Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji - a case report

Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji is an uncommon skin condition seen in elderly patients characterized by pruritic eruption of infiltrating papules with sparing of large folds of skin. Very few cases have been reported in the literature and the frequent association of this rare entity with laboratory abnormalities and malignancy points towards its heterogenous nature. We report a case of Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji having peripheral eosinophilia but not associated with any malignancy

Serum ferritin levels in non-scarring alopecia of women: a case-control study

Iron deficiency in the etiology of hair loss has been studied for more than 45 years. However, contradictory reports have been published and almost all the studies conducted so far are based on observational methodology. To find out if any real association exists between the iron deficiency and alopecia. One hundred consecutive, clinically typical female patients [14-54 years] with nonscarring alopecia i.e. alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium and an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls were included in the study. Both groups were evaluated for serum ferritin and other important parameters of iron status. Mean serum ferritin value of cases was significantly lower than that of the controls [p=0.005]. Patients with alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia had significantly lower values of serum ferritin [p=0.011 and 0.015, respectively], but there was no significant difference in telogen effluvium cases and controls [p=0.348]. The values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH and transferring-saturation were significantly lower in cases but had significantly higher TIBC values than controls. There is a definite association of decreased serum ferritin levels and nonscarring alopecia in women. The iron stores of female patients with nonscarring alopecias should be built for the optimum response to treatment as the proposed triggering factor can be abolished

Lipoid proteinosis: case report and a brief review

Lipoid proteinosis is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by infiltration of periodic acid-Schiff positive hyaline material into the skin, oral cavity, larynx and internal organs. The clinical manifestations include hoarseness of voice, beaded papules along the eyelid margins, skin scarring and an inability to protrude the enlarged and thickened tongue. In this paper, we present a case of a young male with features suggestive of lipoid proteinosis. Clinical rarity of this condition prompted this communication

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular atherosclerosis. Metabolic syndrome, a conglomerate of various clinical and biochemical parameters is a significant predictor of atherosclerotic disease and the associated risk for cardiovascular events in such patients. Aim: To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis. Methods: The study was a prospective, hospital based case-control study involving 150 adult patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 150 healthy controls. Venous samples were taken at the enrolment visit after the subjects had fasted overnight (at least 8 h). Serum cholesterol and triglycerides were measured with enzymatic procedures. Plasma glucose was measured using a glucose oxidase method. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed by the presence of three or more criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Programme's Adult Panel III (ATP III). Statistical analysis of the data was done using statistical processing software (SPSS-17) and epi-info software. Results: Metabolic syndrome was significantly more common in psoriatic patients than in controls 42(28%) vs 9(6%), odds ratio (OR) = 6.09, P<0.05. Psoriatic patients also had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertriglyceridaemia (73/150 among cases vs 24/150 among controls; P<0.05), arterial hypertension (74/150 among cases vs 24/150 among controls; P<0.05) and impaired fasting plasma glucose levels (27/150 among cases vs 04/150 among controls; P<0.05). Psoriatic patients with metabolic syndrome had mean disease duration of 13.67±11.87 years against 6.46±5.80 years in those without metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: There is a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in psoriasis patients as compared to general population and so is the risk of having atherosclerotic adversity. While managing the psoriatic plaques of these patients, concerns should extend to the atherosclerotic plaques as well.

case of granuloma faciale

A 60-year-old housewife reported with a raised red lesion on the left cheek since the last four months. Local examination revealed a well-defined erythematous indurated plaque 3x3 cm[2] with geographical borders on the left cheek close to the angle of mouth. Routine investigations were normal. Histopathology revealed loosely scattered granulomas in the dermis with lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils and eosinophils. A disease free Grenz zone was seen. A diagnosis of granuloma faciale was made and the patient was put on intralesional steroid therapy. She continues to be on regular follow up

Chronic idiopathic urticaria, gastrointestinal symptoms and Helicobacter pylori infection

Chronic idiopathic urticaria [CIU] is one of the most persistent and distressing skin diseases and the only treatment available is symptomatic in the form of H[1] blockers and systemic steroids in severe cases. Chronic infections have always been implicated in the causation of chronic urticaria. The presence of associated gastrointestinal symptoms in a sizable percentage of patients of chronic urticaria as well as the chronic and asymptomatic nature of Helicobacter pylori infection make the possibility of an association between chronic urticaria and H. pylori infection a biologically plausible one. In the present study sixty patients of chronic idiopathic urticaria were evaluated along with an equal number of age and sex matched controls for presence of H. pylori infection by means of an ELISA-based serological test. All seropositive patients were then given eradication treatment for H. pylori infection and monitored for any improvement in signs and symptoms. The overall H. pylori seropositivity was found to be 60% in cases as compared with only 31.6% in control group. Furthermore, there was an overall response rate of 58% in those patients who were treated by H. pylori eradication therapy