No abstract

Background: The exact prevalence and distinct clinical and histological criteria of psoriatic lesions in the oral cavity remain unknown. Although some non-specific lesions are more frequent in psoriatic patients in comparison with healthy people, the incidence and clinical variation of psoriasis are heterogeneous in the literature. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of oral lesions in Iranian patients with psoriasis. Methods: Patients with plaque-type psoriasis were participated in a cross-sectional study. Physicians performed full-body skin examination and assessed extra-cutaneous involvement including oral cavity, nails and articular system. Results: One hundred patients with psoriasis (41 males and 59 females) with the mean age of 43.79 ± 12.52 years were participated in the study. Mucosal changes clinically suggestive of oral psoriasis were detected in none of the cases. We observed nonspecific oral lesions in 48% of the patients including fissured tongue (35%), angular cheilitis (13%), actinic cheilitis (11%), geographic tongue (6%), fibroma (3%) and denture stomatitis (2%). The statistical analyses showed that presentation of oral lesions increases with concomitant cardiovascular disorders or diabetes mellitus, but no relationship between oral lesions and other demographic and clinical data was noted. Conclusions: Although the incidence of true oral psoriasis is rare, non-specific oral lesions may be frequently found in patients with psoriasis. Since both true psoriatic oral lesions and non-specific changes are mostly asymptomatic, routine examination of the oral cavity is necessary in all patients with the diagnosis of psoriasis.

Objective Little is known about illness perception in patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV). We designed a cross-sectional study to clarify the beliefs about PV. Methods A total of 100 patients with PV (45 men, 55 women) completed the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised to assess beliefs about seven aspects of illness perception, including chronicity, recurrence, consequences, self and medicine role in controlling illness, coherence, and emotional representation. The relationship between illness perception and clinical and demographic variables was evaluated. Results Patients viewed PV as a chronic and cyclical disease with important impression on their life and emotions. Patients had a good understanding of the disease and supposed an acceptable role for themselves and medical treatment. Interestingly, the clinical subtype and severity of the disease did not influence any aspect of illness perception, but some differences on the basis of demographic data were demonstrated. Conclusion Our patients had a relatively good understanding of their illness and a correct perception about chronicity and the cyclical identity of illness. The patients believed that their life and emotions had been strongly influenced by the disease but were hopeful for a cure. Because correction of misconceptions about a disease may improve treatment outcomes, an assessment of patients' illness perception may be useful to try and modify perception.

There is controversy about the role of autoantibodies against desmoglein 1 and 3 (Dsg1 and 3) in the pathogenesis of lichen planus (LP); the authors planned this study to determine the presence of circulating levels of these antibodies in patients with different types of oral LP and to compare that with cutaneous LP and healthy controls. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test was performed on serum samples of 24 cases of erosive oral LP, 29 cases of reticular oral LP, 30 cases of cutaneous LP and 30 healthy controls. The severity of oral LP was evaluated by Reticulation, Erosion and Ulceration scoring system. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of autoantibodies to Dsg1 between the four groups. Autoantibodies to Dsg3 were increased in erosive oral LP compared with healthy controls (p value = 0.005) but no increase was observed between other groups. We did not detect a correlation between the severity of the disease and the levels of anti-Dsg1 and 3 in patients with erosive and reticular types of oral LP. In conclusion, regardless of the increased level of anti-Dsg3 antibody in erosive oral LP, serum concentrations of antibodies were under cut-off values. Moreover, the pathogenic role of anti-Dsg3 antibodies in erosive oral LP is uncertain.

Background: Changes in the appearance of melanocytic nevi have been increasingly reported following hair removal lasers. This could be a source of anxiety in patients doing cosmetic hair removal lasers. Moreover, taking biopsy of any changed nevus following laser is not routinely practical. Therefore, this study was designed to describe dermoscopic changes happened on acquired junctional melanocytic nevi after photodepilation methods. Method:In this prospective study, 66 melanocytic nevi in 27 patients were chosen.Dermoscopic images were taken at the baseline visit and 2 months following single session of hair removal laser. Afterward, the before and after laser images were compared for any change in the structure and color of the nevi.Results: Dermoscopic images showed alterations in nevi following laser including changes in size in 33%, color in 63.6%, newly developed asymmetry in 12.1%, and regression in 3% of nevi. Besides, alteration in reticular and dots and globules pattern was found in 92.5% and 69.32%, respectively. Conclusions:Hair removal laser could induce considerable changes in appearance of acquired junctional melanocytic nevi. Dermoscopic study before and after the process could help to avoid unnecessary excision of suspected lesions.

No abstract

No abstract