Management of chromoblastomycosis: novel perspectives

Significant advances in knowledge of chromoblastomycosis and its etiologic agents have been made in the past 5 years. New explanations and approaches that could resolve persisting medical challenges for this orphan disease are reviewed here.

In recent years advances have been made regarding the taxonomy and ecoepidemiology of the etiologic agents, basic knowledge of the pathogenesis of the lesions, especially the fibrotic process, and the immunologic response to chromoblastomycosis. Conversely there have been no recent significant advances in knowledge of the genetic polymorphism of the wild isolates or in development of experimental models, impairing the possibility of in-depth clinicopathologic investigations. As a result medical management is dependent on the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools developed for other fungal diseases.

Recent findings are applicable in laboratory and medical practice. Benefits can accrue to basic knowledge from data collected on other cutaneous diseases of parasitic or bacterial origin.