Iranian Journal of Dermatology
Year:2001 | Volume:4 | Issue:3 (15) |Papers Count:10

Background: Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE) is chronic, recurrent and relatively benign skin disorder. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the laboratory tests (ANA, LE-Cell, ESR, CRP, RF, VDRL, WBC, PLT) in patients with DLE. Patients and Methods: In this study, laboratory tests of 51 patients with DLE who referred to the Dermatology clinic of Shahid Faghihi Hospital in Shiraz since Mehr 1377 to Shahrivar 1379, were investigated. Results: positive ANA was found in 20% of patients (9/46) and 33% of patients (15/45) had ESR>20mm/hr. Leukopenia, leukocytosis and thrombocytosis was found in 8% (4/51), 2% (1/51), and 2/5% of patients (1/40) respectively and none of the patients (from 45 patients) had thrombocytopenia. One patient from 40 patients (2/5%) showed positive RF test. LE-cell preparation, CRP and VDRL tests were done in 40,41 and 42 patients respectively and were negative in all of them. Conclusion: Some of the patients with DLE show abnormalities in laboratory tests. ANA positively and high ESR are more common than others.      

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common disease with an unknown etiology. It is a chronic disease which causes severe disfigurement. So it may significantly affect the patients' quality of life (QOL). This study was designed to evaluate illness perception and QOL in patients with AA. Patients & Methods: A questionnaire consisting of 28 questions about causes, course and the impact on QOL were given to patients with AA older than12 years attending a private, skin clinic in 1999 in Tehran. The questions were asked as closed questions and the patients answered them anonymously as "I agree", "I do not know" and " I disagree". Only questionnaires with more than 80% of questions answered were analyzed. The role of age, sex, duration, preventions treatment, education, severity and family history of AA were assessed. Results: 80 patients (42 male and 38 female) with a mean age of 27.5 +/- 9.3 years and disease duration of 7.8 +/- 7.7 years entered the study. 60 of them had AA and 20 had alopecia totalis/universalis (AT/AU). 77% of patients believed on the role of stress as the cause of disease, more in older patients and shorter duration. 17%believed on the role of genetic background, more in patients with positive family history of AA or longer duration of disease. AA, had a pronounced effect on QOL of 58% of patients, more in younger patients. 51% of patients considered their disease as severe, more in younger patients or severe disease. Only 58% of patients considered their treatments effective and 49% of them believed it will Improve with praying. Conclusion: AA may considerably affect various aspects of patients' lives. The knowledge of atients about the causes and course of this disease is very limited. Physicians should spend more time on the education of patients.      

Background: There is no data on the characteristics of patients with localized .scleroderma in Iran. Objective: In order to determine the age, sex and type distribution of localized sclerodrma in Iran, this study was done on patients referred to Boo-Ali Hospital in Tehran in 1995-1999. Patients & Methods: This study was done as an existing data study on 39 patients with localized scleroderma referred to Boo-Ali Hospital in Tehran in 1995-1999. Age, sex, site, type of involvement, and age distribution of each type were recorded. Results: 39 patients with localized scleroderma referred to Boo-Ali Hospital in this period, including 9 male and 30 female patients so female/male ratio was 3/3. Most of the patients (48%) were in the age range of 20-40 years. 77.9% of female patients were in the age range of 10-40 years and 43.4% of male patients were in the first to fourth decade. 2.56% of the patients were younger than 10 years and most were boys. The most common sites of involvement were extremities, trunk, face and neck in order. The plaque type was the most common type but the linear type was seen more in perineal area. The plaque type was the most common type in children, as well. Conclusion: Age and sex distribution and sites of involvement in patients with localized cleroderma referred to Boo-Ali Hospital in Tehran were similar to other reports.            

