[Comparison of thyroid function tests in alopecia totalis and universalis with control group]

Alopecia areata [AA] is a common cause of noncicatricial alopecia that occurs as a patchy, confluent or diffuse pattern. Exact etiologic factor of AA not yet recognized. Among many hypothesis, relationship between AA and autoimmune disease, especially thyroid disorders, was more interesting. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid test disorders in the patients with alopecia totalis and universalis in comparison with normal population. We analyzed medical records of 100 patients, including 44 male and 56 female in Tehran Razi Hospital from1388 to 1389. The mean age was 24.1 years. Patients having totalis and universalis form of AA considered as case group while 100 normal person [42 male and 58 female with mean age of 26.1] who had not any form of AA considered as control group. Both groups had not any sign of thyroid disease at clinical examination according to their available medical records. Collected data were analyzed statistically in SPSS software 17[th]version. In the majority of patients [54%] the disease was manifested in the first two decades of life. History of atopia was seen in9.8% of patient. Presence of the similar disease in first-degree family members was seen in14.3% of patients. Abnormal T3, T4 and TSH were significantly higher in case group. Abnormal T3 uptake was higher in case group but not statistically significant. Paraclinical thyroid disorders were significantly higher in the alopecia areata patients than in normal population. There was no significant association between the age, sex and duration of disease and presence thyroid dysfunction.

Refractory port wine stains [PWS]: long pulsed alexandrite laser as an option

Port wine stains [PWS] are congenital vascular malformations. Pulsed dye laser [PDL] is the treatment of choice till now, although many lesions do not respond completely. One of possible options is long pulsed alexandrite laser. Some literatures confirmed its efficacy. The aim of the present study is to determine the efficacy of this laser as an option in treating refractory PWS in Iranian patients. Patients with refractory PWS lesions that did not respond to at least six PDL sessions were included if they had no history of Isotretinoin consumption in past year, history of keloid or hypertrophic scar formation, active infection in laser site and if they were not pregnant. All patients signed an informed consent. Alexandrite laser with fluencies from 36-40J/Cm[2], 12 mm spot size, 3 ms pulse duration and dynamic cooling device tuned to 50/50 ms was used in three successive sessions to treat lesions. All patients photographed before each session and after 8 weeks from the last sessions. Then, pictures were rated by two blinded dermatologist rater to determine degree of response based of visual analog scaling from score 1[below 25% response] to score 4 [more than 75% response]. A total of 20 patients comprised of 12 males and 8 females with mean age of 23 years were included. 35% [7 patients] had score of 1, 35% [7 patients] had score of 2, 25% [5 patients] had score of 3 while one patient [5%] reached score 4. No serious side effect was observed. There was no significant relationship with age, gender and size of lesions and response rate. It seems that considering a conservative approach, long pulsed alexandrite laser may be an effective option in treating refractory PWS lesions. Although future studies with higher sample size using higher fluences are required to confirm these results

Comparison of the frequency of anti Human T Lymphotropic Virus 1 antibodies in patients with mycosis fungoides and normal controls

Studies concerning the relation between mycosis fungoides [MF] and its leukemic form Sezary syndrome [SS] and infection with human T lymphotropic virus 1 [HTLV 1] have yielded different findings. The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of HTLV 1 infection in MF patients. In a case-control study, 150 clinically and histopathologically confirmed MF patients and 150 normal individuals were evaluated and compared for the HTLV 1 infection. Sera of the participants were taken and evaluated by ELISA method. Positive results were confirmed by Western blot. HTLV 1 infection was detected in 3 of 150 MF patients and 2 of normal participants. This study shows no association between HTLV 1 infection and MF in Iranian patients