Iranian Journal of Dermatology
Year:2000 | Volume:3 | Issue:3 (11)|Papers Count:12

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a protozoan disease of the skin caused by a wide range of italic species. The disease is endemic in many countries. It has been recognized as a major public health problem in Iran. Much treatment has been suggested for it but none of them was fully effective. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of a 5% garlic cream with placebo in CL. Patients & Methods: A double blind, placebo controlled study was performed in Isfahan and Jahrom in 1997 and 1998. 197 patients were randomly selected. Exclusion criteria were: pregnancy, lactation, age less than 5 years and duration of disease more than 100 days. Each patient received garlic cream 5% or placebo for 3 weeks and was followed for another period of 40 days. Results: The study was completed as planned in 171 patients. 96 were treated with garlic 5% cream and 75 with placebo. Complete healing occurred in 18 (18.75%) of garlic group in comparison with 15 (20%) of placebo group. The difference was not significant. (PV =0/9865) Conclusion: 5% garlic cream was not effective in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Further studies with higher concentrations or different vehicle are needed.    

Background: Considering the prevalence of skin lesions and drug eruptions in intensive care units and the absence of research about it, we decided to study skin lesions of patients admitted in intensive care unit. Patients & Methods: In this descriptive study all patients admitted in intensive care units of Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan in 1376-78 were observed and examined by a resident in Dermatology. Skin biopsy and bacterial and fungal smears were done in selected cases. Data were collected, entered in SPSS and analysed by ANOV A, Chi-square and Discriminant methods. Results: 197 of a total of 406 patients had skin lesions. Skin lesions were most frequent in the age range of 21-40 years (37%) and least frequent in age groups under 10 years (2.5%) and over 80 years (3%). 116 of patients (58.9%) were male and 81 (41.1%) were female. The most common skin lesions were hemorrhagic cutaneous lesions (23.4%) and steroid acne (22.8%). The rarest was toxic epidermal necrolysis (0.5%). The most common causes of hospitalization were intracranial and subarachnoid hemorrhage (11.2% each). Conclusion: Skin lesions are common in patients admitted in ICDs. Frequent and continuous examinations of these patients are recommended in order to prevent and treat them promptly.      

Background: Pyogenic granuloma is a benign vascular proliferation that is often related to minor trauma by the patient. Objective: Evaluation of the efficacy of cryotherapy in the treatment of pyogenic granuloma. Patients & Methods: Hundred and forty six patients with pyogenic granuloma were treated by cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen and cotton tip applicator in an open clinical trial. This study was carried out in Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, in 1377. Patients were followed for at least 3 months after complete resolution. Results: Hundred and thirty five patients completed the study. Complete resolution was achieved in all patients. Treatment sessions ranged from one to 4 (mean 1.6 ±0.8) sessions. 88.2% of patients needed only 1 or 2 treatment sessions. Recurrence of lesions occurred in 3 patients in whom retreatment led to complete resolution. Conclusion: Cryotherapy can be regarded as a completely efficient method in treatment of pyogenic granuloma.      

Background: Seborrheic dermatitis is one of the most common skin diseases. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the topical and oral ketoconazole in treatment of intractable cases of seborrheic dermatitis referring to Faghihi Hospital in Shiraz. Patients & Methods: This study was performed on 80 cases of intractable seborrheic dermatitis in 1376-1378. The patients were randomized in two treatment groups. Group included 40 patients who were treated with topical ketoconazole cream 2% two times per day for 4 weeks, and group 2 included 40 patients who received oral ketoconazole 200 mg daily for 4 weeks. Results: Topical ketoconazole clinically cured 35 (87.5%) and oral ketoconazo1e cured 38 (95%) of patients. This difference was not statistically significant. However topical ketoconazole was accompanied with a lower frequency of side effects than the systemic form. Conclusion: Both topical and oral ketoconazole can be regarded as a highly effective and safe treatment for seborrheic dermatitis.      

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer in humans showing various clinical and histological forms. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the age, sex, location, histological subtypes of BCC cases in Ahwaz and to compare it with other skin cancers specially squamous cell carcinoma. Patients & Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study was done using files of Pathology Department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahwaz. All files from 1366 to 1376 were searched and the files of patients with skin cancers were evaluated. Results: 1271 of about 70,000 specimens were diagnosed as skin cancer. 896 of them (70.50%) were BCC. The incidence of BCC was equal in women and men. The mean age was 60 years. An interesting finding was the difference in the mean age of patients in the first 2 years (57.58 years) and last 2 years of study (63.27 years). Eighty percent of patients were in the age range of 40-80 years. The most frequent locations of the lesions were nose, cheeks, forehead and eyelids. The incidence of SCC (294 cases) was almost 1/3 of BCC: Conclusion: The most common skin cancer in Ahwaz is BCC. The frequency is equal in both sexes. The mean age is 60 years and is increasing with time.      

Background: Vitiligo is a common skin disease that clinically presents as depigmented macules due to destruction of melanocytes. Although the cause is unknown, various theories such as autoimmune, autodestruct and neural hypotheses have been proposed. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical picture of vitiligo in Isfahan, Iran. Patients & Methods: In a descriptive study, all vitiligo patients referred to a private skin clinic in Isfahan during one year (1376) were evaluated. Results: 458 of a total of 6540 patients had vitiligo (7.0%). Most of the patients were female (61.1%). The mean age of disease onset was 20.83 years. The site of onset of lesions was extremities in 41.1 %, head & neck in 37.80%, trunk in 16.24% and genitalia in 5.49% of patients. 72% of the patients who had lesions of the face, responded well to topical steroids Conclusion: Vitiligo is a common skin disease in Isfahan and a large study is needed to show the prevalence of the disease in Iran.    

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an auto immune disease in which cutaneous lesions occur in 72%-85% of patients. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the pattern and incidence of skin lesions in SLE patients in Ahwaz. Patients & Methods: Thirty patients with SLE fulfilling the clinical and laboratory criteria of the American Rheumatism Association, who were admitted in Sina Hospital in Ahwaz from December 1989 to September 1999, were studied. Results: Skin findings included: malar rash (70%), mucosal lesions (70%), noncicatricial diffuse alopecia (63.3%), nonspecific skin rash (56.6%), photosensitivity (53.3%), nail involvement (40%), pigmentary changes (33.3%), dry skin and edema of extremities (16.6%), Raynaud's phenomenon, discoid eruption, bullous lesions (13.3%), periorbital edema, urticaria, palmar erythema, scarring alopecia and cutaneous vasculitis (10%), chillblain and psoriasiform lesions (6.6% ) and livedo reticularis (3%). Conclusion: Skin changes are prominent in SLE and may provide helpful diagnostic information. A different clinical pattern from previous reports was noted in our patient.      

An eighteen-year old man is reported who had a large nevus spilus on the right side of his body with port wine stain on the anterior and posterior sides of his trunk without any systemic involvement. Considering the clinical signs and skin biopsy report of the patient, the diagnosis of phakomatosis pigmentovascularis type IlIa was made.