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Background: Systemic sclerosis is a disease of unknown etiology for which no specific treatment is effective. Pulse therapy with corticosteroids has been tried for various autoimmune disorders with minimal side effects. We undertook this study to determine the efficacy of dexamethasone pulse therapy in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS)., Methods: Five women with PSS between the ages 30 and 60 years, received 100 mg dexamethasone in 500 mL of 5% dextrose by slow intravenous infusion over 3 hours for 3 consecutive days, once a month., Results: All patients had symptomatic and clinical improvement. The vital capacity improved in three and posttreatment histopathologic regression was seen in two patients., Conclusions: Dexamethasone pulse therapy may provide an additional option for treating systemic sclerosis.

A 35-year-old female and a 41-year-old male presented with clinical features suggestive of solar urticaria. The diagnosis of solar urticaria and the effectiveness of a combination of H1 and H2 blocking antihistamines were confirmed by phototesting with a solar simulator.

Clinical and histopathological correlative studies carried out in 100 cases of leprosy with macular lesions revealed an overall parity in 47% of the cases. Disparity was observed in TT, BT, BB, BL and IL series but not in LL series. The variable tissue response in the disease spectrum due to the variability of CMI is responsible for the disparity in various types of leprosy, irrespective of the type of lesions, whether macular or elevated.