Background: Minoxidil is currently an approved treatment for androgenetic alopecia. Topical tretinoin can enhance skin absorption of minoxidil. Objective: This study has been done in order to determine the efficacy and safety of the solution of 0.5% minoxidil + 0.05% tretinoin compared to 2% minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia in men. Patients and Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, controlled study, 117 male patients with androgenetic alopecia, 18-40 years old, Hamilton grades of 2-5 and duration of alopecia less than 10 years were evaluated. These patients were divided in two groups randomly, one group received a solution containing 0.5% minoxidil arid 0.05%tretinoin and another group received 2% minoxidil for at least 4 months. The patients used 1 ml of the solution twice daily. 2 and 4 months after treatment, the patients were evaluated for efficacy (patients, idea about improvement of hair loss, hair regrowth and wash test) and safety (erythema, scaling and pruritus). The quantitative data were analyzed by ANOVA and the qualitative data were analyzed by qui-squared test. Results: There were no significant differences between two groups regarding the age, duration and grade of hair loss. After 4 months of treatment, the percentage of patients reporting improvement in hair loss and hair regrowth were % 81/6 and %56 in minoxidil 2% group and 65/4% and 59/6% in minoxidil + tretinoin group, respectively (P> 0.05 for all ). At the same time, the numbers of hairs in wash test were 156 in minoxidil 2% group and 149 in minoxidil+tretinoin group (p> 0.05). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in efficacy and safety of 4 months treatment with the solution of 0.5% minoxidil and 0.05% tretinoin compared to the solution of 2% minoxidil in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men.    

Background: Studies investigating the possible role of personality and emotional factors in acne vulgaris patients have yielded inconsistent and sometimes contradictory results. Objective: The purpose ofthis study was to assess personality and psychological functioning in women with acne vulgaris and compare them with normal women. Patients and Methods: Forty-seven consecutive female patients aged 15-30 years with acne vulgaris attending a clinic in west of Tehran during January and February 2000 were assessed using the Mini-Mult test, a shortened version of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The results were analyzed using student's t test. Results: The mean hypochondriasis scale score was greater in the study group in comparison to normal women (P<0.02). The mean depression and psychoasthenia scale scores were greater in patients younger than 22 years in comparison to those 22 years or older (respectively, P<0.05 and P,0.005). The mean paranoia scale score was smaller in those patients who were treated for acne vulgaris 3 or more times in the past in comparison to those who were treated less than 3 times (P<0.05). Conclusion: Women aged 15-30 years with acne vulgaris used the disease as a tool to attract others attention. Anxiety and depression were more common in female patients younger than 22 years. Those patients who were treated for acne vulgaris 3 or more times in the past were tough-minded persons who refused to accept others recommendations.        

Bloom's syndrome (BS) is a rare, autosomal recessive disease characterized by short stature, erythematous skin lesions with photosensitivity, hypo- and hyperpigmentation and recurrent bacterial infections due to immune deficiency. We report a 13-year old girl with erythema and telangiectasia in butterfly distribution on face, photosensitivity, multiple cafe au lait spots on trunk and extremities, short stature, characteristic faces consisting of a narrow prominent nose, relatively hypoplastic malar areas and receding chin with a long narrow head, and a history of recurrent otitis media. Her history and clinical compatible with BS.      

Acne agminata is a chronic, self-limiting papular eruption, symmetrically distributed in the central portion of the face, healing with scarnng. We report a 25 year-old man, who was treated as acne vulgaris and lupus vulgaris but without improvement. According to clinical presentation and histopathologic findings, the diagnosis of acne agminata was made. We treated the patient successfully with oral prednisolon, 30mg/day, tapered in 3 months. No recurrence was observed in the follow-up.

Pemphigus is rare in children; only 71 cases have been reported in literature. We report 2 cases of pemphigus vulgaris (13 and 15years old) among 147 cases of pemphigus from Khouzestan who were admitted to the Department of Dermatology, Ahwaz Medical University between 1989-2001. The basis of diagnosis was clinical and histopathological findings in each patient. One patient was treated only with oral corticosteroid, and in the other patient dapson was added for steroid-sparing effect. Long-term follow-up is necessary to detect fairing of the disease and side-effects of immunosuppressive drugs.