Health-related quality of life and clinical severity in people with epidermolysis bullosa - A proposal for assessing nutritional compromise by body mass index (Birmingham Epidermolysis Bullosa Severity Score).

Introduction: Introduction and objectives: epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic disease characterised by skin fragility with blisters and erosions on the skin and/or mucous membranes. People with EB often experience several extracutaneous manifestations, including clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) complications. Herein, we evaluate their HRQoL and clinical severity and propose an objective criterion for estimating nutritional compromise using the Birmingham Epidermolysis Bullosa Severity Score (BEBS) tool. Methods: this series of cases included people with EB, monitored by a multi-professional team. Clinical severity was assessed with the BEBS, using body mass index ranges by age, as an objective proposal, to estimate the degree of nutritional compromise. To assess HRQoL, the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (individuals aged 4-16 years) and the Quality of Life Evaluation in Epidermolysis Bullosa - Brazilian Portuguese (individuals 17 years and over) were used. Results: of the nine individuals with recessive dystrophic EB (88.9 % female and 12.91 (SD = 11.71) years), the mean total BEBS score was 24.47 (SD = 12.80) points on a scale of 0 to 100 points. Six participants had significant nutritional compromise according to the proposed criteria. Five of the six participants evaluated for HRQoL reported experiencing some impact, with individuals aged 17 and over being more affected and with greater clinical severity. Conclusions: individuals with greater clinical severity of EB experience a more significant impact on their HRQoL. The proposed quantitative criteria for assessing nutritional compromise may help standardise assessments by professionals monitoring the nutritional status of individuals with EB. Keywords: Quality of life. Epidermolysis bullosa. Body mass index.

Introducción: Introducción y objetivos: la epidermólisis bullosa (EB) es una rara enfermedad genética caracterizada por fragilidad de la piel con ampollas y erosiones. Las personas con EB experimentan manifestaciones extracutáneas y complicaciones clínicas y de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS). Evaluamos la CVRS y la gravedad clínica y proponemos un criterio objetivo para estimar el deterioro nutricional con la herramienta Birmingham Epidermolysis Bullosa Severity Score (BEBS). Métodos: esta serie de casos incluyó pacientes con EB monitoreadas por un equipo multiprofesional. Se evaluó la gravedad clínica con el BEBS utilizando rangos de índice de masa corporal por edad. Para evaluar la CVRS se utilizaron el Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (individuos de 4 a 16 años) y el Quality of Life Evaluation in Epidermolysis Bullosa ­ Brazilian Portuguese (individuos de 17 años y más). Resultados: de los nueve individuos con EB distrófica recesiva (88,9 % mujeres y 12,91 (DE = 11,71) años), la puntuación total media del BEBS fue de 24,47 (DE = 12,80) puntos en una escala de 0 a 100 puntos. Seis participantes tenían un deterioro nutricional significativo según los criterios propuestos. Cinco de los seis participantes evaluados en la CVRS informaron experimentar algún impacto, siendo los individuos de 17 años y más los más afectados y con mayor gravedad clínica. Conclusiones: los pacientes con mayor gravedad clínica experimentan un impacto más significativo en su CVRS. Los criterios cuantitativos propuestos para evaluar el deterioro nutricional pueden ayudar a estandarizar las evaluaciones de los profesionales que monitorean el estado nutricional de las personas con EB.

Does Probiotic Consumption Enhance Wound Healing? A Systematic Review.

The use of probiotics is one of the emerging lines of treatment for wound healing. This systematic review aimed to summarize currently available evidence on the effect of oral or enteral probiotic therapy on skin or oral mucosal wound healing in humans. To verify the developments in this field and the level of available scientific evidence, we applied a broad search strategy with no restrictions on wound type, target population, probiotic strain, or intervention protocol used. This review included seven studies involving 348 individuals. Four studies reported positive outcomes for healing improvement after probiotic therapy, and none of the studies reported adverse effects or a marked increase in wound healing time. The positive or neutral results observed do not generate strong evidence regarding the effectiveness of probiotics for wound healing. However, they suggest a promising field for future clinical research where the probiotic strains used, type of wounds, and target population are controlled for.

Resting Energy Expenditure and Protein Balance in People with Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of conditions characterized by severe fragility of the skin that causes recurring blistering. The recessive dystrophic subtype of EB (RDEB) has a strong impact on the nutritional status. We evaluated the resting energy expenditure (REE) and presence of protein catabolism in patients with RDEB. REE was assessed in 10 subjects (7 females; age range 4-33 years) by indirect calorimetry and using a predictive equation. Nitrogen balance was calculated by protein intake and 24 h urinary urea excretion estimations. An assessment of body surface area (BSA) with infected and non-infected skin lesions was applied to the nitrogen balance burn equation that was adapted to EB. The REE values predicted by the equation were consistently lower than the ones measured, except for two subjects. All subjects recorded high protein and energy intake, with protein intake being higher than 4 g protein/kg/day for five subjects. Even so, protein catabolism was observed in six subjects, three of whom had infected wounds. This study raises the hypothesis that the clinical and nutritional risks of people with RDEB are associated with an increased REE and negative nitrogen balance, which reinforces the importance of nutritional support.