title: Cutaneous alternariosis in an immunocompromised patient.
abstract: A case of cutaneous alternariosis in a 68-year-old male farmer is presented. The patient had been treated with prednisone and azathioprine for thrombocytopenic purpura, and two months later he noted multiple ulcerated and slightly infiltrated granulomatous lesions on exposed areas. The diagnosis was confirmed by results of direct examination, culture of biopsy material, and histologic examination. A concurrent herpetic infection healed without sequelae. The protracted course of our patient's condition and a review of the literature suggest the tapering or stopping of steroids as the first step in the successful and permanent treatment of cutaneous alternariosis.
authors.affiliation: State Hospital for Skin and Venereal Diseases, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Chaidemenos
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mourellou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karakatsanis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koussidou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panagiotidou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kapetis
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000528:Alternaria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000188:drug therapy; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids; D001379:Azathioprine; D000212:Acyclovir