines has rarely been reported. We seek to highlight the existence of toxic levels of arsenic in certain ayurvedic preparations that can produce serious systemic manifestations. Methods, An 11-year-old girl developed manifestations of arsenical keratosis (punctuate palmoplantar keratoderma and leucomelanoderma) and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, 6 months and 18 months respectively after intake of ayurvedic medications, prescribed for epilepsy. The eight ayurvedic preparations consumed by the patient and her serum levels were analyzed for arsenic content. Results, Arsenic content of ayurvedic medicines ranged from 5 mg/L to 248 mg/L. The serum arsenic level was 202.20 µg/L (normal < 60 µg/L). Skin manifestations improved after the discontinuation of ayurvedic medications. Conclusions, Ayurvedic medications should be consumed under strict guidance and supervision of qualified practitioners to prevent such catastrophies. [source]


Defective ,1 -integrins expression in arsenical keratosis and arsenic-treated cultured human keratinocytes

JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2006
Chih-Hung Lee
Background:, ,1 -integrins, which localize to the basolateral surface of basal keratinocytes, are important in the differentiation control and proliferation of the epidermis. Many cutaneous diseases with perturbed differentiation, including arsenical keratosis, show altered patterns of integrin distribution and expression. Arsenic may induce arsenical keratosis through the differentiation and apoptosis aberration by integrins. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of integrin and arsenic in the pathogenesis of arsenical keratosis. Methods:, Twenty-five specimens obtained from 25 patients with arsenical keratosis disease were studied. Immunohistochemistry staining to ,1, ,2,1, or ,3,1 integrins was performed in arsenical keratosis and clinically normal perilesional skin. Western blotting was used to assess the expression of integrin ,1 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in arsenic-treated cultured keratinocytes. Results:, A decreased expression of ,1, ,2,1, or ,3,1 integrins was demonstrated in arsenical keratosis and clinical normal perilesional skin in a large proportion of arsenical keratosis cases studied. The expressions of integrin ,1 and FAK were both decreased in arsenic-treated keratinocytes. Conclusions:, Our results suggest that arsenic induces abnormal differentiation in arsenical keratosis via the effects of integrin expression in keratinocytes. [source]


Successful treatment of palmoplantar arsenical keratosis with a combination of keratolytics and low-dose acitretin

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
S. B. Son
First page of article [source]