The Incidence of Demodex folliculorum in the Combination of Allergic Rhinitis and Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Demodex mites are permanent ectoparasites of human pilosebaceous unit. They mainly infect skin of the face and scalp. Many studies have shown higher density of the ectoparasites in diseased inflammatory skin than in normal skin. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of Demodex folliculorum (DF) in treatment-resistant patients with the combination of allergic rhinitis (AR) and diabetes mellitus (DM). METHOD: This study was conducted in 2014-2017. It included 92 patients aged 18-70 years who presented at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Endocrinology Polyclinics of Mustafa Kemal University Medical Faculty Hospital, Turkey. An age and gender matched control group was formed of 30 healthy individuals. To determine the presence of DF, a few eyelashes were taken from eyelids in both groups. Then samples were examined under a light microscope. RESULTS: DF positivity was determined in 44 (47.8%) of the 92 patients and in 1 (3.3%) of the 30 control group subjects. In the patient group, DF positivity was evaluated as present in 14 (43.7%) of the DM patients, in 12 (40%) of the AR patients and in 18 (60%) of the AR+DM patients. Statistically significant DF incidence was found in all three patient groups compared to the control group (P=0.001). The incidence in AR + DM group was not different from other patient groups. CONCLUSION: DM, AR, advanced age and obesity had prepared the environment for Demodex infestations. This issue should be considered especially in treatment of patients with AR+DM.

Increased density of Demodex folliculorum mites in pregnancies with gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of Demodex in patients with gestational diabetes and the impact of glucose regulation on Demodex density in gestational diabetes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 33 patients with gestational diabetes and 30 pregnant women without gestational diabetes (control group). The age, parity, gestational age, and BMI of the study group were recorded and the patients were divided into 2 groups, i.e. those with regulated and unregulated glucose levels, according to their postprandial 1st- and 2nd-hour glucose values. A standardized skin surface biopsy method was used to determine if patients had Demodex folliculorum infestation (>5 mites/cm(2) of skin). RESULTS: Patients with gestational diabetes had a statistically significantly higher Demodex density compared to the control group (24.2 vs. 3.3%; p < 0.001). Furthermore, a significantly higher proportion of gestational diabetes patients with unregulated glucose levels had a higher Demodex density compared to those in the regulated subgroup (6/19 vs. 2/14; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that the Demodex density was increased in gestational diabetes patients. Further, poor glucose regulation could be the mechanism responsible for the increased Demodex density in gestational diabetes patients with unregulated glucose levels compared to those with regulated glucose levels.

The effect of blood glucose regulation on the presence of opportunistic Demodex folliculorum mites in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the rate of Demodex folliculorum mite infestation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to investigate if it was related to blood glucose control. METHODS: Patients with type 2 diabetes were classified according to their glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) level into two groups: a well controlled blood glucose group (HbA(1c) ≤ 7%) and a poorly controlled blood glucose group (HbA(1c) > 7%). A standardized skin surface biopsy method was used to determine if the patients had D. folliculorum infestation (>5 mites/cm² of skin). RESULTS: A total of 69 patients (38 female) were enrolled in the study. Seventeen (24.6%) patients had D. folliculorum infestation. There were no significant differences in age, sex or body mass index between patients with and without D. folliculorum infestations. A significantly higher proportion of patients with poor blood glucose control had D. folliculorum infestation compared with patients with well controlled blood glucose. CONCLUSIONS: These current findings suggest that poor blood glucose regulation increases the susceptibility to D. folliculorum mite infestation in patients with type 2 diabetes.