[Comparison of the accuracy of digital image-based and patient visit-based diagnoses diagnoses in dermatological diseases in Kerman medical university]

Introduction: Teledermatology as one of the Telemedicine applications is used in the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the accuracy of skin disease diagnosis based on patient's history and lesions' images with that made in face to face visit as the gold standard and also to determine Kappa agreement coefficient between these two types of diagnostic method

Methods: A total of 91 patients were enrolled in the study. Patients' identifying features and medical history were recorded at admission and lesions' images were taken with a standard method. Then patients were referred to a dermatologist to put his diagnosis on the disease. About two months later the same dermatologist was asked to put his diagnosis based on the patients' recorded medical history and digital images of the lesions. Then the two diagnoses were compared and Kappa coefficient was calculated. Data analysis was performed through SPSS software package

Results: The correlation rate of diagnoses was 84.6 and kapa coefficient was calculated as 0.77

Conclusion: The diagnosis of dermatological disease based on just patient's medical history and digital images of skin lesions has a high rate of accuracy and it can be confidently recommended for tele-dermatology purposes in Iran

Prevalence of thyroid disorders in patients with alopecia areata

To study the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disorders - thyroid auto-antibodies in patients with alopecia areata [AA] in Kerman, a city in South-East part of Iran. 52 patients with AA from those attending the dermatology ward of Afzalipour hospital in Kerman were enrolled. An equal number of age- and sex-matched controls [n=52] was included. Physical examination of thyroid was done for all patients and controls. The rate of positivity of anti-thyroid peroxidase [TPO] antibodies and abnormal thyroid hormone levels in both groups were measured and compared. In both cases and controls, 48.1% and 51.9% were males and females, respectively. The mean age in group of cases and control groups were 30.55 and 31.80 years, respectively. The number of lesions ranged from 1 to 10, and the duration of disease ranged from 0.6 to 96 months. No meaningful statistical difference was seen between prevalence of thyroid disorders in patients of AA and controls. In this study no correlation between AA and thyroid disorders was noted.

Clinical and demographic profile of childhood alopecia areata in Iran

To evaluate the clinical profile of alopecia areata [AA] in Iranian children. One hundred Iranian children aged less than 16 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were obtained by administering a parental-recall questionnaire; and clinical and demographic parameters and associated diseases were evaluated. The mean age of AA onset was 8.9 +/- 2.1 years. The scalp was the most common site of involvement. Thirty-five percent of the patients had a precipitating factor, with psychological stress being the most common factor. Associated diseases were recorded in 60% of the patients, with the most common associated disease being eczema. Twenty-one percent of the patients were positive for a family history of AA. Severity and extent of the disease and the age of onset showed significant relationships with parents' educational and economic status [p<0.05]. Nail changes were also strongly associated with severity and extent of the disease [P=0.006]. Our results suggest that the severity and extent of the disease both increase with anearly age of onset, low parent educational levels, low socioeconomic status, and nail changes

Effect of hirsutism on quality of life: a study in Iranian women

To evaluate quality of life [QOL] in hirsute women in southeast Iran. In this cross-sectional study a convenience sample of hirsute females aged at least 18 years attending dermatology clinics of Kerman city, southeast of Iran, in 2005 was assessed. Each person with Ferriman-Gallway [F-G] score >8 or one area score equal to 4 was included as a hirsute case. QOL was assessed by self-administrated Dermatology Life Quality Index [DLQI] and SF-36 questioners. In this study 96 hirsute females with mean age 27.24 years [range, 18-52 year, SD=6.76] were assessed. The mean F-G score was 13.57 +/- 6.83 and the mean DLQI score was 10.95 +/- 6.76. Symptoms and feelings had the highest mean score among DLQI sections [2.66 +/- 1.51] and limit to work/role due to emotional problems had the lowest mean score in SF-36 sections [52.34 +/- 23.62]. In our setting, hirsutism had considerable effects on quality of life of the affected women. The most components of the QOL which take effect from the disease are those related to symptoms and feelings