Frequency of genodermatoses among Iraqi patients

Genodermatoses are hereditary skin disorders or anomalies which can be grouped into three categories: chromosomal, single gene and multifactorial. Most genodermatoses show single gene or Mendelian inheritance [autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive or X-linked recessive genes]. To asses the frequency of genodermatoses among Iraqi patients in outpatients Dermatology and Venereology comparison with other countries. This case series descriptive epidemiological study included eighty three patients [57males and 26 females] with genodermatoses. They consulted the out patient clinic/ Department of Dermatology and Venereology Baghdad Teaching Hospital from April 2005 through April 2006. Their ages ranged from 2months-60 years [Median 10 years],With various genetic diseases. Full history, dermatological and clinical examinations were done to establish the clinical diagnosis of genodermatoses regarding all demographic points related to these disorders. The frequency of genodermatoses among outpatient attendant in Dermatology and Venereology Department was 837 20000 [0.42%]. This study had shown that the most common genodermatoses were; ichthyosis: 21 [25.3%] patients and epidermolysis bullosa which contain 16 [19.3%] patients when taken together they constituted 37 [44.6%] patients of the total, neurofibromatosis 8 [9.6%], hereditary palmoplantar keratoderma 6 [7.2%], darier's disease 5 [6%] and xeroderma pigmentosa 4 [4.8%]. Positive family history of the same disease was obtained in;8 [38.1%] patients with ichthyosis, 4 [66.6%] in hereditary palmoplantar keratoderma, 2 [12.5%] in epidermolysis bullosa and all patients with Hailey-Hailey disease had positive family history of the same condition. Consanguinity was positive in; 13 [61.9%] patients of ichthyosis, 12 [75%] epidermolysis bullosa, 2 [33.3%] hereditary palmoplantar keratoderma and [100%] patients with xeroderma pigmentosa Genodermatoses are frequently encountered among Iraqi dermatological outpatients and more common in families with positive consanguinity and were comparable to other countries

Sandpaper dermabrasion for treatment of acne scars and amateur tattoos in dark skinned individuals

Dermabrasion is an abrasive process used to remove the epidermis and superficial dermis to treat a variety of skin conditions. To evaluate sandpaper as a tool for dermabrasion for the treatment of acne scar and amateur tattoo. This is an open labeled therapeutic trial. It was conducted at the outpatient department of Dermatology and Venereology - Baghdad Teaching Hospital, during the period between January 2003 and December 2004. Ten patients [seven males and 3 females] were enrolled in this work. Their ages ranged from 20-34 years with the a mean +/- SD of 26.80 +/- 4.34 years. Five with acne scars on their faces and 5 with amateur tattoos in the upper extremities. From each patient history was taken and physical examination was performed. Pre-operative medications and instructions were given to each patient. The procedure was done under local anesthesia. Postoperatively all patients were instructed to use steroid-antibiotic ointment and hydroquinon-tretinoin thereafter. Follow up was done after 1 weak, 1 month, and 3 months. Repeated sessions may be needed 1 month apart. Acne scars: Lesions were assessed for correction of contour [unchanged, partially changed, or completely changed], and for complications that might follow. Amateur tattoos: Lesions were assessed for percentage of pigments removal [70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%], and for complications that might follow. Ten patients completed the study. Acne scar group: Three patients achieved partial change of contour after 2 sessions, while complete change of contour was noticed in 2 patients after 4, and 6 sessions respectively. The procedure resulted in very fine, less noticeable scar with smooth contour of the skin which was acceptable in all patients. Amateur tattoos group: Complete removal of pigments was achieved in one patient, more than 90% in 3 patients, and more than 80% in 1 patient. No significant complications were seen apart from mild erythema and mild infection in one patient with amateur tattoo. Temporary post inflammatory hypopigmentation in two patients with tattoo. Three patients had mild scar after removal of tattoo. Sandpaper dermabrasion is an effective mode of treatment for acne scar and amateur tattoo. It is safe in dark skinned people

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia [pseudopyogenic granuloma] among Iraqi patients

