ABSTRACT
Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) and obesity represent chronic diseases, with growing worldwide prevalence, that rely on a common pathophysiological background: perpetual inflammation. Moreover, AD is considered more and more to be a beyond-the-skin disease with various associated comorbidities. This study aimed to investigate a potential link between overweight/obese status and AD in children. Methods A case-control study was performed on 130 AD patients and 130 exact age and sex match controls that attended the Pediatric Dermatology Department of Colentina Clinical Hospital. Based on the weight (in kilograms) and height (in centimeters), the body mass index (BMI), and the corresponding age and gender percentiles were assessed in both groups; study participants were divided as normal-weight, underweight, overweight, or obese. AD severity was evaluated using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis Index (SCORAD), and quality of life impairment was assessed with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and logistic regression with odds ratios (OR) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used for data analysis. Results A statistically significantly higher BMI was identified in the AD group compared to controls (p=0.027). The relative risk for overweight/obese status in the AD group compared to controls was three times more frequent (OR 3.61, 95% CI 1.45-10.3, p<0.01). Additionally, the increased BMI in the AD group correlated significantly with disease severity as determined by SCORAD (p<0.05), with a relative risk for overweight/obese status in the moderate-severe AD subgroup being 20 times more frequent as compared to mild AD (OR 20.4, 95% CI 6.53-90.7, p<0.001). Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the correlation between AD and BMI in Romanian children. Statistically significant correlations between increased BMI, AD development, and AD severity in children were identified in our study population. This study's small sample size and single-center study design represent possible limitations. Additional, larger, multicentric studies are required to establish a more precise correlation between AD and obesity. Physicians should be aware of this potential association in order to perform obesity screening in AD children for more appropriate multidisciplinary management of such patients.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The Infants and Toddlers Dermatology Quality of Life (InToDermQoL) is the dermatology-specific proxy health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument for children from birth to 4 years. The aim of the present study was to confirm the responsiveness and establish minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the InToDermQoL. METHODS: Parents of children with skin diseases were asked to fill in the InToDermQoL at the initial visit (T1) and subsequent consultation (T2). We hypothesized that correlations between change scores of the InToDermQoL and change scores of global assessment of clinical severity by dermatologists and by patients' parents should be above 0.3. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves method was also used for confirmation of responsiveness and determination of MCIDs of the InToDermQoL. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used as an indicator of responsiveness. RESULTS: Results of 442 patients were included. Correlations between change scores of age-specific versions of the InToDermQoL and change scores of global assessment of clinical severity by dermatologists and by patients' parents were above 0.3 (0.46-0.74). AUCs for age-specific versions of the InToDermQoL were acceptable (above 0.7) or excellent (above 0.8). Estimated MCIDs for the InToDermQoL were as follows: 3 points of total score change for 0-11 months, 5 for 1-2 years and 3 or 4 for 3-4 years version. Estimated MCIDs for the InToDermQoL version for 1-2-year-old children was higher than MCIDs for the 3-4-year-old version despite the higher number of items in the latter. Therefore a MCID of 5 was recommended for both these versions. CONCLUSIONS: Responsiveness for all age-specific versions of the InToDermQoL questionnaire was confirmed. MCIDs for the InToDermQoL are proposed as follows: 3-point change of the total score for age version 0-11 months and 5-point for the age versions 1-2 years and 3-4 years.
ABSTRACT
Gout represents a metabolic disorder with systemic echo, in which needle-like crystals of monosodium urate are deposited in various tissular structures. Crystals accumulation in the connective tissue (tophi) represents the late, chronic stage of this disease, usually emerging after an average of 10 years after disease onset. Herein we report three cases of patients aged 70, 33, and 53 who presented with painful subcutaneous nodules located on various body areas. All of them had hyperuricemia. Several conditions had to be investigated in order to establish the etiology of uric acid metabolism alterations. Laboratory and pathology findings established the diagnosis of gout, with tophi as the first symptom of the disease. Following patient education, diet and lifestyle changes, and medication, the outcome in all patients was favorable, with alleviation of the symptoms. Tophaceous gout as a first presentation of this disease is currently uncommon, but dermatologist should be aware of this rare finding for proper management of such cases and to prevent the resultant significant functional and quality of life impairment if not recognized early.
