ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic nonscarring alopecia that involves hair follicles and is characterized by patchy areas of hair loss without any signs of clinical inflammation. Platelet-ri-ch plasma (PRP) has a high platelet concentration. Anti-inflammatory effect of PRP may be of great help in AA. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Study was conducted to compare the outcome of treatment and side effects of intralesional PRP versus triamcinolone in AA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 patients with alopecia areata were allocated into 2 groups and treated with triamcinolone and PRP injections. The response was analyzed by SALT score (severity of alopecia tool score) and hair regrowth grade (HRG) scale. Inferential statistical tools such as t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square test were used. RESULTS: 16 patients in each group completed the study. While comparing the decrease in SALT score at different intervals of time, there was a significant difference in SALT score reduction during the second review between PRP group and triamcinolone group (P = 0.028). After the first and final review, results did not show any statistically significant difference between the two groups. While comparing the hair regrowth scale between treatments, there was no statistical significance. 12.5% patients in PRP group reported excellent response after final review (HRG scale 4), compared to none in triamcinolone group. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet-rich plasma is a safe, effective, steroid sparing, and suitable alternative in AA. Only side effect noted was pain during injections in both the groups.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a major cause for foot wear dermatitis. Patch testing is the standard investigation for diagnosis of ACD. Identification of the causative allergen and avoidance of the same is the most important for patient management. AIMS: This study was conducted to find the common allergens in footwear, causing ACD, by retrospective analysis of the data of patients who had undergone patch testing with footwear series (FWS), approved by the Contact and Occupational Dermatoses Forum of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 276 cases with footwear dermatitis who underwent patch test with FWS using Finn chamber method were studied. Statistical analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 24. Data was described using frequency and percentages. P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: In this study 101 (36.5%) patients had positive patch test to at least one allergen. Among this, 43 (15.6%) were positive for single allergen only and 58 (21.01%) patients had positive patch test reactions to multiple allergens. The most common allergens with positive patch test were black rubber mix, mercapto benzo thiazole, and thiuram mix. Patients with either a positive or negative patch test had no statistically significant difference in the history of atopy. The limitations of this study include the lack of patch testing with the patient's own footwears and lack of follow-up after informing patients regarding allergen avoidance. CONCLUSIONS: Patch test must be done for all foot eczema cases for early identification of the causative allergen and also to provide suitable alternatives.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Dexamethasone-immunosuppressant pulse therapy introduced by Pasricha et al. in 1981 as a treatment for long-term remission in pemphigus group of disorders has gained wide acceptance in many places, especially India. Since the overall duration of treatment is determined by the duration of phase 1 of the regime, identification of factors that influence phase 1 may be particularly helpful in addressing patient's concerns and apprehensions before initiation of treatment so that compliance can be improved. AIMS: To find out factors that affect the duration of phase 1 of dexamethasone-immunosuppressant pulse therapy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A 10-year retrospective study from medical records of 37 patients was conducted. The severity of pemphigus was assessed using Kumar's scoring system. The mean duration of phase 1 compared between the variables and significance of association was found out using Student's t-test. Patients were further classified in to two groups: with phase 1 duration ≤6 months and >6 months. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were done to find out factors which significantly contribute to prolonged induction phase. RESULTS: A significant association was noticed between total severity score and mean duration of phase 1 (P = 0.031). Significant association was also noticed between prolonged induction phase of >6 months and oral mucosal severity score >2 (P = 0.017). Other patient factors, type of pulse therapy, and comorbidities had no effects on the duration of phase 1. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of phase 1 is expected to prolong if the total severity score is >3, and when oral severity score is >2 it is likely to be more than 6 months.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There have been reports of association between lichen planus (LP) and metabolic syndrome and its various parameters. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with LP and to determine the association between the morphologic types of LP and metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 1 year, 70 clinically diagnosed patients with LP were included and evaluated for metabolic syndrome based on the modified National Cholesterol Education Program: Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 17 software, and inferential statistical tools such as t-test for continuous data and Chi-square test for categorical data were used. RESULTS: A 35.7% prevalence of metabolic syndrome was found in patients with LP. The average duration of LP was found to be higher in patients with metabolic syndrome. There was a higher prevalence of central obesity, increased fasting blood sugar, and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterolin patients with LP. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome was seen in 25 patients (35.7%) with LP. It is important to advise our patients to adopt healthy lifestyle choices to help prevent comorbidities and improve the general health of population. As this study was a cross-sectional study, the directionality of the association between LP and metabolic syndrome could not be assessed. Lack of controls and a small sample size are other limitations of our study.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although acne is principally a disorder of adolescence, the number of adult patients with acne is increasing. Adult acne is defined as the presence of acne beyond the age of 25 years. There is relatively few data on the prevalence and studies of acne in adult population. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze the various factors that aggravate or precipitate acne vulgaris in Indian adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was done at the Department of Dermatology at a tertiary care center in Kerala for a period of 1 year. A total of 110 patients above the age of 25 year diagnosed clinically as acne vulgaris were included in the study. A detailed history regarding age of onset, duration, type of acne, family history, whether there was any exacerbation related to food, cosmetics, drugs, emotional stress, seasonal variation, sunlight, sweating, pregnancy, menstruation and smoking was taken. RESULTS: Majority of patients with adult acne were in the age group 26-30 years and there was a clear female preponderance. Persistent acne was more common than late onset acne. Food items and cosmetics were attributed to exacerbation by 47.3% and 40% of patients respectively; 32.7% patients had exacerbations during stress, 26.4% following sun exposure and 23.6% after sweating. About 48% patients had first degree relatives with present or past history of acne. Most of the female patients had premenstrual flare of acne, which was much more common among patients with persistent acne. Pregnancy had no effect on acne in majority of patients. Seasonal variation was observed in 44.5% patients, most of them showing exacerbation in summer months. CONCLUSION: Acne as a disease lasts longer, persists into adulthood and requires treatment well into the forties. Unlike teenage acne, where males tend to be affected more commonly, post adolescent acne mainly affects females. It is therapeutically rewarding to identify the concerned triggers and aggravating factors and be able to deal with them.
ABSTRACT
Paraganglioma-like dermal melanocytic tumor (PDMT) is a rare subtype of benign dermal melanocytic tumor, first described in 2004. Its histopathologic features resemble those of paraganglioma, showing presence of a distinctive partitioning of the tumor into small and large packets, nests, or short cords by delicate fibrous septa (zellballen pattern). But the immunostaining characteristics are those of melanocytic lesions, as PDMT express S-100, melan A, HMB 45 and lack pancytokeratin markers. It has a benign course, although a lesion of low malignant potential cannot be excluded. We describe a case of 60-year-old female who presented with three PDMT lesions on her right leg. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case reported from India.
