Psychosocial burden of lichen planus pigmentosus is similar to vitiligo, but greater than melasma: A cross-sectional study from a tertiary-care center in north India.

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus pigmentosus can have a negative impact on the quality of life; however, this has not been studied in detail. OBJECTIVES: To study the quality of life in patients with lichen planus pigmentosus and compare it with patients with vitiligo and melasma. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary-care center in north India from January 2018 to May 2019. Patients ≥ 18 years of age with lichen planus pigmentosus (n = 125), vitiligo (n = 113) and melasma (n = 121) completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire and answered a global question on the effect of disease on their lives. In addition, patients with vitiligo completed the Vitiligo Impact Scale (VIS)-22 questionnaire, while those with lichen planus pigmentosus and melasma filled a modified version of VIS-22. RESULTS: The mean DLQI scores in patients with lichen planus pigmentosus, vitiligo and melasma were 10.9 ± 5.95, 9.73 ± 6.51 and 8.39 ± 5.92, respectively, the difference being statistically significant only between lichen planus pigmentosus and melasma (P < 0.001). The corresponding mean modified VIS-22/VIS-22 scores were 26.82 ± 11.89, 25.82 ± 14.03 and 18.87 ± 11.84, respectively. This difference was statistically significant between lichen planus pigmentosus and melasma, and between vitiligo and melasma (P < 0.001 for both). As compared to vitiligo, patients with lichen planus pigmentosus had a significantly greater impact on "symptoms and feelings" domain (P < 0.001) on DLQI, and on "social interactions" (P = 0.02) and "depression" (P = 0.04) domains on VIS-22. As compared to melasma, patients with lichen planus pigmentosus had significantly higher scores for "symptoms and feelings," "daily activities," "leisure" and "work and school" domains of DLQI, and all domains of VIS-22. Female gender was more associated with impairment in quality of life in patients with lichen planus pigmentosus, while lower education, marriage, younger age and increasing disease duration showed a directional trend. LIMITATIONS: Use of DLQI and modified version of VIS-22 scales in the absence of a pigmentary disease-specific quality-of-life instrument. CONCLUSION: Patients with lichen planus pigmentosus have a significantly impaired quality of life. The psychosocial burden of lichen planus pigmentosus is quantitatively similar to that of vitiligo, but significantly greater than melasma.

Pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus following the lines of Blaschko: A retrospective study of a Chinese series.

BACKGROUND: Linear cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a rare subtype of lupus erythematosus (LE) that develops linear lesions following the lines of Blaschko. Linear cutaneous lupus erythematosus may present as various subtypes of LE, including linear discoid lupus erythematosus. There are few reports about pigmentedlinear discoid lupus erythematosus in the literature. AIMS: We aimed to summarize the clinical and pathological features of patients with pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus following the lines of Blaschko. METHODS: Eighteen patients with pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus attending the outpatient department of the Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China, were enrolled in the study. We recorded clinical data including sex, age at onset, disease duration, location and distribution of the lesions, symptoms, trigger factors, antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing, therapy, and therapeutic responses. Histopathological features were also summarized. RESULTS: All 18 patients presented with well-defined brownish pigmented linear or segmental macules or plaques, following the lines of Blaschko. All the lesions were located on the head or neck. Unilaterally distributed lesions were found in 94.4% of patients. Two patients showed low titers of ANA in a speckled pattern. No systemic involvement or progression to systemic LE was noted. The patients were clinically diagnosed as pigmented lichen planus (55.6%), pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus (33.3%), and linear morphea (11.1%) before histopathological examination. LIMITATIONS: The study was retrospective and direct immunofluorescence was not performed. Not all patients' information was available and 4 patients were lost to follow-up because their contact information was changed. CONCLUSION: Pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus mostly occurs on the head and neck. It manifests as brownish macules along the lines of Blaschko. Differentiation between pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus and other dermatoses that have a linear distribution can be difficult both clinically and pathologically, but histological details can help distinguish them.

Dermoscopy of Pigmentary Disorders in Brown Skin.

Dermoscopy is a noninvasive technique for the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of pigmentary disorders in brown skin. It can be used for the diagnosis of various facial melanoses, which can avoid the need for biopsy in many cases. It can also help in early identification of the adverse effect of topical steroids and hydroquinone when they are used for the treatment of these disorders. Dermoscopy can also reliably differentiate vitiligo from other disorders of hypopigmentation. It can also help in assessing the stability of vitiligo before surgery.

Nail dyschromias.

Nail dyschromias have a wide variety of presentation. There are numerous causes of discoloration of the nail affecting the nail plate, nail attachments, or the substance of the nail. The chromonychia may also be caused due to the exogenous deposition of pigments over the nail plate. Careful examination of the nail and few bed side tests may help in identifying the root cause of the nail dyschromia and many a times unravels some underlying systemic disorder too.

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome.

Progeria is a rare genetic disorder characterized by premature aging, involving the skin, bones, heart, and blood vessels. We report a 4-year-old boy who presented with clinical manifestations of progeria. He had characteristic facies, prominent eyes, scalp and leg veins, senile look, loss of scalp hair, eyebrows and eyelashes, stunted growth, and sclerodermatous changes. The present case is reported due to its rarity.

Prurigo pigmentosa: an underdiagnosed disease?

