Biomedical subjects

Maryam Akhyani

Publications and source records attributed to Maryam Akhyani.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody and vitiligo: a controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder due to destruction of melanocytes. Although many theories have been suggested for its pathogenesis, the role of autoimmunity is the most popular one. The association of vitiligo with autoimmune thyroid diseases and the increased prevalence of autoantibodies including thyroid autoantibodies in vitiligo favor this role. Our objective was to compare the frequency of thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) in vitiligo patients with healthy subjects in Iran. METHODS: Ninety-four cases of vitiligo (46 female and 48 male) and 96 control subjects (49 female and 47 male) were enrolled in this controlled study. Patients with known thyroid disease, history of thyroid surgery and those receiving thyroid medications were not included. The two groups were matched regarding gender and age. The demographic data, symptoms related to thyroid diseases and results of skin and thyroid examinations were recorded in a questionnaire for each subject. Thyroid function tests including free T3, free T4 and TSH-IRMA were performed. Anti-TPO levels were assessed as well. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS version-11 in vitiligo patients and subgroups according to gender, age, extent, and duration of the disease compared with the control group. RESULTS: Anti-TPO was detected in 17 (18.1%) of patients affected by vitiligo, while this figure was 7 (7.3%) in the control group; the difference was significant with p-value < 0.025 (Phi & Cramer's V = 0.162). When analyzing subgroups, the difference in the frequency of anti-TPO remained significant only in females (p-value < 0.044) (Phi & Cramer's V = 0.207) and in patients in the age ranges of 18-25 (p-value < 0.05) (Phi & Cramer's V = 0.28) and 26-35 year-old (p-value < 0.042) (Phi & Cramer's V = 0.304). The difference of the frequency of anti-TPO was not significant regarding the duration and extent of vitiligo. In addition, there was no significant difference in the levels of free T3, free T4, and TSH in vitiligo patients compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: According to our study, anti-TPO was shown to be significantly more common in vitiligo patients especially in young women, compared with control group. As this antibody is a relatively sensitive and specific marker of autoimmune thyroid disorders including Hashimoto thyroiditis and Graves' disease, and considering the fact that vitiligo usually precedes the onset of thyroid dysfunction, periodic follow-up of vitiligo patients for detecting thyroid diseases is further emphasized especially in young women with increased level of anti-TPO.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Koebner phenomenon in xanthelasma after treatment with trichloroacetic acid.

A 47-year-old woman presented with a history of yellow plaques on her eyelids. These lesions had been diagnosed clinically as xanthelasma and treated five times with topical applications of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) 33 percent. Despite flattening of the original lesions, the patient noticed extension of the lesions on the site of treatment following each session. Skin biopsy showed characteristic findings of xanthelasma. It appears that, in rare instances, xanthelasma palpebrarum may progress following TCA application by a Koebner-like phenomenon.

Caustics↗

PubMed2006

Bilateral cutaneous leishmaniasis of upper eyelids: a case report.

An 11-year-old girl presented with a 6-month history of bilateral upper eyelid erythema, induration, and blepharitis resistant to conventional antibiotic therapy. The lesions gradually progressed to symmetrical ulcerative nodules within 3 months. Cutaneous smear and biopsy revealed numerous amastigotes in macrophage cells. Therapy with systemic pentavalent antimonial resulted in successful healing of lesions. We conclude that cutaneous leishmaniasis must be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of bilateral chronic eyelid swelling in endemic regions of the world.

Antimony↗

PubMed2005

Eruptive syringomas.

