Iranian Journal of Dermatology
Year:2001 | Volume:5 | Issue:1|Papers Count:4

Background: Psoriasis is a common disease of the skin. Metabolic disorders have been suggested in the etiology of psoriasis. Objective: As hypocalcemia has been reported to provoke psoriasis, we studied the blood calcium level in this disease. Patients & Methods: In this case- control study, we measured blood calcium level in 120 psoriatic patients visited in outpatient clinic or admitted in Ghahem Hospital in Mashad and compared to 120 age and sex matched normal controls. Results: Considering blood calcium level of 8.5 -10.5 mg/dl as normal, 17 psoriatic patients (14%) and 6 controls (5%) were hypocalcemic (P<0.05). Conclusion: As hypocalcemia in psoriatic patients was significantly more common in this study, estimation of blood calcium level is recommended in psoriasis.

Background: During imposed war (19801988) Iraq frequently used chemical warfare particularly mustard gas. Skin is frequently involved in victims. Objective: Our main objective was to evaluate chronic skin manifestations due to exposure to mustard gas 10-19 years after exposure in a case- control study. Patients & Methods: 101 chemically wounded combators and 121 non-chemically wounded combators were randomly selected and examined by dermatologists. Laboratory tests were done for 30 subjects in each group. Data were analyzed by SPSS/PCT # 5 software using student-t and chi-square tests with yates correction. Results: Severe itching, burning sensation, skin tightness and dryness, hypo and hyper pigmentation, telangiectasia, melanocytic nevus, cherry angioma, lichenification, alopecia areata, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, tinea versicolor, acute eczema on lower. extremities were significantly more common in chemically wounded than the control group. Lymphopenia, lower serum IgM, and higher serum IgG were also more common in the exposed group. Conclusion: Several skin disorders are more common m chemical gas victims, even several years after exposure. This finding shows that more research on various subjects such as alterations in immune system, adequate training on protective measures, pathophysiology of pruritus and molecular changes are necessary to find better treatment and effective vaccine.

Background: The nails of hands and feet are involved in the course of many dermatoses and some systemic diseases. They may have diagnostic or progrostic value in some diseases. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate nail lesions in patients referred to Dermatology Department of Sina Hospital in Hamadan from April 1999 to April 2000. Patients & Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was done by preparation of a checklist and necessary information was collected by examining all the patients and recording the nail changes. The data were analyzed with EPl6 software. Results: Among 2269 patients visited during this year, 630 persons (27.7%) had nail lesions. Eczema and psoriasis were the most common dermatosis with nail lesions (23.5% and 12%, respectively). Fifty-five patients (8.7%) had only nail diseases. Ridging was the most common nail lesion in hands (32%) and in feet (42%). Conclusion: Approximately one third of patients referred to the dermatologic clinic of Sina Hospital in Hamadan had nail lesions.

Background: Behcet"s disease is a recurrent, chronic and multi-systemic disease which is determined by mucocutaneous manifestations. It spreads all over the world. The most common areas are in the Middle East, Mediterranean and Far East. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of clinical manifestations of Behcet"s disease in patients admitted to dermatology ward of Sina Hospital in Hamadan City in 1991-1999. Patients & Methods: This study was a descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study which the essential information including sex, age and clinical manifestations were gathered by referring to the patients" files. Then the obtained information were analyzed by EPI Info6 Software. Results: twenty-eight patients were identified. Thirteen patients (46.6%) were female and 15 patients (53.6%) were male. The most common age was in the third decade. The average age of the patients at the. beginning of disease was 31.89±12.95 years. Skin involvement was observed in 11 patients (39.9%). Nine patients (32.1%) had folliculitis, 5 patients (17.9%) had papulopustular lesions, 2 patients (7.1 %) had erythema nodosum like lesions. Conclusion: This study showed that skin involvement (particularly erythema nodosum like lesions, papulopustular lesions and positive pathergy test) and also arthicular symptoms were less common in patients in Hamadan than other parts of world. But the frequency of other clinical manifestations of Behcet"s disease were nearly equal to other studies.