title: Risk Factors for Skin Infections in Mycosis Fungoides.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most frequent type of primary cutaneous natural killer and T-cell lymphoma. MF-required immunosuppressive therapies and MF-related immunosuppressive characteristics render patients with MF more prone to infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical features of cutaneous infections observed in MF patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of 56 MF patients were followed prospectively over 3 years and screened for cutaneous infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four herpes simplex virus type-I (HSV-I), 2 staphylococcal (S. aureus) impetiginizations and 2 Malassezia infections were detected in single isolated plaque/patch stage MF as well as 1 varicella zoster virus infection (herpes zoster, HZ) and 2 cases of cellulitis in 10 patients. All patients presented advanced MF. All the diagnoses were delayed due to atypical clinical presentations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with advanced MF should be particularly monitored for skin infections, especially by HSV and S. aureus. Unexplained exacerbation or the sudden appearance of oozing or ulcerations in MF lesions should initiate a search for viral or bacterial agents. Cellulitis and HZ can be severer and prolonged in MF patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Liège University Hospital CHU, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lebas
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Arrese
authors.forename: Arjen F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Nikkels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cellulitis; Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; Herpes simplex virus; Infection; Mycosis fungoides; Skin; Staphylococcus