Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P D Espy.
Norwegian scabies is rare yet distinctive. The majority of reported cases have been in patients with relatively small group of diseases, including Down syndrome and lepromatous leprosy. A case occurred in a patient on long-term immunosuppressive therapy following a kidney transplant. Altered host factors appear to be the prime determinants in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Variation in the severity of keratosis follicularis relative to states of homonal change was noted in eight women with the disease. Observations included frequent onset near puberty, puberty, exacerbation during menses, and improvement while patients are pregnant or on oral contraceptive agents. It is proposed that states of relative estrogen excess are associated with quiescence of this skin disorder. In support of this hypothesis, three postpubertal women with Darier desease were observed to undergo significant improvement with the use of estrogen-dominant birth control pills.