Epidemiologic Study on Systemic Contact Dermatitis Due to Ingestion of Rhus / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Dermatitis occurring after ingestion of the urushiol chicken is quite common in Korea. Although many cases of the systemic contact dermatitis due to urushiol chicken have already been reported, systemic study on its epidemiology is not done yet. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the demography of the eaters of the urushiol chicken with its general understandings in society and the incidence of the resultant systemic dermatitis. METHODS: By the help of the patients who developed the dermatitis, all the persons who ate it together with the patients were interviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: l. 171 eaters of the urushiol chicken(125 male and 46 female) were enrolled in this study(M:F= 3.1:1). The age group in 4th decade was the most common in male, the 5th decade in female. The age prevalence of the systemic contact dermatitis corresponded to the age prevalence of the eater. 2. Incidence rate of systemic contact dermatitis among the eaters was 32.2% (55/171). Incidence rate according to each age group were as follows : 0% in 2nd decade, 33.3% in the 3rd decade, 32.4% in 4th decade, 32.8% in 5th decade, 33.3% in 6th decade, 25% in the 7th decade. 3. One third (57/171) of the eaters ate the urushiol chicken to strengthen their internal organs, especially stomach, which they believed to be weak 70 persons (40.9%) ate it at home, 101 persons (59.1%) ate it at a restaurant. 4. Out of 67 persons having past history of allergic contact dermatitis to Rhus tree, 28 persons (41.8%) showed systemic contact dermatitis. Out of 104 persons without past history of allergy to Rhus, 27 persons (26.0%) showed systemic contact dermatitis.

A Case of Papular Mucinosis / 대한피부과학회지

Papular mucinosis, also known as lichen myxedematosus or scleromyxedema, is a chronic cutaneous disorder characterizecl by infiltration of mucin in the dermis without abnormalities of thyroid function. It often combines serum monoclonal paraproteins. Various drugs have been used for the treatment without consistent results. We report a case of papular mucinosis in a 51-year-old man, who started the disease on his scalp 10 years before the first examination. Subsequent development of the characteristic glistening papular lesions on his entire scalp, eye brows, ears and upper back continued for 5 years thereafter until complete resolution. Treatment with corticosteroids and melphalan showed only limited effects during the period.

Clinicohistopathologic Analysis of 28 Cases of Trichotillomania / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The patients of trichotillomania seem to have received much attention based on patients behavioral psychological aspects, but most of the patients are met in dermatological clinics. Dermatological observation of the lesion dose not seem to not sufficient. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to exarnine clinical and histopathological characteristics of the lesion of trichotillomania. METHODS: We have observed 28 cases of the trichotillornania and exarnined their cutaneous lesions and histopathological featwres. Histopathological examination with vertical serial sections was done in 21 cases. Because hai folllicles are independent of each other and a usual 5 thickness vertical sect,ion shows only very limited numbers of the hair follicles, authors accomplished sectioning of the biopsied scalp tisue to have 300 serial sections cut and 60 representative sections observed to allow the fullest qiiantitative and qualitative examinations of the follicular pathology of the lesion. RESULTS: The important featuies are as follows. 25 cases(89.2%) were under 18 years old with a slight male predorninance(M:F=1.3:1). Only in 2 cases, psychiatric consultation was made. The degree of involvement was vari ble from less than 5%(6 cases) of the scalp up to 100% involvement of the scalp(3 cases). Thr rnean duration of illness was 12.5 months. The involved hair follicles showed one of the following five roots of hairs they are new hairs with tapered ends, broken short hairs, vellus or intermediate hairs, comedone-like hair bodies or empty follicle orifices. Microscopical observation of thr epilat,ed hairs was done in 16 cases, of which in 13 cases there were no telogen roots of terminal hairs, The histopathological results were as follows : 1. Catagen follicles were increased in 20 cases(95.2%). The actual number of catagen follicles was 1386(37.5%) out of a tota 3695 follicles observed in the total examined slides. 2. Trichornalacia were seen ir 11 cases(52.4%). The actual number of hairs with trichomalacia was 195(10.5%) out of a total 1005 hair canals observed. 3. Pigment clumps of the follicular infundibula were seen in 9 cases(42.9%). The actual number of the pigment-laden infundibula was 148(17.9%) out of a total 826 infundibula observed. 4. Destruction of the hair canal wall were seen in 4 cases(19.0% ). The actual number of destructed hair canal wall was 190(10.2%) out of a total 1863 hair canals observed. Hernorrhage around the follicles was not seen. CONCLUSION: The involved areas of trichotillomania were varied in size up to the whole scalp and showed four different type of hairs. Histopathologically catagen follicles increased in almost all cases with 37.5% of all follicles examined. Trichomalacia, pigmented clumps, and the destruction of hair canals were seen by less frequently.

Diffuse alopecia of a Female with Polycystic Ovarian Disease / 대한피부과학회지

A 19 year old female patient presented with diffuse alopecia as her chief medical complaint. A clinical examination revealed hirsutism limited only to the on midline lower abdomen with elevated DHEA-S(dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) and total testosterone levels. Polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) was diagnosed during the treatment with dexamethasone and spironolactone, which was effective to improve her alopecia. We believe that, with increasing, concerns about hair conditions of teen-age girls there should be increasing chances for dermatologists to care for patients of PCOD first before other specialities in medicine.

A Case of Gout Presented with Tophi as an Initial Manifestation / 대한피부과학회지

The development of tophi in th absence of prior episodes of gauty arthritis is unusual. We report a case of extensive tophi in a 31 year-old man, whose initial skin lesion had started without arthritis.