Inverse correlation between vitamin D and CRP levels in alopecia areata: A pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune non-scarring hair loss. The role of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamins, especially vitamin D, on the natural hair cycle is well defined in literature. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between vitamin D and CRP levels in patients with alopecia areata. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed from beginning of October 2020 until end of December 2021. Alopecia areata patients over 18 years of age gave their written consent to participate in the study. The severity of the patients' disease was assessed using the Severity of Alopecia Tool. Serum vitamin D and CRP levels were measured and CBC and LFT were also performed. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the patients with the localized form of AA and its universal form in the following variables: Vitamin D levels, SALT score, WBC, ALKP, and CRP. There was also a significant inverse correlation between CRP and vitamin D levels (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher CRP levels, and patients with low serum vitamin D and high CRP levels are at a higher risk of developing the universalis form of AA; therefore, these patients should undergo more aggressive treatments.

COVID-19 vaccination and alopecia areata: a case report and literature review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major concern worldwide and various vaccines have been developed and approved for it, however some immune-related issues of COVID-19 vaccines should be considered and individualized for patients. In this study we report two cases of rapidly progressive hair loss following COVID-19 vaccination.

Multiple Disseminated Pyogenic Granuloma Post-Oil Burning: A Review of Literature.

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a common acquired vascular tumor and may appear mostly as a solitary papulonodular lesion on the face, trunk, and extremities. Although the etiology of PG is unclear, trauma, infections, and hormones may play a role. Multiple disseminated PGs are a very rare form and mostly are seen after traumas such as burn. We presented a patient with multiple PGs secondary to oil burning. There has been no report of PG caused by scald burn due to oil before. We also reviewed the literature in English and found 24 other cases of disseminated PG that most of them developed post-boiling milk.

Methotrexate as a safe immunosuppressive agent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, immunocompromised patients are at a higher risk of severe infection, since the immune system has an important role in defeating this disease. This study compares the severity of COVID-19 in patients taking methotrexate with the severity of their family members' illness as patients with normal immune system function. METHODS: A total of 35 participants, including 14 patients taking methotrexate and 21 patients with normal immune function, entered this study, and the indicators of COVID-19 severity were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: The case group, who were on methotrexate therapy, had significantly less severe COVID-19 based on their symptoms, including fever (p = 0.000) and cough and dyspnea (p = 0.01) as well as in terms of COVID-19 severity indicators such as pulmonary involvement (p = 0.001), ferritin level (p = 0.001), white blood cell count (p = 0.008) and CRP level (p = 0.006), compared to the control group. There was a significant correlation between taking methotrexate and lower severity in COVID-19 disease. CONCLUSION: The present findings demonstrated that methotrexate does not predispose patients to severe COVID-19; on the contrary, patients taking methotrexate may experience a milder disease, possibly due to their reduced severe inflammatory reactions as a result of inhibited TNFα, lowered IL6, and increased T regulatory cells. According to these findings, methotrexate appears to be a suitable treatment option for patients who need immunosuppressive medications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ant-induced alopecia: A new differential diagnosis for nonscarring alopecia.

Ant-induced alopecia is a rare condition caused by Pheidole pallidula species. This particular cause of nonscaring alopecia should be considered a new differential diagnosis.

Oral Pulse Betamethasone, Methotrexate, and Combination Therapy to Treat Severe Alopecia Areata: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Clinical Trial.

The purpose of this study is to compare oral betamethasone pulse therapy, methotrexate therapy and a combination of the two for patients with Alopecia Areata (AA) as an autoimmune disorder. In this study, 36 patients with severe AA were selected and classified into three groups of 12: 1- Oral betamethasone therapy (3 mg, once a week) with placebo; 2- Oral methotrexate (15 mg, once a week) with placebo; and 3- A combination of methotrexate (15 mg, once a week) and betamethasone (3 mg, once a week). The Severity Alopecia Tool (SALT) was used to measure improvements in the lesions through photographs, and the patients also rated their condition on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Assessments were performed, and the results were compared at baseline and then at intervals of three months for nine months. The demographics and SALT score were similar in the three groups (P > 0.05). All the groups showed improvements in SALT, VAS and photographic scores three months after beginning the treatment (P < 0.001). Betamethasone therapy (P = 0.006) and combination therapy (P < 0.001) provided greater SALT improvement than methotrexate, and combination therapy led to a greater improvement in VAS and photographic findings compared to the two other groups (P < 0.05). Oral steroid, methotrexate and combination pulse therapy were effective treatments for AA, while oral steroid pulse therapy and combination therapy were superior to methotrexate.

Multiple disseminated pyogenic granuloma post-oil burning-Review literature.

Disseminated pyogenic granuloma is a rare entity. Patients need reassurance for this benign condition and are advised about the risk of recurrence and the risk of scarring with a total surgical excision. Red-flag diagnoses should be ruled out.

A case report of hydroxychloroquine-induced auditory and visual hallucination.

INTRODUCTION: Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a common manifestation of lupus erythematosus. Hydroxychloroquine is commonly used in the treatment of lupus erythematosus. The present study aims to report hallucinations induced by hydroxychloroquine. CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old woman came to the dermatology clinic with a complaint of a red lesion on her left cheek. Physical examination revealed an ulcerative erythematous plaque with keratotic scales, an atrophic area of ~ 2 × 2.5 cm. Biopsy of the lesion was performed, and histopathology result was consistent with the diagnosis of DLE. Laboratory tests were all normal. Topical clobetasol and pimecrolimus were prescribed for the patient, who was recommended to use sunscreen as well. However, the treatment did not work, thus hydroxychloroquine 200 mg daily was added to the treatment. After a week, the patient came back to the clinic with her husband with the complaint of auditory and visual hallucinations, nightmares, and occasional decrease in consciousness level. After neurology and psychiatric consultation, hydroxychloroquine was discontinued and replaced with intralesional administration of triamcinolone. The lesion disappeared and did not recur. DISCUSSION: Previous studies and the lack of another explanation for the patient's hallucinations imply a strong correlation between hydroxychloroquine and hallucinations. The mechanism of these side effects has not been fully elucidated. However, this side effect has only been reported in cases of connective tissue diseases. As currently hydroxychloroquine is widely used in the treatment of COVID-19 and other diseases, its potential risk of psychiatric complications should be considered in clinical practice.

Cutaneous horn: A rare subtype of juvenile xanthogranuloma.

Because of variability in the JXG shape and the extensive range of a cutaneous horn differential diagnosis, dermatologists should keep this diagnosis in their mind in the time of encountering with infants or children cases of cutaneous horn.

A rare form of discoid lupus erythematosus as a rosacea and angiofibroma: A case report.

The rare presentation of DLE can be rosacea-/angiofibroma-like lesions which should be considered in patients with red-pink to skin-color papules with flushing and photosensitivity.