Isotretinoin-induced Spondyloarthropathy-related Symptoms: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease involving the pilosebaceous unit of the skin. Isotretinoin is a systemic retinoid that is often used as an effective treatment option for severe and treatment-resistant acne. Isotretinoin may also cause rheumatologic symptoms. The aim of this prospective observational study was to present followup results regarding the rheumatologic symptoms of patients who received systemic therapy for the treatment of acne (isotretinoin and tetracycline). METHODS: For inclusion in the study, all consecutive patients with acne who were aged > 18 years were evaluated by the same dermatologist. The first 42 consecutive patients were included in the isotretinoin group, and after matching for age and sex, 32 consecutive patients were included in the tetracycline group. Isotretinoin treatment was planned as an average dose of 30 mg daily and a total dose of 120-150 mg/kg for 4-6 months. The patients were administered a dose of 1 g/day of tetracycline as 2 equal doses for 3 months. RESULTS: Forty-two patients diagnosed with acne vulgaris were treated with isotretinoin 20.6 ± 4.4 (male/female: 17/22), and 32 patients were treated with tetracycline 20.6 ± 2.7 (male/female: 8/24). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to age and sex. Unilateral Achilles enthesopathy developed in 3 patients, whereas both Achilles enthesopathy and unilateral sacroiliitis developed in 1 patient. Inflammatory back pain developed in 6 patients in the isotretinoin group. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this was the first prospective observational study that assessed the rheumatologic symptoms of isotretinoin treatment. The spondyloarthropathy findings were identified in 23.1% of the patients who used isotretinoin.

[The Assesment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Patients Admiting to Gaziantep University of Medicine Faculty Leishmaniasis Diagnosis and Treatment Center]. / Gaziantep Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi Leishmaniasis Tani ve Tedavi Merkezine Basvuran Kutanöz Leishmaniasis Olgularinin Degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVE: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a curable clinical condition characterized by atrophic scars caused by the Leishmania species of protozoan parasites. In the period following the beginning of the Syrian Civil War, there has been a dramatic increase in number of CL cases in Gaziantep. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of CL patients admitted to Gaziantep University of Medicine Faculty Leishmaniasis diagnosis and treatment center in Gaziantep. METHODS: Within the context of this study, a total of 635 CL patients admitted between 01 April 2013 and 01 April 2014 to the Leishmaniasis diagnosis and treatment center of the Gaziantep were evaluated retrospectively. Patient data regarding age, sex, the location of lesions, the number of lesions, the duration of the lesions, and the months in which the lesions appeared were recorded and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Of these patients, 67 (10.6%) were Turkish citizens, while 568 (89.4%) were Syrian citizens. In addition, 299 (47.1%) of the patients were female, while 336 (52.9%) were male. The large majority of the cases were between 5-9 (n=140, 22%) and 10-19 (n=168, 26.5%) years of age; 66% of all cases were below 20 years of age. An evaluation of the distribution of cases according to the months revealed that the lowest number of cases occurred in the months of July (n=14, 2.2%) and August (n=13, 2.0%), while the highest number of cases occurred in the months of January (n=122, 19.2%) and February (n=106, 16.7%). CONCLUSION: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is a condition that affects individuals of all ages and genders. It is thus necessary to conduct regular health screenings for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, and to inform and educate vulnerable communities and the society in general regarding this condition.