Evaluation of the correlation between severity of acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis and quality of life scores

Abstract

Symptoms of acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (AIGA) include heat retention and/or heat stroke due to the effects of the disorder on the perspiration ability of the whole body under thermal environmental changes or exercise. Additionally, cholinergic urticaria can also occur in these patients. AIGA has a major impact on everyday life. However, the effects of AIGA severity on the quality of life (QOL) of the patients have not been sufficiently defined. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between AIGA severity and QOL. Study subjects comprised 44 patients diagnosed with AIGA at three registered institutions. AIGA severity assessment was conducted and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire was administered. Correlations between AIGA severity and DLQI, as well as severity by DLQI subscale, were assessed. We found a positive correlation between total score of AIGA severity criteria and DLQI total scores (R = 0.720, P = 0.001). The impairment increased with the increase in AIGA severity (P < 0.01). In relation to the DLQI subscales, leisure (social and sporting activities) impairment was significantly higher for patients with severe AIGA than those with mild AIGA (P < 0.01). Comparing QOL for AIGA patients with that of patients with other dermatological disorders, it is possible that QOL impairment for AIGA patients is as severe as that for patients with atopic dermatitis. AIGA severity and DLQI are correlated and AIGA patients experience disruption of everyday life more broadly than conventionally perceived.

Using a novel scoring system for paronychia related to oncologic treatments (SPOT) for assessing paronychia severity and its correlation with pain index and quality of life

“…Compared to the impact on QoL caused by other nail disorders or dermatological diseases, we found that the average DLQI score (13.1) in patients with paronychia related to oncologic treatments was much higher than those of patients with psoriatic nails (4.44), chronic urticaria (9.32–9.64), psoriasis (8.36–11.6), dermatomyositis (10.7), pemphigus vulgaris (10.9), chronic hand eczema (5.5–11.1), hyperhidrosis (11.1), acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (11.2) and atopic dermatitis (5.30–11.94), but similar to that of patients with extensive alopecia areata (13.37) . Thus, paronychia related to oncologic treatments may cause significantly impaired QoL in cancer patients.…”

Prognosis after steroid pulse therapy and seasonal effect in acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis

“…We might have waited for spontaneous remission if our patients had only mild symptoms; however, most of our patients had severe symptoms that restricted their activities: 80% of the patients showed severe hypohidrosis/anhidrosis (>75% of body surface area) and 71% had pain (Table 1). 2 Steroid pulse therapy has the potential to relieve such symptoms within a few days 8,15 . The decision to delay therapy must be made only after careful consideration, and the risk of a decreased therapeutic effect must be considered.…”

“…We adopted 25% as the threshold according to the criteria for scoring disease severity described in the Japanese guideline (area of hypohidrosis or anhidrosis scored as follows: 1, 25%–49%; 2, 50%–74%; and 3, 75%–100%) 1 . This score reportedly has a good correlation with quality of life 2 . In this analysis, we did not consider whether the patients developed recurrence after the therapy; that is, we grouped all of the patients with recurrence as responders.…”

“…Acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (AIGA) is a rare and refractory disease with unknown etiology and mainly occurs in young men 1 . The main symptom is impairment of sweating, which limits patients’ activity in hot environments and strongly affects quality of life 2 . Most cases of AIGA have been reported in Asia, especially Japan 1,3,4 .…”

Differences in subjective and objective evaluation of hyperhidrosis. Study among medical students

“…Although sweat glands are distributed all over the human body, their density is the highest in the armpits, soles, palms and forehead [1]. Perspiration disorders may manifest as increased (hyperhidrosis) or decreased (hypohidrosis/anhidrosis) sweating, and both of these conditions may significantly impair the quality of life [2,3]. In hyperhidrosis (HH) there are many possible methods of treatment, including oral medications (e.g.…”