Dermatoses in parkinsonism: the importance of multidisciplinary follow-up

Summary Parkinsonism is characterized by bradykinesia with rigidity and/or resting tremor, in addition to non-motor symptoms, which include dermatological manifestations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the main dermatoses in patients with parkinsonism found at the Philanthropic Association of Curitiba - PR. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with the application of a questionnaire and dermatological evaluation of the patients. The sample consisted of 386 patients and was composed mainly by men (55.4%), between 60-74 years old (51.6%), with complete primary education (45.3%), disease diagnosis time between 5-10 years (35%) and in use of medication (96.6%). The most prevalent dermatoses were pigmented nevus (36.3%), warts (25.1%), actinic keratosis (22%), seborrheic keratosis (21.5%), seborrheic dermatitis (20.5%), and rosacea (19.2%). Among the 13 cases (3.4%) of malignant cutaneous neoplasms confirmed by biopsy, 2 were melanomas. Regarding patients' sex, there was a higher prevalence of inflammatory dermatoses (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.08-2.51, p = 0.025) and benign cutaneous neoplasms (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.16-2.69, p = 0.01) in men. As to age, patients aged between 60-74 years had more pre-malignant skin lesions (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.05-6.44, p <0.001) and seborrheic keratosis (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.02-6.25, p = 0.001) and, in those older than 75 years, actinic keratosis was more frequent (OR 5.43, 95% CI 2.17-13.6, p <0.001). The results of the study show that it is fundamental to dermatologically evaluate and monitor these patients, aiming at diagnosis and early treatment of lesions, especially of skin cancer.

RESUMO Parkinsonismo é caracterizado por bradicinesia e/ou tremor de repouso, além de sintomas não motores, entre os quais se destacam as manifestações dermatológicas. O objetivo desse trabalho é conhecer as principais dermatoses em pacientes portadores de parkinsonismo atendidos em uma associação filantrópica de Curitiba/PR. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo transversal com aplicação de questionário e avaliação dermatológica dos pacientes. A amostra estudada consistiu de 386 pacientes e foi composta principalmente por homens brancos (55,4%), entre 60-74 anos (51,6%), ensino fundamental completo (45,3%), tempo de diagnóstico da doença entre 5-10 anos (35%) e em uso de medicação (96,6%). As dermatoses mais encontradas na inspeção dermatológica foram manchas pigmentadas (36,3%), verrugas (25,1%), ceratose actínica (22%), ceratose seborreica (21,5%), dermatite seborreica (20,5%) e rosácea (19,2%). Entre os 11 casos (2,8%) de neoplasias cutâneas malignas confirmados por biópsia, dois eram melanomas. Em relação ao sexo, houve prevalência em homens de dermatoses inflamatórias (OR 1,64, IC 95% 1,08-2,51; p=0,025) e neoplasias cutâneas benignas (OR 1,77, IC 95% 1,16-2,69; p=0,01). Quanto à idade, pacientes entre 60-74 anos apresentaram mais lesões cutâneas pré-malignas (OR 2,60, IC 95% 1,05-6,44; p<0,001) e a ceratose seborreica (OR 2,52, IC 95% 1,02-6,25; p=0,001); naqueles acima de 75 anos foi mais frequente a ceratose actínica (OR 5,43, IC 95% 2,17-13,6; p<0,001). Os resultados encontrados no estudo evidenciam que são fundamentais a avaliação e o monitoramento dermatológico desses pacientes, visando diagnóstico e tratamento precoce das lesões, em especial do câncer de pele.

Transanal small bowel evisceration following digital reduction of a chronically prolapsing rectum

Evisceration of the small bowel through a rectal perforation is rare. This is the case of a 66 year-old female presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department with transanal evisceration of her small bowel resulting from attempted digital reduction and subsequent tear of her chronically prolapsing rectum. Reduction of the prolapsed small bowel and primary repair of the rectal tear were carried out at laparotomy. The management of this case is discussed

Parkinsonism and AIDS: a clinical comparative study before and after HAART

In 2002, after analyzing 28 HIV-positive patients with movement disorders we emphasized the decreasing not only of Parkinsonism but also of other involuntary movements in HIV patients in the last few years. The objective of this study is to compare the clinical results between HIV-positive patients with Parkinsonism before and after HAART. In 14 years (1986-1999) 2,460 HIV-positive patients were seen in our Hospital 14 (0.6 percent) of which presented with Parkinsonism. Eight years after (2000-2007) 970 HIV positive patients were seen and only two (0.2 percent) had Parkinsonism. We conclude that after the introduction of HAART there was an evident decrease in AIDS-related Parkinsonism.

No ano de 2002, após analisarmos 28 pacientes HIV-positivos que apresentavam distúrbios do movimento, enfatizamos o declínio, não só do parkinsonismo, como também de outros movimentos involuntários em pacientes infectados pelo HIV nos últimos anos. O objetivo deste estudo é comparar os resultados clínicos entre pacientes HIV-positivos com parkinsonismo antes e depois da introdução do esquema HAART. Em 14 anos (1986-1999), 2.460 pacientes HIV-positivos foram avaliados em nosso Hospital dos quais 14 (0,6 por cento) apresentaram parkinsonismo. Nos oito anos seguintes (2000-2007), 970 pacientes HIV-positivos foram avaliados e somente dois (0,2 por cento) tinham parkinsonismo. Concluímos que após a introdução do esquema HAART houve evidente declínio do parkinsonismo secundário à AIDS.

A random sample survey for prevalence of major neurological disorders in Kolkata.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Large scale epidemiological studies on neurological disorders are very few in India. We therefore planned to conduct a cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study on a stratified randomly selected sample from the city of Kolkata to study the prevalence of major neurological disorders such as epilepsy, stroke, dementia and Parkinsonism. METHODS: The method of case ascertainment was two- stage house-to-house survey; the first stage was undertaken by a field team consisting of four field workers and a neuropsychologist. Screening questionnaire based on National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) protocol was used. In the second stage a neurologist examined all the screened positive cases. RESULTS: A total of 52,377 subjects participated in the study. The crude prevalence rates (per 100,000 population) of major neurological disorders with 95 per cent confidence intervals (95% CI) and age adjusted rates (AAR) based on US 2000 population were 557.5 (95% CI 496.17-624.40 and AAR - 516.77) in epilepsy, 486.85 (95% CI 377.0 to 551.11 and AAR-765.68) in stroke, 87.82 (95% CI 64.02-117.50 and AAR-168.4) in dementia and 45.82 (95% CI 29.64-67.63 and AAR-71.64) in Parkinsonism. The weighted prevalence rates (per 100,000) of the whole population based on re-screening of 10 per cent of negative samples were 763.89 (95% CI 690.55- 842.57) in epilepsy, 624.32 (95% CI 555.64-699.24) in stroke and 139.37 (95% CI 108.71-176.06) in dementia. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: A high rate of stroke and overall lower prevalence of Parkinsonism and dementia was recorded as compared to western studies. High prevalence rate of stroke emphasizes the need to study incidence, morbidity and mortality profile of stroke including its socio-economic impact and also case-control analysis to determine the underlying risk factors.