Efficacy of oral metronidazole in patients with generalized cutaneous lichen planus

Lichen planus is a common inflammatory disease of the skin, mucous membranes, nail and hair follicles. This study was performed to determine therapeutic efficacy of oral metronidazole in generalized cutaneous lichen planus in patients referred to the dermatology clinic of Razi Hospital from 2003 to 2004. Fifteen patients with lichen planus whose diagnosis was confirmed pathologically were treated with oral metronidazole 500 mg twice daily for 60 days and were followed up for 1 month after the end of treatment. Nine of fifteen patients [60%] had complete response, four patients [26.7%] partial response and two patients [13.3%] had no response. Oral metronidazole may be useful in the treatment of generalized cutaneous lichen planus

Comparison of the frequency of anti Human T Lymphotropic Virus 1 antibodies in patients with mycosis fungoides and normal controls

Studies concerning the relation between mycosis fungoides [MF] and its leukemic form Sezary syndrome [SS] and infection with human T lymphotropic virus 1 [HTLV 1] have yielded different findings. The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of HTLV 1 infection in MF patients. In a case-control study, 150 clinically and histopathologically confirmed MF patients and 150 normal individuals were evaluated and compared for the HTLV 1 infection. Sera of the participants were taken and evaluated by ELISA method. Positive results were confirmed by Western blot. HTLV 1 infection was detected in 3 of 150 MF patients and 2 of normal participants. This study shows no association between HTLV 1 infection and MF in Iranian patients

[Disappearing vermilion: report of 14 cases]

Sometimes we see patients with disappearing vermilion totally or in some parts. It seems that the marginal skin has advanced to the lip surface with the same color. It occurs mainly in lower lip. The majority of patients had history of recurrent herpes labialis on their lips, in the same location as disappearing vermilion. Disappearing vermilion is not accompanied by any change in consistency of labial skin. There is no symptom and most patients are unaware of it. Sometimes they refer to the physician for other reasons. Rarely patients, particularly women, complain of the disease. We collected a series of 14 cases of disappearing vermilion to evaluate this disease