A double-blind, randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness and safety of purified protein derivative of tuberculin antigen with Mycobacterium w vaccine in the treatment of multiple viral warts

Background: Present day therapeutic modalities for viral warts are mostly ablative in nature, limited by high recurrence rates and are unsuitable for numerous lesions. Immunotherapy has the potential to overcome these limitations. Aims: This study aimed at comparing efficacy and safety of and quality of life changes with intradermal purified protein derivative (PPD) of tuberculin antigen and Mycobacterium w (Mw) vaccine in immunotherapy of warts. Methods: Patients with multiple (≥5) warts were randomized (1:1) into two groups (PPDand, Mw vaccine groups). Fortnightly, 0.1 ml of either medicine was injected intradermally over the deltoidregion till complete resolution or a maximum of six doses. Patients were followed-up for another 3 months for recurrence. Results: Sixty-four participants received either PPD or Mw vaccine. The number of warts were comparable at baseline (P = 0.089, Mann–Whitney test), and reduced significantly with treatment in both groups (P < 0.001, Friedman's ANOVA), as seen from the fourth follow-up onwards with Mw and fifth follow-up onwards with PPD (P < 0.05, Post hoc Dunn's test). Intergroup comparison showed significantly more (P < 0.05, Mann–Whitney test) reduction with Mw than PPD at the sixth and seventh follow-up. The size of warts also reduced significantly (P < 0.001) in both groups from the third follow-up onwards. Complete remission was more (P = 0.539, Fischer's exact test) in the Mw group (68.8%) than the PPD group (50%); and was significantly higher (P = 0.049, Mann–Whitney test) in patients having shorter duration of warts. Adverse events were significantly more (P < 0.001) with Mw including ulceration (50%), discharge (15.6%), pain-swelling-induration and scar at the injection site (97% each), whereas some of those receiving PPD noted erythema and scaling at the injection site (18.8%), and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (12.5%). No recurrence was seen till the end of the study. Limitation: Unicentric trial. Conclusion: Intradermal injection of Mw vaccine was more effective but had a higher incidence of adverse effects compared to PPD of tuberculin antigen in patients with warts.

Epidemiología de dermatosis pediátricas en la región centro-occidental de Anatolia en Turquía / Epidemiology of pediatric skin diseases in the mid-western anatolian region of Turkey

Antecedentes. El campo de la dermatología pediátrica ha ganado relevancia con el aumento de la cantidad de pacientes pediátricos y la discrepancia de las dermatosis respecto de las presentaciones en adultos. Nuestro objetivo fue describir la frecuencia y la distribución de las dermatosis pediátricas, los procedimientos de diagnóstico y los tratamientos indicados. Métodos. Estudio epidemiológico transversal. Se recolectaron datos acerca de los patrones diagnósticos, los métodos diagnósticos y las modalidades de tratamiento en las consultas ambulatorias de dermatología pediátrica a lo largo de 18 meses. Resultados. Los diagnósticos más prevalentes fueron las enfermedades infecciosas (27,9%), incluidas las verrugas virales (17,5%), seguidas de acné o enfermedades acneiformes (19,9%) y alergias (14,5%). Entre las pruebas diagnósticas, fue necesario realizar exámenes histopatológicos en el 5,2% de los casos, en general para diagnosticar lesiones inflamatorias y tumorales. En la mayoría de los casos, se emplearon tratamientos tópicos (49,3%), seguidos por tratamientos sistémicos (32,4%). Conclusiones. Las verrugas virales representaron las dermatosis más frecuentes, y es importante que la salud pública incorpore medidas preventivas contra la transmisión del VPH en los niños.

Background: The field of pediatric dermatology has gained importance with the increment of pediatric patients and the discrepancy of their skin diseases with the adult versions. We aimed to describe frequency and distribution of pediatric skin diseases, and the diagnostic procedures and treatments prescribed. Methods: Cross-sectional epidemiological study. We collected data about diagnostic patterns, diagnostic methods and treatment modalities in pediatric dermatology outpatient clinic visits over 18 months. Results: Infectious diseases (27.9%) and among them viral warts (17.5%) were the most prevalent diagnoses, followed by acne-acneiform diseases (19.9%) and allergic diseases (14.5%). Among the diagnostic tests histopathology was required in 5.2%, usually to diagnose inflammatory and tumoral lesions. Topical treatments (49.3%) were followed by systemic treatments (32.4%) in majority of cases. Conclusions: Viral warts were among the most common dermatoses, and preventive measures for HPV transmission should become important part of public health efforts in children.

Enfermedades dermatológicas en un servicio académico asistencial universitario de Lima-Perú, 2004-2007 / Skin diseases in a dermatology academic teaching division of Lima-Peru, 2004-2007

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar la frecuencia de enfermedades dermatológicas en un Servicio de Dermatología Universitario de la ciudad de Lima. PACIENTES Y METODOS: Estudio descriptivo, observacional y retrospectivo, realizado en el Servicio Académico Asistencial de Dermatología de la UNMSM, durante enero del 2004 a diciembre 2007. Los diagnósticos fueron clasificados de acuerdo al CIE-10. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron un total de 3294 pacientes nuevos, el promedio de edad fue de 35.4 ± 20.7 años, el 53.35% de pacientes fueron mujeres. Por grupo de enfermedad, las dermatosis infecciosas fueron las más comunes (29.3%), seguidas por las dermatitis (17.7%), neoplasias benignas (9.9%) y enfermedades de los anexos de la piel (9.8%). Las principales dermatosis encontradas fueron las verrugas víricas (14.3%), vitíligo (6%), otros tumores benignos de la piel (5.3%) y acné (4.8%). CONCLUSIONES: Las enfermedades infecciosas y las dermatitis fueron los diagnósticos más comunes. Las universidades como centro de formación integral del médico deberían ofrecer servicios académicos asistenciales que le permitan realizar docencia y proyeccióna la comunidad.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency ofdermatological diseases at University Department of Dermatology of Lima. PATIENTSAND METHODS: Descriptive, observational and retrospective, performed at the Dermatology Academic Teaching Division of Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, during January 2004 to December 2007. Diagnoses were classified according to ICD-10. RESULTS: A total of 3294 new patients, the mean age was 35.4 ± 20.7 years, 53.35% of patients were female. For group of disease, infectious dermatoses were more common (29.3%), following by dermatitis(17.7%), benign neoplasms (9.9%) and diseasesof skin appendages (9.8%). The main dermatoses found were viral warts (14.3%), vitiligo (6%), other benign skin tumors (5.3%) and acne(4.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Infectious diseases and dermatitis were the most common diagnoses. The universities as centre of integral formation of physicians must provide academic assistance services that can deliver teaching and outreach to the community.