Background and Purpose
Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients present with numerous motor and nonmotor symptoms. Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is reported in 18.6%–59% of PD patients. However, the etiology of SD in PD patients remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine how motor and nonmotor symptoms, age, sex, and levodopa-equivalent daily dose (LEDD) influence the appearance and severity of SD in PD patients, and then discuss about SD possible etiology based on the obtained results.
Methods
Motor symptoms were evaluated using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III and nonmotor symptoms were evaluated using the Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale, Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease–Autonomic Dysfunction, and Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire. LEDD was calculated and demographic data on age, sex, disease duration, and symptoms of SD prior to a PD diagnosis were collected. A dermatologist evaluated the skin for SD using the Seborrhea Area and Severity Index.
Results
SD was present in 36.1% of the PD patients. There were positive correlations between age, motor-symptoms severity, and SD. After adjusting for age, disease duration, and sex, there remained a positive correlation between the severity of motor symptoms and SD. Patients with moderate-to-severe motor symptoms had more-severe SD symptoms, and their risk of developing SD was 1.8-fold higher. There was no correlation between SD and autonomic dysfunction, sleep disturbances, or other nonmotor symptoms, and no sex difference.
Conclusions
In PD, SD is related to motor symptoms.
Background Vitamin D has immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory properties and important role in bone metabolism. Effects of vitamin D supplementation in musculoskeletal diseases are well known, but it is unknown if local application of vitamin D can have an anti-inflammatory potential. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate local influence of vitamin D on inflammation, pain, redness and swelling of the affected joint in acute and chronic gouty arthritis. 40 patients with acute gouty arthritis and 40 patients with chronic gouty arthritis were included in study. Methods We did topical application of cholecalciferol in a dose of 180,000 IU daily through seven days on the affected joint for one hour. Local changes of the affected joint such as swelling and redness were observed. Also, serum samples were taken on a 1st, 3rd and 7th day of application in order to measure levels of vitamin D, urates, calcium and C reactive protein. Results We found that local application of vitamin D increased its serum levels in both groups of patients while urates level, swelling, redness and pain was reduced. Effect of vitamin D on pain, redness and inflammation was stronger in a group with acute inflammation. Conclusion Local application of vitamin D may be linked to the reduction of acute and chronic inflammation in gouty arthritis. Relationship between vitamin D and urates in inflammatory process should be investigated further.
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