Beginning with this issue of Acta Dermato-Venereologica, the Editorial Board has decided to launch a series of theme issues, whereby regular papers on similar topics are published together instead of appearing chronologically (and hence dispersed) based solely on the date of acceptance. Needless to say, these themes, just as in the present issue, will be complemented by other review articles and original papers that either do not fit with the chosen theme or that represent fast-track publications that cannot await the appearance of a suitable theme. Titles appearing in the theme issues will be selected from among all of the papers accepted by Acta Dermato-Venereologica after having undergone a full peer review process. Only occasionally will authors be invited to write review articles on selected themes; all other theme papers will represent regular submissions.

Since papers accepted by Acta Dermato-Venereologica all appear as “E-pub ahead of print” and are searchable on the Internet long before publication, a potential delay in the publication of a paper selected for a late-appearing theme will, it is hoped, be compensated for by its appearance in a much-highlighted issue of the journal that is specially devoted to research in the same area. Conversely, by the same mechanism, some papers will be selected for publication more quickly than previously possible because they fit into a theme that is to be published sooner.

The themes so far set to be published are shown in Table I.

We hope that the theme approach will be appreciated by our readers as well as by the authors, who will probably benefit from an increased citation rate of their papers. A further advantage is that papers will be presented in a more focussed context for researchers and doctors interested in the same field of dermatology or venereology.

In this first theme issue on Adverse Drug Reactions a wide variety of more-or-less severe side-effects of drugs are either summarized or described for the first time. Also, new ideas about how to treat these, sometimes life-threatening, conditions are presented. Dapsone hypersensitivity extends far beyond the skin; this is essential knowledge for dermatologists because we are frequent users of this sulphone-type of systemic medication, which has been in use for half a century to treat both leprosy and dermatitis herpetiformis. Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are potentially fatal drug reactions mainly caused by drugs and should always alert the physician. Especially DRESS is easily overlooked or diagnosed far too late. Although SJS/TEN may be misdiagnosed they are usually not overlooked once blisters and mucosal erosions appear. Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) and Generalized bullous fixed drug eruption (GBFDE) are other drug reactions that should be added to the list of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR).

In prioritising the papers presented in this theme issue, the Editorial Board has had tremendous help from distinguished colleagues from around the world who are experts on cutaneous side-effects and who are frequently asked to assist in our peer review process. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of them sincerely for their important idealistic work for Acta Dermato-Venereologica over the years; they include Maja Mockenhaupt, Freiburg; Jean Revuz, Paris; Lars French, Zurich; Thomas Harr, Basel; and Jean-Claude Roujeau, Creteil.

Uppsala February 13, 2012

Anders Vahlquist

Editor-in-Chief