Syringomas are benign adnexal tumors derived from the intraepidermal portion of eccrine sweat ducts. Usually, they present as soft, flesh-colored to slightly yellow dermal papules on the lower eyelids of healthy individuals. We report an 18-year-old man with rare presentation of eruptive syringomas involving his trunk and extremities, with linear arrangement on the arms and forearms. A biopsy obtained from the lesions of the dorsum of the hands showed eccrine syringoma with a lymphocytic inflammatory infiltration around superficial blood vessels and eccrine ducts. We used the 585-nm and 595-nm pulsed dye laser for treatment of inflammatory lesions of forearm and trunk with no success.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Pruritus in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Pruritus is one of the most bothersome symptoms in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD), however little progress is seen in our understanding of its pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of pruritus in HD patients in Tehran, Iran, and to correlate its presence and intensity with relevant clinical and laboratory parameters. METHODS: One hundred sixty-seven patients on maintenance HD at three out-patient HD units were enrolled in the study. Itch intensity was scored as mild, moderate and severe. Some relevant clinical and laboratory parameters (age, sex, xerosis, presence of neuropathy, duration of dialysis, history of atopy and laboratory findings including hematocrit, creatinine, urea, calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone [PTH] and alkaline phosphatase) were evaluated. RESULTS: Pruritus was found in 41.9% of patients. The intensity of itching was mild, moderate and severe, in 51.4%, 11.4% and 37.7% of patients, respectively. In 22 patients (31.4%) pruritus intensified during and after dialysis. There was no significant difference in the serum levels of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, PTH and hematocrit between patients with and without pruritus. Age, sex, xerosis, underlying renal disease, history of atopy and duration of haemodialysis were not significantly different between the two groups. However, neuropathy was significantly more common in the pruritic group (63.8% versus 42.1%) (pv = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Clinical neuropathy was the only significant finding in the pruritic group in our study. This finding justifies further research on nerve function and neurotransmitters in hemodialysis patients and the introduction of new drugs targeting neuropathy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Erythroderma: a clinical study of 97 cases.

BACKGROUND: Erythroderma is a rare skin disorder that may be caused by a variety of underlying dermatoses, infections, systemic diseases and drugs. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical, laboratory and biopsy material of 97 patients diagnosed with erythroderma who were treated in our department over a 6-year period (1996 through 2002). RESULTS: The male-female ratio was 1.85:1. The mean age at diagnosis was 46.2 years. The most common causative factors were dermatoses (59.7%), followed by drug reactions (21.6%), malignancies (11.3%) and idiopathic causes (7.2%). Carbamazepine was the most common drug (57.1%). The best clinicopathologic correlation was found in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and pityriasis rubra pilaris related erythroderma. Apart from scaling and erythema that were present in all patients, pruritus was the most common finding (97.5%), followed by fever (33.6%), lymphadenopathy (21.3%), edema (14.4%) and hyperkeratosis (7.2%). CONCLUSION: This study outlines that underlying etiologic factors of erythroderma may show geographic variations. Our series had a high percentage of erythroderma secondary to preexisting dermatoses and a low percentage of idiopathic cases. There was no HIV-infected patient among our series based on multiple serum antibody tests. The clinical features of erythroderma were identical, irrespective of the etiology. The onset of the disease was usually insidious except in drug-induced erythroderma, where it was acute. The group associated with the best prognosis was that related to drugs.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

The association between nuchal nevus flammeus and alopecia areata: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The association of alopecia areata (AA) with nuchal nevus flammeus (NNF) has been demonstrated by previous studies. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether AA is associated with NNF. METHODS: 199 AA patients and 215 controls without AA were examined for the presence of NNF. RESULTS: 35 patients (17.6%) in the AA group had NNF. In the control group, 20 patients (9.3%) had NNF (odds ratio = 2.08, 95% confidence interval 1.43-2.73; p = 0.013). A statistically significant association was found between the presence of NNF and duration of the AA (p < 0.001). The presence of NNF was associated with severity of AA (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest a link between NNF and AA especially in severer and more chronic forms.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Tongue lesions in psoriasis: a controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to study tongue lesions and their significance in psoriatic patients. METHODS: The oral mucosa was examined in 200 psoriatic patients presenting to Razi Hospital in Tehran, Iran, and 200 matched controls. RESULTS: Fissured tongue (FT) and benign migratory glossitis (BMG) were the two most frequent findings. FT was seen more frequently in psoriatic patients (n = 66, 33%) than the control group (n = 19, 9.5%) [odds ratio (OR): 4.69; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.61-8.52] (p-value < 0.0001). BMG, too, was significantly more frequent in psoriatic patients (28 cases, 14%) than the control group (12 cases, 6%) (OR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.20-5.50) (p-value < 0.012). In 11 patients (5.5%), FT and BMG coexisted. FT was more frequent in pustular psoriasis (7 cases, 53.8%) than erythemato-squamous types (56 cases, 30.4%). On the other hand, the frequency of BMG increased with the severity of psoriasis in plaque-type psoriasis assessed by psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score. CONCLUSIONS: Nonspecific tongue lesions are frequently observed in psoriasis. Further studies are recommended to substantiate the clinical significance of these seemingly nonspecific findings in suspected psoriatic cases.

Adolescent↗