In HLA-alopecia areata association, ethnic differences may play a role.

Locally applied DMSO can break the vicious "pruritus-amyloid deposition-pruritus" cycle in patients with MA and LA. In addition to its daily use, interval therapy seems to maintain this effect and enables patients to tolerate side-effects more easily.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of topical provocation in the diagnosis of cotrimoxazole-induced fixed-drug eruption (FDE). 27 patients with established cotrimoxazole-induced FDE by oral provocation and 20 healthy controls were tested with drugs at increasing concentrations in white petrolatum and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) both on previously involved and uninvolved skin sites. Tape-stripping occlusive patch testing in petrolatum remained negative in 19 tested patients. Open testing with drug preparations in DMSO revealed positive results in 25 of 27 tested patients. 1 patient showed an additional positive reaction on previously uninvolved skin. Lesions on male genitalia and on face reacted to testing once with 10% or 20% of the suspected drug, whereas repeated testing with concentrations up to 50% was necessary in lesions on trunk & extremities. Open testing with drug preparations in DMSO at concentrations of 10%, 20% and 50% and pure DMSO remained negative in 20 healthy controls. The present study shows that repeated open testing with graded concentrations of the drugs up to 50% in DMSO is a reliable test method in sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim-induced FDE. Patients and physicians should be aware of the transient irritant reaction to DMSO that is not infrequent, so as to avoid false-positive interpretations.

No abstract

We report a case of a 7-year-old girl with hyperimmunoglobulin-E syndrome presenting with widespread oral papillomas which were tested for human papilloma virus DNA and had shown to be at high/intermediate risk group for malignancy. She had elevated levels of IgE, recurrent sinopulmonary infections, atopic-like dermatitis, peripheral eosinophilia and defective neutrophil chemotaxis. Interferon alfa 2b therapy and chemoprophylaxis with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was given. Although the papillomas partially improved with the treatment, sinopulmonary infections continue to occur.

No abstract

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory disease that has a severe impact on quality of life. There is lack of data regarding epidemiological and clinical features of psoriasis patients in Turkey, a country with a population of 76 million. The aim of this study was to define the demographic and clinical characteristics, quality of life and treatment patterns of psoriasis patients in Turkey. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at 40 centers, chosen from geographically diverse locations in Turkey. Patients diagnosed with psoriasis were assessed by investigators who were specialists of dermatology using standardized study questionnaire forms. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) forms were also filled out by each patient. 3971 psoriasis patients were included in this study. 24.2% of plaque psoriasis patients had moderate to severe psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, ≥10). Mean DLQI was 7.03 AE 6.02; quality of life was moderately, severely or very severely affected in 49.2% of patients. The most severely affected component of EQ-5D was anxiety/depression. Among all patients, 22.9% were not receiving any treatment, 39.8% were receiving only topical treatment, 11.5% were on phototherapy, 26.1%, were taking conventional systemic agents and 4.1% were on a biologic treatment. 31.3% of psoriasis patients with moderate to severe disease were treated with only topical agents and only 30.5% of moderate to severe psoriasis patients were receiving systemic therapy. Moderate to severe psoriasis has a considerable impact on quality of life. Treatment in Turkey of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis is insufficient.

Background and Design: Genital warts, a very common sexually-transmitted infection, negatively affect the quality of life of patients especially from the psychosocial point of view. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of genital warts on the quality of life by comparing patient and control groups. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients and 75 healthy individuals were included in the study. The 36-item Short-form health survey and Dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were administered to patients whereas the control group was given only the SF-36. The obtained data were evaluated together with the clinical and demographical data by comparing the patient and control groups. Results: According to the sub-dimensions of the SF-36, a significant effect was observed in the patient group compared to the control group for the general health, vitality and mental health. The average DLQI score was 5.14±4.13. In all sub-dimensions of SF-36, the scores in female patients were found to be statistically significantly lower than in male patients. No significant correlation was determined between clinical characteristics and quality of life. Conclusion: Genital warts are a disease which negatively affects the quality of life and results in psychosocial problems and changes in sexual activity.