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Biomedical subjects

Maryam Daneshpazhooh

Publications and source records attributed to Maryam Daneshpazhooh.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

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↗

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↗

Prurigo pigmentosa: an underdiagnosed disease in patients of Iranian descent?

BACKGROUND: Prurigo pigmentosa (PP) is a rare inflammatory disease of the skin typified by recurrent, pruritic erythematous macules and papules that resolve leaving behind netlike pigmentation. OBJECTIVE: PP is diagnosed most commonly in Japanese women. Preponderance of the disease in other ethnic populations has yet to be identified. METHODS: We conducted a clinicopathologic case study in 4 Iranian women. RESULTS: The clinical diagnosis of PP was confirmed by typical histopathologic findings, elucidating the morphologic spectrum of the disease. LIMITATIONS: The small number of patients in this study is a limitation. CONCLUSION: We suspect that PP may have a proclivity in the Iranian population.

Adolescent↗

The course of melanoma-associated vitiligo: report of a case.

The appearance of vitiligo-like lesions in patients with malignant melanoma is a well-known yet uncommon phenomenon. This finding is especially reported in patients undergoing immunotherapy with or without chemotherapy for malignant melanoma and is generally believed to be associated with a better prognosis. We report a case of preexisting vitiligo in a 48-year-old man, aggravated after chemo-immunotherapy of pulmonary metastatic melanoma with interferon-alpha, vinblastine and dacarbazine. Skin lesions remained stable after discontinuation of the treatment, and repigmentation heralded the recurrence of metastatic disease. These findings were in favor of vitiligo being a marker of the immunity against melanoma cells and its favorable impact on the prognosis of melanoma patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

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↗

Pemphigus: analysis of 1209 cases.

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus is a rare and chronic life-threatening disease. The clinical picture varies in reports from different regions of the world. OBJECTIVE: To define the clinical forms of pemphigus in a large cohort of patients. METHODS: Prospective analysis of 1209 patients diagnosed and followed at the Pemphigus Research Unit, Tehran University for Medical Sciences, from 1984 to 2003. RESULTS: The mean age at onset was 42 years with a female to male ratio of 1.5/1. The most frequent form was pemphigus vulgaris. In pemphigus vulgaris, patients' mucous membrane involvement alone was observed in 18%, skin involvement alone in 12%, and both in 70%. Pemphigus foliaceus was observed in 7% of the patients. Most complications were iatrogenic. CONCLUSION: In Iran, pemphigus vulgaris is the most frequent form of pemphigus. Females are more prone to the disease. The incidence of pemphigus in Tehran is approximately 1.6 per 100,000/year, and in Iran 1.0 per 100,000/year. The age of onset was lower than classically reported. Death occurred in 6.2% of the patients. In pemphigus vulgaris, the mucosal and skin form together had a worse prognosis than the other clinical forms.

Adolescent↗

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↗

Lichen planus and Hepatitis C: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The association of lichen planus with hepatitis C (HCV) has been widely reported in the literature. However, there are wide geographical variations in the reported prevalence of HCV infection in patients with lichen planus. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of hepatitis C in Iranian patients with lichen planus at Razi hospital, Tehran. METHODS: During the years 1997 and 1998, 146 cases of lichen planus, 78 (53.1%) women and 69 (46.9%) men were diagnosed. They were diagnosed on the basis of the usual clinical features and, if necessary, typical histological findings. The patients were screened for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies by third generation ELISA and liver function tests. We used the results from screening of blood donors for anti HCV (carried out by Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization) for comparison as the control group. RESULTS: Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in seven cases (4.8%). This was significantly higher than that of the blood donors' antibodies (p < 0.001). The odds ratio was 50.37(21.45-112.24). A statistically significant association was demonstrated between erosive lichen planus and HCV infection. Liver function tests were not significantly different between HCV infected and non-infected patients. CONCLUSION: HCV appears to have an etiologic role for lichen planus in Iranian patients. On the other hand, liver function tests are not good screening means for HCV infection.

Adolescent↗

A comparative study of antibody titers of blister fluid and serum in patients with subepidermal immunobullous diseases.

BACKGROUND: Subepidermal autoimmune bullous diseases (SABD) comprise several disorders, such as bullous pemphigoid (BP), cicatricial pemphigoid (CP), epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), herpes gestationis (HG), and linear immunoglobulin A (IgA) dermatosis (LAD), and are characterized by antibody production against the basement membrane structures of the skin and mucosa. Although indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on serum is a routine test for the detection of basement membrane zone antibodies, there have only been a few studies related to IIF on blister fluid. Aim To perform IIF on blister fluid and to compare the results with those of serum. METHODS: IIF on salt-split skin was performed on the serum and blister fluid of 35 patients with SABD (25 bp, three EBA, three HG, three LAD, and one bullous systemic lupus erythematosus) with conjugated IgG, IgA, and C3. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of the 35 patients showed IIF-positive blister fluid with a titer similar or less than that of serum. In 25 patients with BP, the most common disease in this study, 23 cases (92%) had positive IIF on serum, 23 cases (92%) on blister fluid, and 24 cases (96%) on either serum or blister fluid. Immunoreactant titers in BP blister fluid and serum did not show significant differences (P > 0.05). Epidermal binding of immunoreactants was the most prevalent staining pattern of IIF on salt-split skin (92%) in BP. CONCLUSIONS: From the findings of this study, the blister fluid of patients with SABD can be used for IIF. Although IIF sensitivity on blister fluid is no more than that on serum, the performance of this test on blister fluid in addition to serum may reduce the number of false negative results of IIF found using either of these two substrates alone.

Antibodies↗