Disease Associations in Polymorphous Light Eruption

Abstract

To examine the long-term outcome of polymorphous light eruption (PLE) in a large patient population and to evaluate associated conditions, especially lupus erythematosus, during the course of the disease.Design: A questionnaire-based follow-up study an average of 32 years after onset of PLE. The study was complemented by clinical examination of the patients with PLE similarly studied 16 years earlier or now reporting equal or worse PLE symptoms compared with the 1978-1979 followup or any symptoms suggesting an autoimmune disease.Setting: A dermatologic clinic in a university hospital.Patients: Ninety-four of the original cohort of 138 patients with PLE (87% of living patients) returned the questionnaire, and 46 (84%) of the 55 patients invited volunteered for clinical examination.Intervention: None.Main Outcome Measures: Clinical characteristics of PLE and clinical and laboratory findings referring to associated diseases, especially lupus erythematosus.Results: Twenty-three (24%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 16%-34%) of the 94 patients were cured, 48 (51%; 95% CI, 41%-62%) experienced milder symptoms, and 23 (24%; 95% CI, 16%-34%) experienced equal or worse symptoms than in the 1978-1979 follow-up. At least 1 autoimmune disease was diagnosed at some point in 14 patients (15%; 95% CI, 12%-29%) (in 13 [18%] of the female patients) and lupus erythematosus specifically in 2 (2%; 95% CI, 0%-7%) (in 2 [3%] of the female patients). The prevalence of a thyroid disease was 14% (13 patients) (95% CI, 8%-23%). Conclusion:Polymorphous light eruption is a longstanding, slowly ameliorating disease with some tendency to development of autoimmune disease or thyroid disorder, especially in female patients, but the risk for lupus erythematosus is not increased.

Thyroid function tests in cases of polymorphic light eruption: A case-control study

“…There was hypothyroidism in 11 out of 94 (11.7%) female cases in the study of Hasan et al . [5] They reported that PLE is a long-standing, slowly ameliorating disease with some tendency to development of autoimmune disease or thyroid disorder, especially in female patients. Seetharam and Sridevi found 27 female cases (31.3%) and 3 female controls out of 112 cases and 40 controls.…”

“…[12] Thyroid function abnormalities have been found to occur in patients with sunlight-associated dermatoses such as melasma and PLE. [345] Therefore, a comparative study of thyroid function tests (TFTs) was carried out among 100 cases of PLE with equal number of controls. The clinicoepidemiological features of PLE were also noted to find its relation with TFT.…”

Lupus Erythematosus Tumidus

“…Polymorphous light eruption is a frequent UV-induced dermatitis of papular, papulovesicular, or plaquelike appearance. 36,56 The skin manifestations are monomorphous in the individual patient, and the disease is most common from March through June in geographic areas with a temperate climate, but can appear at any time of the year in tourists traveling to sunny areas. Young women are most often affected, and there is no restriction to race or age.…”

Study of Thyroid Function Tests in Cases of Polymorphic Light Eruption in Tertiary Care Institute

“…Similarly Kochupillai 8 suggested a significant relation between PMLE and thyroid disease rather than a mere coincidence. Hasan et al 5 ., stated that PMLE is a long standing, slowly ameliorating disease with some tendency to development of autoimmune disease or thyroid disorder, especially in female patients.…”

“…Thyroid function abnormalities have found to occur in patients with sunlight associated dermatosis such as melasma and PLE [3][4][5] . Therefore, a comparative study of thyroid function tests would be carried out among minimum No.…”