ABSTRACT
Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease with a proven role of Mycobacterium leprae invasion into endothelial cells. Animal studies have shown evidence of involvement of vasa nervorum in the process of nerve invasion. Capillaries act as the mirror image of vascular involvement in any rheumatic disorder and holds good for leprosy also. Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a non-invasive, easily reproducible technique to study proximal nailfold capillaries. The aim of this study is to investigate morphological nailfold capillaroscopic alterations in patients with leprosy in its various forms and comparison with the normal individual. Total 20 Leprosy patients and 20 normal age and sex matched individuals recruited for nailfold capillaroscopic examination using video dermoscopye. Among 20 normal individuals, 3(15%) individuals showed tortuous capillaries and microhemorrhages each, 2(10%) showed meandering vessels, 1(5%) each showed megacapillaries, dilated/ectatic capillaries and bizarre vessels. Out of 20 leprosy patients, 11 (55%) patients showed bizarre and meandering capillaries, 10(50%) showed dilated vessels and avascular areas, 9(45%) showed capillary dropouts and neovascularisation, 8(40%) showed tortuous vessels, 6(30%) haemorrhages and 4 (20%) showed megacapillaries. Findings like avascular areas, capillary dropouts, haemorrhages were more noticed in lepromatous and borderline lepromatous leprosy, whereas early capillary abnormalities like dilated, meandering, bizarre vessels and neoangiogenesis were noticed more in borderline tuberculoid leprosy. However, statistical significant difference between clinical and dermoscopic observations was not seen in this study. Further studies with a large sample size are required to find out the same. Morphological changes may denote micro-vascular invasion by Mycobacterium leprae and may act as warning signs of fore- coming complications like loss of sensation and trophic ulcers. Follow-up studies are required to understand such correlation, if any.
ABSTRACT
Background: Trichoscopy is a reliable instrument for diagnosis and for tracking therapy-related changes in female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Videodermoscopic diagnosis of FPHL has been established, which requires fine measurements of hair-related parameters; the method requires an expensive equipment/digital program. Aim: To determine whether a low-cost, simple USB dermoscope can ascertain the hair-related changes in early FPHL. Methods: An age-matched, cross-sectional study was performed over 3 years on subjects with less than 6-month history of hair loss and without an obvious broadening of midline hair parting. Trichoscopic analysis of the frontal and occipital scalp of the study subjects were performed, using a USB-connected dermoscope. The subjects were analyzed for the presence of microscopic hair changes in the form of anisotrichosis, vellus-like hair, single hair follicle unit, peri-pilar sign and yellow dots. Results: A total of 230 cases and 230 controls were analyzed. The dermoscopic hair changes were found to be significantly associated with the frontal scalp zone of cases. Limitations: Histopathological evaluation of the cases was not done. Conclusion: Microscopic changes recorded with the help of a simple USB dermoscope are helpful in establishing a diagnosis of FPHL even in early disease.
ABSTRACT
El microscopio es un instrumento, que desde hace muchos años es herramienta diagnóstica en Dermatología. La evolución del microscopio ha ido en sinergia con el avance de la tecnología, siendo el desarrollo de imágenes microscópicas digitalizadas, fuente de estudio en la época actual. El uso de estas imágenes en Dermatología ha permitido realizar diagnósticos en tiempo real; situación que vence la celeridad diagnóstica y aminora tanto para el médico como para el paciente, la lentitud de otras técnicas. El conocimiento sobre los diferentes métodos que se utilizan actualmente, para confirmar diagnósticos de enfermedades cutáneas, como: la dermatoscopía, la dermatoscopía multiespectral y la microscopía confocal de reflectancia, son imprescindibles para la formación del dermatólogo de hoy en día, ya que, con ellos se resumen pasos para el manejo definitivo de los pacientes. Con esta disertación, realizaremos un breve análisis de la historia de la microscopía, desde sus inicios hasta la era digital y los beneficios que se obtienen, con el uso de cada una de estas técnicas diagnósticas.
The microscope, is an instrument that for many years is used as a diagnostic tool in Dermatology. The evolution of the microscope has gone in synergy with the advancement of technology, being the development of digitized microscopic images a source of study and research in the present time. The use of these images in Dermatology has carried out diagnoses in real time; situation that overcomes the diagnostic speed and reduces for both the doctor and the patient the slowness of other techniques. The knowledge about the different methods currently used to confirm skin diseases, such as dermatoscopy, multispectral dermoscopy and confocal reflectance microscopy, is essential for the formation of today's dermatologist, since they summarize the steps for the definitive management of patients. With this dissertation, we will make a brief analysis of the history of microscopy from its beginnings to the digital age, and the benefits obtained with the use of each of these diagnostic techniques.