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Sanjeev Handa

Publications and source records attributed to Sanjeev Handa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Placebo-controlled oral pulse prednisolone therapy in alopecia areata.

BACKGROUND: Systemic corticosteroids administered as pulse therapy have been found helpful in a wide array of diseases including alopecia areata (AA). None of the studies published so far regarding their use in AA have been randomized or placebo-controlled. OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the efficacy of weekly oral prednisolone pulse therapy in a placebo-controlled trial for patients with extensive AA. METHODS: A total of 43 patients were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in group A (23 patients) were treated with oral prednisolone (200 mg once weekly, 5 40-mg tablets) and patients in group B (20 patients) were given placebo tablets on an identical schedule. The total study period was 6 months, consisting of 3 months of active therapy followed by another 3 months of observation. RESULTS: Significant hair regrowth was obtained in 8 patients in the prednisolone-treated group. Two of the responders experienced a relapse during the observation period of 3 months. In the placebo group, none of the patients had significant hair regrowth at the end of the study. CONCLUSION: Oral prednisolone pulse therapy is useful in AA. Placebo-controlled studies with varying dosage schedules are required to standardize the dose of prednisolone used in pulse therapy, optimize the therapeutic efficacy, and minimize side effects.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

Late onset vitiligo: a study of 182 patients.

The elderly constitute a large and rapidly growing segment of the population; however, there is complete lack of information about the epidemiology of vitiligo in this age group. To study the clinical and epidemiological profile of vitiligo in the elderly, we retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with vitiligo having onset of disease after 50 years of age attending the pigmentary clinic of our center. Of the 182 patients, 87 (47.8%) were males and 95 (52.2%) were females. The mean age of onset of disease was 55 +/- 2.3 years. Vitiligo vulgaris was the most common (83.5%) followed by focal (5.5%), segmental (4.4%), acrofacial (3.8%), mucosal (2.2%), and universal (0.5%). The most common site of onset was the head and neck (24.2%) followed by the upper limbs (23%), trunk (22%), lower limbs (17.6%), oral/genital mucosae (7.1%), and flexures (6%). Koebner's phenomenon was observed in 14.8% while leukotrichia was present in 47.3% of the patients. Halo nevi were observed in 3.8% of patients, and vitiligo was stable in 64.8%. Twenty-nine (15.9%) patients had family history of vitiligo. Associated autoimmune autoimmune/endocrine disorders were present in 39 (21.4%) of the patients. Differences in disease characteristics compared with vitiligo in children and young adults are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Eczema herpeticum complicating Parthenium dermatitis.

Parthenium dermatitis is one of the most common causes of airborne contact dermatitis in India. Eczema herpeticum has been reported in association with various eczematous conditions, including Parthenium dermatitis. We report a case of eczema herpeticum in association with Parthenium dermatitis. Because Parthenium dermatitis is a common condition in this region, one should be aware of this complication so that appropriate treatment is not delayed.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed2004

Granuloma multiforme.

CASE 1: A 51-year-old woman presented with skin-colored annular lesions on the upper chest, neck, and dorsa of the hands of 1-year duration. The lesions initially started as small papular lesions, which gradually evolved to form large annular and polycyclic lesions. Initially, the lesions were associated with a burning sensation and pruritus. She had no other systemic complaints. Examination revealed 5-6 annular, polycyclic lesions distributed over the upper chest, neck, and dorsa of both hands, varying in size from 1 to 5 cm. All the lesions had a prominent erythematous to skin-colored, irregular, papular border which was firm in consistency (Figs 1 and 2). Central clearing and minimal atrophy were evident in larger lesions. There was no sensory loss or peripheral nerve thickening. Clinical possibilities entertained were granuloma annulare, granuloma multiforme, and annular sarcoid. Routine investigations, including hemogram, renal and liver functions, blood sugar levels, chest X-ray, and urine examination, were within normal limits. A skin biopsy taken from the edge of a lesion revealed foci of collagen degeneration surrounded by an inflammatory infiltrate composed of many histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells. In addition, there were perivascular and periadnexal lymphocytic aggregates. No acid-fast bacilli (AFB) were detected. These findings were consistent with a diagnosis of granuloma multiforme (Fig. 3). CASE 2: A 47-year-old man presented with annular skin-colored lesions associated with a mild burning sensation of 8 months' duration. On examination, 2-3 annular, arciform lesions were distributed over the upper chest and neck. The lesions ranged in size from 2 to 7 cm in diameter, were irregular in shape, and were rimmed by a well-defined raised papular border. Again, there was no sensory loss or peripheral nerve thickening. Histopathology of the skin from the edge of the lesion showed multiple areas of histiocytic granulomas with focal necrobiosis and prominent multinucleated giant cells, findings consistent with granuloma multiforme.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2004

Epidemiology of childhood psoriasis: a study of 419 patients from northern India.

