A Study on Drug Prescribing Patterns in Vitiligo Patients of Andhra Pradesh in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a dermatological condition characterized by the appearance of white spots or patches on the skin due to the loss of skin pigment called melanocytes. The estimated prevalence of vitiligo is about 0.5-2% of the world population, but in India, the prevalence rate varies from 2 to 8%, depending on the region. This study aimed to assess drug prescribing patterns in vitiligo patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in the Dermatology Department of Government General Hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India, from December 2019 to 2020. Patients aged ≥18 years, both genders, and diagnosed and receiving treatment for vitiligo were included in the study. All medicines prescribed to the patients were collected on the predesigned case report form. Ethical approval for this study was taken from the Institutional Ethics Committee of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Science (RIMS). The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS version 18. RESULTS: The most commonly prescribed class of drugs was corticosteroids (42.9%), followed by calcineurin inhibitors (13.4%), vitamins (14.6%), basic fibroblast growth factor (BFGF) (9.5%), moisturizers (6.9%), antihistamines (6.5%), and minerals (6.2%). Among corticosteroids, betamethasone was the most commonly prescribed drug, followed by clobetasol propionate. Topical drugs were prescribed more often than orally. CONCLUSION: The prescription pattern in vitiligo patients is as per the guidelines and recommendations. However, further studies using multiple centers are recommended to verify our findings.

Barriers to the effective management and prevention of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in the Indian subcontinent.

Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a skin disease that usually occurs among individuals with a past history of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). PKDL cases act as a reservoir of parasites and may play a significant role in disease transmission. Hence, prompt detection and complete treatment of PKDL cases are crucial for the control and elimination of VL. The purpose of this review was to highlight the barriers to effective control and prevention of VL/PKDL as well as potential solutions in India. Main obstacles are lack of knowledge about the disease and its vector, poor treatment-seeking behaviours, ineffective vector control measures, lack of confirmatory diagnostics in endemic areas, limited drug choices, treatment noncompliance among patients, drug resistance, and a lack of an adequate number of trained personnel in the health system. Therefore, in order to control and successfully eliminate VL in the Indian subcontinent, early detection of PKDL cases, improved diagnosis and treatment, raising awareness, and effective vector control mechanisms are necessary.

A Systematic Review on Prevalence and Assessment of Sexual Dysfunction in Vitiligo.

OBJECTIVE: Vitiligo is a common depigmenting disorder with significant psychosocial consequences. Vitiligo has been associated with psychological disorders such as depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction (SD). In recent years, there is an increase in the number of studies looking into the impact of vitiligo on sexual functions. This systematic review investigates the assessment and prevalence of SD in vitiligo patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a systematic search for observational studies on the prevalence of SD in vitiligo patients. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA) guidelines were used to prepare this systematic review. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library databases. RESULTS: We observed 308 studies for screening. Finally, 12 studies that meet the eligibility criteria were included in this study. The prevalence of SD ranged from 2.7 to 82.0%. Most of the studies used the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) to assess SD. Our findings also show that vitiligo patients were more probably experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, one of the risk factors for SD. CONCLUSION: Psychological comorbidities are related to a high risk of SD in vitiligo patients. Further prospective longitudinal studies are required to investigate the causal factors for SD in vitiligo patients.