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia [ALHE] [pseudopyogenic granuloma] is a benign locally proliferating lesion composed of vascular channels with a surrounding infiltrate of lymphocytes and eosinophils. ALHE is a rare disease but in Iraq it apparently seems to be more common than expected, for this reason the present work was arranged to evaluate the clinical and histopathological aspects of the disease. This case descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology- Baghdad Teaching Hospital during the period between June 1982- March 2005. Sixteen patients with this skin problem, were included in this study. All demographic points related to the disease were obtained from each case through detailed history, close clinical and histopathological means. Sixteen patients with ALHE were evaluated. Their ages of patients ranged from 20-50 years with a mean +/- SD of 35.73 +/- 8.72 years, they were 14 females and two males. The duration of the disease ranged from 1-15 [6.4 +/- 4.42] years. The clinical picture consisted of multiple dull to pinkish red angiomatous papules and nodules affecting the head only mostly around the scalp and ears. The histopathological examination revealed a proliferation and ectasia of blood vessels with eosinophilic infiltrate of the dermis. This study revealed that angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia [ALHE] in Iraq, is a disease predominantly of adult females only affecting the head, with no lymphadenopathy and typical histopathology without lymphoid follicle formation. This is the first report describing this disease in Iraq and seems to be more common than European countries

Activation of complements pathways in patients with Bechcet's disease

Behcet's disease [BD] is amultisystemic inflammatory disorder, onset is belived to be triggered by many factors with a particular immunogenetic Factor. The aim of this study is elucidate the role of C3,C4 complement components With CH50 and HLA typing as immunogenetic factor in aetiopathogenesis of this disease. Seventy patients with Behcet's disease have been studied to assess the level of serum complement's components [C3,C4], complement total hemolytic activity [CH50], and HLA- typing using single radial immunodifusion [SRID], titration assay, and microlymphocytotoxicity methods respectively, compared with age, sex and ethic matched 30 patients control with recurred oral ulcer, 25 healthy relative, and 30 healthy volunteer. Significant elevation [P<0.01,0.05,0.0005] in C3, C4 and CH50 levels was clearly observed in patients with BD, especially those who show to be HLA-B51[5] positive in comparison to control groups. Increased level ofCH50 which is reflected the total activity of the classical and lytic pathways, elevation of C3 level is an index of the disease activities which support that alternative pathway play a role in the pathogenesis of BD in Iraqi patients especially in those with HAL - B51[5] positive

Housewife onycholysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological aspects of onycholysis in Iraqi housewives. One hundred housewives with onycholysis of the finger nails were evaluated clinically in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq between October 2002 to March 2003. Swabs were taken from those patients for microbiological evaluation in the Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. All cases with skin disorder related systemic diseases like anemia, hypothyroidism and drug intake like minocycline, oral contraceptives were excluded from the study. One hundred housewives with onycholysis were enrolled in the study. Their ages ranged between 17-70 years with a mean of 41.96 +/- 12.57 years. Married females were 89 [89%], while unmarried females were 11 [11%]. The site of involvement was mainly the thumb [76%] followed by the ring finger [12%], the index [7%], little [6%] and middle [5%] fingers. The pattern of onycholysis was distal in 47 [47%], lateral in 30 [30%] and both distal and lateral in 23 [23%] of the patients. Onycholysis is a major problem among Iraqi housewives, most probably caused by repetitive mechanical, chemical and physical trauma; therefore, special preventive measures should be undertaken to minimize the incidence of the disease. Housewives should be encouraged to use preventive measures like using gloves and washing machines

Acetylator phenotype in Iraqi patients with allergic contact dermatitis

Few studies have been done on acetylator status in ACD. This study determined acetylator status in Iraqi patients with allergic contact dermatitis [ACD] in comparison to a matched control group. The study included 35 ACD patients and 67 healthy volunteers. The ACD patients were diagnosed clinically and the diagnosis was confirmed by patch test. A detailed history was taken from the patients. After an overnight fast, each control subject and each patient received a single oral dose of 100 mg of dapsone. A blood sample was collected after 3 hours and plasma was separated for determination of dapsone and monoacetyldapsone by HPLC. Twenty-six of the 35 ACD patients returned for follow up. The frequency of slow acetylators in healthy individuals was 71.6%, while the frequency of rapid acetylators was 28.4%. The frequency of slow acetylators in ACD patients was 60.0% while the frequency of rapid acetylators was 40.0%. There was no association between the acetylator status, personal history of allergy, patch-test positivity or sites of dermatitis in ACD patients. A rapid acetylator status might predispose to ACD, but does not seem to influence other features of the disease