BACKGROUND: We undertook this study in order to determine the pattern and prevalence of childhood psoriasis in northern India and to highlight the differences and similarities with previous studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective epidemiologic study, the data from 419 children (less than 14 years of age) with psoriasis registered at the Psoriasis Clinic between January 1990 and December 2002 were included. RESULTS: The 419 children registered at the Psoriasis Clinic constituted 0.3% of the dermatology outpatients and 12.5% of the total psoriasis patients seen over a period of 13 years in the department. There were 219 (52.2%) boys and 200 (47.7%) girls, with a male to female ratio of 1.09 : 1. The age of onset ranged from 4 days to 14 years. The mean age of onset was 8.1 +/- 2.1 years in boys and 9.3 +/- 2.3 years in girls. The peak age of onset in boys was in the 6-10-year age group, whereas the majority of girls showed an onset of psoriasis between the ages of 10 and 14 years. A positive family history was present in only 19 (4.5%) patients. The extensors of the legs were the most common initial site affected [105 (25%) cases], followed by the scalp [87 (20.7%)]. Classical plaque psoriasis was the most frequent clinical presentation [254 (60.6%) patients], followed by plantar psoriasis [54 (12.8%)]. Nail involvement was observed in 130 (31%) cases. All types of nail changes described in psoriasis were seen in these patients. Pitting was the most common nail change, followed by ridging and discoloration. Five children (1.1%) (three girls and two boys) had psoriatic arthropathy. Precipitating factors that brought about the onset of the disease or were associated with exacerbation could be recalled in only 28 (6.6%) patients. Koebnerization was observed in 27.9% of patients. Pruritus was the most frequent symptom, reported by 365 (87.1%) children. Twenty-seven (6.4%) children had other concurrent mucocutaneous diseases (vitiligo, pityriasis alba, alopecia areata, ichthyosis vulgaris, halo nevus, aphthous stomatitis, urticaria, pityriasis versicolor, nummular eczema, salmon patch, and verrucous epidermal nevus). Eighteen children had systemic disorders, including seizures, bronchial asthma, mitral regurgitation, scleroderma, Down's syndrome, high arched palate, cholelithiasis, anterior mongoloid slant, and prognathism; however, these conditions were possibly chance findings only and no correlation with the age of onset or severity of the disease was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings differ from those of previous studies in showing a delayed onset, equal sex distribution, less frequent facial involvement, uncommon guttate lesions, more frequent involvement of the soles, and a less frequent history of familial occurrence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Progressive macular hemangioma: a new entity?

We report a 22-year-old man with an extensive cutaneous vascular lesion involving the left arm since the age of 2 months. The lesion was macular and had been growing steadily in extent since its appearance. It had crossed the midline in several places. There was no involvement of any internal organ. Histopathology and immunostaining revealed unmistakable evidence of vascular proliferation. The predominantly macular character of the lesion, even with passage of time, besides the absence of several other features, usually associated with a tufted angioma, led us to the use of the term 'progressive macular hemangioma' for this condition.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Childhood lichen planus: a study of 87 cases.

AIMS: We undertook this study to analyze the clinical profile of childhood lichen planus (LP) prevailing in north India, and to highlight differences from and similarities with adult LP. METHODS: Clinical records of children with LP, who attended the Pediatric Dermatology Clinic, Nehru Hospital, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, from July 1988 to December 2000, were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients with LP were examined during a 12.5-year period of observation. These patients formed 2.5% of the total number of pediatric dermatology patients and 0.6% of the total number of new dermatology outpatients. The male : female ratio was 1.1 : 1. The age at onset was between 8 months and 12 years (mean, 7.1 years). Classical LP was observed in 53 (60.9%) patients, followed by actinic LP in 10 (11.5%), and lichen planus hypertrophicus (LPH) and linear LP in eight (9.2%) each. Other forms seen were eruptive, follicular, lichen planopilaris, atrophic, and bullous LP. The involvement of skin alone was observed in 75 (86.2%) children and mucosa alone only in one (1.1%) child. Concomitant skin and mucosal involvement was seen at the time of presentation in four patients, while mucosal involvement occurred later during the course of the disease in seven patients. Lesions appeared earlier in boys than in girls. CONCLUSIONS: The natural history of LP in children was essentially similar to that in adults. Unusual features, such as involvement of the palms and soles and upper eyelids, were observed. Actinic LP, mimicking melasma, as reported in adult women, also seems to occur in children.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis: pseudoxanthomatous variant.

Diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis is one of the extremely rare benign forms of mastocytosis that have varied clinical presentations. The pseudoxanthomatous variant is an extremely rare multinodular nonpigmented entity. Only two cases have been reported so far in the literature. We report a 21 year old female patient who had diffusely infiltrated skin with multiple papulo-nodular lesions resembling xanthomas and the classical histopathological features of mastocytosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

KID syndrome: response to acitretin.

KID syndrome is rare. We report a 17-year-old girl who presented with universally ichthyotic red hue on the face, trunk, and extremities along with deafness and keratitis since childhood. She was diagnosed with KID syndrome. Treatment with acitretin cleared the hyperkeratotic ichthyotic lesions with little effect on the cornea or hearing. Acitretin seems to be a promising new treatment in KID syndrome.

Acitretin↗