Treatment outcome of acne vulgaris with oral isotretinoin

To determine the clinical efficacy of oral isotretinoin in the treatment of severe acne and assess its effect on total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and Low-Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-cholesterol]. A cohort, descriptive, hospital-based study. Al-Ain Medical District, Tawam Hospital, United Arab Emirates, from 1994 to 2002. A total of 198 patients seen at Tawam Hospital, referred with acne vulgaris for a minimum of 6 weeks, were treated by isotretinoin for the first time, were included in the study. Variables studied were as per objectives apart from demographics and distribution. The study included 63 [32%] males and 135 [68%] females of mean age [ +/- SD] of 21.3 +/- 5.6 years. Majority [81%] of patients was under 25 years. Of them, 26 patients had family history of acne. The most common site of acne was on face [66.7%], followed by trunk [26.2%] and neck [9.1%]. Of 198 patients treated, 32.8% were cured, 19.1% markedly improved, 11.1% moderately improved and 24.2% of patients were advised for further treatment. There was no marked change in total and LDL-cholesterol, while LDL and triglycerides changed markedly. In acne patients, isotretinoin is effective in producing remission. In addition, it was safe and its effect on serum lipids was transient, especially in healthy and young patients with normal liver functions

Sarcoidosis a review and report of three cases

3 male patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis are reported. Systemic involvement has not been detected and they are periodically checked for possible future systemic spread. The first case was a male patient who presented with wide spread multiple cutaneous nodules affecting forehead, nostrils, upper arms, thighs and trunk. The nodules were asymptomatic and had a violaceous color and erupted over a period of 2 years. The second patient had nasal rim lesions of 7-8 months duration. The third patient had papular lesions of the face of 6 months duration. All cases were diagnosed on histopathological findings. The treatment given and the patient response is discussed

Unusual onset of lepromatous leprosy

An unusual clinical form of lepromatous leprosy presented in an apparently healthy Filipino man who had been working in Qatar for eight years. There was a sudden appearance of vesiculobullous lesions over the elbows following treatment with oral antibiotics and antipyretics for a fever. The diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy

Therapy. Calcipotriol: a safe and effective topical treatment for psoriasis

Calcipotriol, a vitamin D3 analogue, was used in the treatment of seventeen psoriatic patients. Most of these patients had a long standing disease, and had used one or more systemic or local therapeutic modalities. Calcipotriol was found to be effective and well tolerated by most of our patients with minimum side effects that were noted in few patients. We conclude that calcipotriol is both safe and effective for mild to moderate psoriasis. It also provides an alternative treatment for patients in whom other therapies are contraindicated