Evaluating the combined efficacy of oral isotretinoin and topical tacrolimus versus oral finasteride and topical tacrolimus in frontal fibrosing alopecia-A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is complicated and challenging. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of combining topical tacrolimus with isotretinoin versus finasteride in patients with FFA. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-one patients with FFA were divided randomly into two groups. Therapeutic regimen of the first group (group A, n = 16) was isotretinoin and tacrolimus (Capsule isotretinoin 20 mg daily and topical tacrolimus 0.1% BD). The second group (group B, n = 15) was given finasteride and tacrolimus (Tablet finasteride 2.5 mg daily and topical tacrolimus 0.1% BD). Patients were treated and followed up periodically for 12 weeks. Evaluation of the treatment efficacy was based on Patient Global Assessment and Physician Global Assessment scales. Objective evaluation was based on improving the severity of skin lesions by viewing serial images taken from the affected areas. RESULTS: Physician Global Assessment (PGA) was significantly better in the group A as compared with the group B at 4 weeks (p = 0.038). Physician satisfaction in the group A was better than the group B at 12 weeks, but this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Patient Global Assessment and patient satisfaction in the group A was better than the group B at 8 and 12 weeks, but it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although both therapeutic regimens were effective in the treatment of FFA, treatment with tacrolimus and isotretinoin is significantly more effective than tacrolimus and finasteride.

Vitamin D deficiency in chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Chronic urticaria is the most common skin diseases, characterized by chronic cutaneous lesions which severely debilitates patients in several aspects of their everyday life. Vitamin D is known to exert several actions in the immune system and to influence function and differentiation of mast cells, central role players in the pathogenesis of chronic idiopathic urticaria. This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D levels and susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria. One hundred and fourteen patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria were recruited in this study along with one hundred and eighty seven sex-matched and age-matched healthy volunteers as the control group. For each patient, urticaria activity score was calculated and autologous serum skin test was done. Vitamin D metabolic statue was measured in serum as 25 hydroxyvitamin D using enzyme immunoassay method. Patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria significantly showed lower levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with increased susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria. There was a significant positive correlation between vitamin D levels and urticaria activity score. This study showed that patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria had reduced levels of vitamin D, while vitamin D deficiency could increase susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria.

The persian version of the chronic urticaria quality of life questionnaire: factor analysis, validation, and initial clinical findings.

Chronic urticaria (CU) also known as chronic idiopathic urticaria results in a lowered quality of life (QoL). Disease specific questionnaires are necessary to assess QoL in CU patients. Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL) is the only available and validated disease specific questionnaire in the assessment of QoL in CU patients originally developed in Italian language. The aim of the current study was to develop the Persian version of the CU-Q2oL with an acceptable reliability and validity.Using the standard methods provided by guidelines, CU-Q2oL was translated into Persian. A total number of 110 patients with confirmed diagnosis of CU were asked to fill the questionnaire. Determination of scales was performed in addition to checking the data for internal consistency and known group validity. Urticaria activity score 7 (UAS7) was used to assess the severity of the CU in the population study. The 6 dimensional scale of Persian CU-Q2oL was determined using the Exploratory Factor Analysis. About 68% of the variance was explained by these 6 factor structure higher than 59.9% of the original Italian version.All 6 factors showed acceptable internal consistency as measured by Cronbach α coefficient. There was a significant correlation between UAS7 and total CU-Q2oL score. UAS7 and the presence of angioedema were predictors of CU-Q2oL score.The Persian version of CU-Q2oL was shown to be a valid and reliable tool to be used in the future clinical studies. Cultural considerations must be kept in mind in adoption of CU-Q2oL to other languages. 

Long-term evaluation of a historical cohort of Iranian common variable immunodeficiency patients.

OBJECTIVES: Common variable immune deficiency (CVID) is the most frequent form of symptomatic primary immunodeficiency disease, characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, recurrent infections and increased predisposition to autoimmunity and malignancies. The aim of this study was to reconsider important points of previously performed studies on Iranian CVID patients diagnosed and followed from 1984 to 2013. METHODS: Diagnosis was made using approved criteria including reductions of serum levels of immunoglobulins and exclusion of well-known single gene defects in individuals with an age >4 years and evidence of specific antibody deficiency. RESULTS: Detailed information on demographic data, survival rates, clinical phenotypes, immunologic and genetic data and treatment of 173 patients are provided. The early onset presentation (74.5%) and rate of consanguineous marriage (61.2%) were considerably higher in our cohort. Our study revealed clinically related correlations regarding consanguinity, the population of naïve CD4(+) T cells and switched-memory B cells, cytokine levels and special genetic factors (including HLA and AID genes). CONCLUSION: Despite current efforts, more comprehensive studies are needed, especially for classification and investigation of the genetic background and prognostic factors for patients with CVID in order to better managment and followup of patinets.