ABSTRACT
Patient participation in treatment decisions can have positive effects on patient satisfaction, compliance and health outcomes. The objectives of this study were to examine attitudes of psoriasis patients regarding participation in treatment decisions and to evaluate the effect of a decision-aid for discussing treatment options. A "quasi experiment" was conducted in a large dermatological hospital in Italy: a questionnaire evaluating the decision-making process and treatment knowledge was self-completed by 231 consecutive psoriasis patients after routine clinical practice and by a second sample of 171 patients exposed to a decision-board. In routine clinical practice 67.9% of patients wanted to be involved in decision-making, 28.4% wanted to leave decisions entirely to the doctor and 3.7% preferred making decisions alone. 17.9% and 25.3% of the control and decision-board group had good knowledge. At multivariate analysis good knowledge increased the likelihood of preferring an active role (risk ratio (RR) = 2.21; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-3.9; p = 0.006). The decision-board only marginally improved patient knowledge and doctor-patient communication. In conclusion, large proportions of psoriasis patients want to participate in decision-making, but insufficient patient knowledge can represent a barrier.
Subject(s)
Decision Making , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Psoriasis/epidemiology , Adult , Age Factors , Audiovisual Aids , Case-Control Studies , Educational Status , Female , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Patient Education as Topic/methods , Patient Participation , Patient Satisfaction , Physician-Patient Relations , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Lupus vulgaris is the most common form of cutaneous tuberculosis, and usually presents as a solitary lesion on the face. We report two patients with multiple lesions on different skin areas. The first patient presented a diffuse involvement of the right foot, and reddish-brown plaques on the right leg, the back and the face. Spreading of the lesions followed a prolonged application of topical corticosteroids. The second patient showed a large plaque on the nape and occipital area resulting in scarring alopecia, and plaques on the right inguinal and thigh regions. Ziehl-Neelsen staining was negative in both cases, but diagnosis was supported by histology and polymerase chain reaction analysis. No visceral involvement was present. Antituberculosis polychemotherapy was rapidly effective.
Subject(s)
Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Lupus Vulgaris/diagnosis , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/adverse effects , Aged , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/adverse effects , Disease Progression , Female , Humans , Lupus Vulgaris/drug therapy , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A 65-year-old man with refractory anaemia with an excess of blasts developed an erythematous papular eruption symmetrically distributed on the legs and trunk 3 months after initiation of erythropoietin therapy. The lesions showed a dense neutrophilic infiltrate in the absence of leucocytoclastic vasculitis, and did not fit the criteria of a well-defined neutrophilic dermatosis. Concomitant with the rapid resolution of these skin lesions following erythropoietin discontinuation, typical lesions of erythema elevatum diutinum arose on the extensor surface of the fingers, knees and elbows, which responded to a brief course of dapsone treatment. Although typical and atypical neutrophilic dermatoses have been reported in patients with haematological disorders, they have also been associated with the use of drugs, in particular granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. To our knowledge this is the first report of unclassified neutrophilic dermatosis and erythema elevatum diutinum occurring following the administration of erythropoietin.
Subject(s)
Colony-Stimulating Factors/adverse effects , Erythema/chemically induced , Erythropoietin/adverse effects , Myelodysplastic Syndromes/drug therapy , Neutrophil Infiltration/drug effects , Aged , Erythema/immunology , Humans , Male , Neutrophil Infiltration/immunologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the average age, sex distribution, duration of follow-up, clinical course, serologic abnormalities, and incidence of possibly associated malignancy in patients with amyopathic dermatomyositis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospitals. PATIENTS: Thirteen patients with amyopathic dermatomyositis. RESULTS: The 13 patients represented 8.2% of 157 patients with dermatomyositis seen retrospectively in a 10-year period by the Italian Group of Immunodermatology of the Italian Society of Dermatology and Venereology. Gottron papules and sign and periungual telangiectasias were found in approximately 50% of cases (papules in 7 patients, Gottron sign and periungual telangiectasias in 6), while periorbital violaceous erythema was seen in 70% (9 patients). Arthralgias occurred in 2 patients and Raynaud phenomenon in 4. An elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate was detected in 6 patients, hepatitis B virus antigen in 3, speckled antinuclear antibodies in 7, and anti-Ro and antimitochondrial antibodies in 1 case each. None of our patients had evidence of internal malignancy. Neither cardiopulmonary nor esophageal dysfunction was demonstrated. Electromyography showed a protopathic muscle abnormality in 3 patients. Muscle biopsy disclosed myositis and a neurogenic myopathy in another one. CONCLUSIONS: Amyopathic dermatomyositis is a rare disease. So far, only 2 series of a few cases each have been reported. The "amyopathic" subset of dermatomyositis is peculiar in that its cutaneous lesions are predominant for long periods or even permanently, although they are indistinguishable from those of classic dermatomyositis. The minimal or absent muscle disease and the rarity of serum immunologic findings imply a favorable prognosis in white patients.
