19th Congress of the Latvian Dermatovenerologists Association, Riga, Latvia, November 8-9, 2024: the latest achievements in dermatology, venereology, oncology and aesthetics!

The 19^th Congress of the Latvian Dermatovenerologists Association (LDVA) convened on November 8–9, 2024, in Riga, the Latvian capital, where dermatology professors from around the world as well as medical students and residents enthusiastically participated in person or remotely. It was a truly international event, with more than 25 speakers from Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine and the United States providing lectures. This educational event focused on more than 30 lectures on the latest achievements in dermatology, venereology, oncology and aesthetics while reflecting on the backdrop of war and its effects both in battlefield casualties and with sexually transmitted diseases.
The Congress President Andris Rubins welcomed attendees alongside the Minister of Health of the Republic of Latvia, Dr. Hosams Abu Meri, and the President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Prof. Ivars Kalviņš (fig. 1). Special appreciation was proclaimed for the efforts of Kirovs Lipmans. Under the inspired leadership of the Congress President Andris Rubins, Professor of Dermatovenerology of the University of Latvia, and Scientific Committee Chairman and University of Latvia Dermatology Chair Silvestrs Rubins, this event utilized a hybrid format facilitating participation by 320 individuals, 162 in person and 158 remotely (fig. 2). The opening lecturer, Axel zur Hausen (the Netherlands), provided an enlightening presentation on Merkel cell carcinoma, emphasized the cellular origin of Merkel cell carcinoma including challenges in determining its true lineage (fig. 3). He stressed this tumor is not of neuroendocrine origin, but probably of hematologic, a B cell lineage.
Six splendid plenary lectures began with Ilona Hartmane (Latvia), who explored the clinical challenges of erythroderma. Sebastian Yu (Taiwan) illuminated how epidermal melanocytes may influence the brain function via blue LED light exposure of melanocytes in pigmented skin in a hairless mouse model, highlighting a novel pathway through which environmental light influences brain function. George-Sorin Tiplica (Romania) covered the latest challenges with syphilis, noting its alarming increase, including among newborns, and that doxycycline post-exposure-prophylaxis may be effective utilizing a single dose of 200 mg within 72 hours of exposure. Torello Lotti (Italy and Switzerland), now Rector Magnificus of the Leonardo da Vinci University in Zug, Switzerland, focused vigorously on recognition and management of reductive stress, an abnormal accumulation of reducing equivalents despite being in the presence of intact oxidation and reduction systems, reductive stress being the counterpart to oxidative stress. Külli Kingo (Estonia) underlined prevention of psoriasis exacerbations. Robert A. Schwartz (USA) covered deadly drug dermatoses, emphasizing drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome (DRESS), with its multiorgan manifestations including its potentially devastating late sequela of necrotizing eosinophilic myocarditis (fig. 4).
There were many other superb lectures. Diamant Thaci (Germany) evinced further therapies for atopic dermatitis. Silvestrs Rubins (Latvia) highlighted the increasing incidence of syphilis in Europe and the United States. Alexander Turkevych (Ukraine) shared amazing examples of his successful approach to war scars and other injuries. Skaidra Valiukevičienė (Lithuania) delineated approaches to severe adult atopic dermatitis. She joined Robertina Cibulskaitė, Vesta Kučinskienė , and Arūnas Petkevičius in detailing risks and benefits of systemic treatments for lichen planus. Torello M. Lotti (Italy and Switzerland) highlighted the latest approaches to vitiligo, a CD8+ T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease triggered by oxidative stress. Michael H. Gold (USA) recommended his favorite energy-based devices, focusing on a new 2910-nm mid infra-red fiber laser. Lauma Valeine (Latvia) and Edgars Ķiecis (Latvia) delineated the special role of polynucleotides, derived from trout gonads and salmon sperm, in skin rejuvenation and aesthetic medicine. Particularly intriguing was a short presentation by Rucha Janodia (USA) coauthored with Radhika Patel and Darshan Vaidya et al. on aquagenic keratoderma as a newly identified cutaneous marker for the steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Silvestrs Rubins, Ilze Jākobsone (Latvia) and Congress President Andris Rubins characterized the incidence of syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV in Latvia from 2018 to 2023 and found chlamydia to be the commonest, followed by HIV and gonorrhea. Saulius Čaplinskas, a Member of the Lithuanian Parliament, reflected upon challenges of rising sexually transmitted diseases in the Baltic nations, exemplified by antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea and HIV and syphilis co-infections, and linked with cross-border mobility, sexual tourism and the refugee crisis. He called for a coordinated proactive response to protect the health of both local and vulnerable populations. Edgars Ķiecis (Latvia) presented 2-year follow-up results on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention among men who have sex with men, documenting efficacy in reducing transmission in a sample of 52 individuals. However, 73% of them contacted one or more sexually transmitted bacterial infections! Brief communications included ones by Luke B. Elias (USA) on innovative approaches to leprosy, Mārcis Šepte (Latvia) on contact dermatitis, Nilesh Kodali (USA) with Namya Nanda and Sara Morgan italic et al. on predictors of palliative care utilization in Stage IV melanoma, Maya Jodidio (USA) with Ravi Chokshi and David Suster et al. on cutaneous myopericytoma, by Ilze Jākobsone (Latvia), who shared interesting cases from clinical practice, and by Auguste Dubinskaite (Lithuania) with Erikas Mazeika, Kamilija Briede, Skaidra Valiukeviciene, and Vesta Kucinskiene, underscoring toxic epidermal necrolysis resulting from lamotrigine.
This important international congress concluded with special recognition including honorary membership for “outstanding support to science and innovation” in the Latvian Association of Dermatovenerologists to Axel zur Hausen (fig. 3), and Robert A. Schwartz and by honoring young physician trainees. Three young colleagues, Edgars Ķiecis (Latvia), Auguste Dubinskaite (Lithuania) and Nilesh Kodali (USA), received diplomas and a special award for the best presentations by young doctors. Attendees admired the beauty of historic Riga (fig. 5) and looked forward to the 20^th Baltic Association of Dermatovenerologists Congress in Riga, Latvia, September 4-6, 2025.