Prurigo pigmentosa is a distinctive inflammatory disease first described by the Japanese dermatologist Masaji Nagashima in 1971. It is typified by recurrent, pruritic erythematous macules, papules and papulovesicles that resolve leaving behind netlike pigmentation. The disease is rarely diagnosed outside Japan, because clinicians outside Japan are not well conversant with the criteria for its diagnosis. Only one patient from India has been published previously under the diagnosis of prurigo pigmentosa, a hint that the disease may be under-recognized in India. We present an account of our observations in patients diagnosed with prurigo pigmentosa who were of five different nationalities, namely, Japanese, German, Indonesian, Turkish and Iranian. With this article we seek to increase awareness for the condition among dermatologists in India and we provide criteria for its diagnosis, both clinically and histopathologically.

Profile of systemic sclerosis in a tertiary care center in North India.

AIM: To study the clinical and immunological profile in patients of systemic sclerosis from North India and compare it with other ethnic groups. METHODS: Patients presenting to us between the years 2001 and 2004 and fulfilling the American Rheumatism Association (ARA) criteria for systemic sclerosis were included. There were 84 females and 16 males with the mean age of 32.5 +/-11.62 years and a mean duration of 6.49 +/- 4.34 years. All patients were admitted to the dermatology ward for detailed history and examination including Rodnan score. Investigations including hemogram, hepatic and renal functions, serum electrolytes, urine for albumin, sugar, microscopy and 24h urinary protein estimation, antinuclear antibody, chest X-ray, barium swallow, pulmonary function test, electrocardiogram and skin biopsy were done. RESULTS: The most common presenting symptoms were skin binding-down (98.5%), Raynaud's phenomenon 92.9%, pigmentary changes 91%, contracture of fingers 64.6%, fingertip ulcer 58.6%, restriction of mouth opening 55.5%, dyspnea 51.1%, joint complaints 36.7% and dysphagia in 35.2%. The mean Rodnan score was 25.81 +/- 10.04 and the mean mouth opening was 24.6 +/- 19.01 mm. The laboratory abnormalities included raised ESR in 87.8%, ANA positive in 89.1%, proteinuria in 6.0%, abnormal chest X-ray in 65.3%, abnormal barium swallow in 70.2% and reduced pulmonary function test in 85.8%. CONCLUSION: The clinical and immunological profile of systemic sclerosis in North India is similar to that of other ethnic groups except that pigmentary changes are commoner and renal involvement is relatively uncommon.

Cutaneous manifestations in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic renal failure (CRF) presents with an array of cutaneous manifestations. Newer changes are being described since the advent of hemodialysis, which prolongs the life expectancy, giving time for these changes to manifest. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dermatologic problems among patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: One hundred patients with CRF on hemodialysis were examined for cutaneous changes. RESULTS: Eighty-two per cent patients complained of some skin problem. However, on examination, all patients had at least one skin lesion attributable to CRF. The most prevalent finding was xerosis (79%), followed by pallor (60%), pruritus (53%) and cutaneous pigmentation (43%). Other cutaneous manifestations included Kyrle's disease (21%); fungal (30%), bacterial (13%) and viral (12%) infections; uremic frost (3%); purpura (9%); gynecomastia (1%); and dermatitis (2%). The nail changes included half and half nail (21%), koilonychia (18%), onychomycosis (19%), subungual hyperkeratosis (12%), onycholysis (10%), splinter hemorrhages (5%), Mees' lines (7%), Muehrcke's lines (5%) and Beau's lines (2%). Hair changes included sparse body hair (30%), sparse scalp hair (11%) and brittle and lusterless hair (16%). Oral changes included macroglossia with teeth markings (35%), xerostomia (31%), ulcerative stomatitis (29%), angular cheilitis (12%) and uremic breath (8%). Some rare manifestations of CRF like uremic frost, gynecomastia and pseudo-Kaposi's sarcoma were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: CRF is associated with a complex array of cutaneous manifestations caused either by the disease or by treatment. The commonest are xerosis and pruritus and the early recognition of cutaneous signs can relieve suffering and decrease morbidity.

Paciente con rinorrea, destrucción del cartílago nasal y lesiones hipocrómicas en la piel / Patient with rhinorrea, destruction of nasal cartilage and hypochronic lesions of the skin

La lepra es una enfermedad crónica producida por M. leprae cuya afectación mucosa más relevante se produce a nivel de la región nasal, con destrucción importante de la zona, dando lugar a la típica facies leonina. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con lepra nasal, señalando las características clínicas más importantes, así como el procedimiento diagnóstico y terapéutico al que fue sometida (AU)

The leprosy is a chronic illness caused by M. leprae, which affects mucosa mainly at the level of the nasal region. The important destruction of the bone produces the facies leonina. We present the case of a patient with nasal leprosy, describing the clinical characteristics and the diagnostic and therapeutic methods that were carried out on her (AU)

[Patient with rhinorrea, destruction of nasal cartilage and hypochronic lesions of the skin]. / Paciente con rinorrea, destrucción del cartílago nasal y lesiones hipocrómicas en la piel.

The leprosy is a chronic illness caused by M. leprae, which affects mucosa mainly at the level of the nasal region. The important destruction of the bone produces the facies leonina. We present the case of a patient with nasal leprosy, describing the clinical characteristics and the diagnostic and therapeutic methods that were carried out on her.

Psoralene in repigmentation of tuberculoid leprosy.

Photoactivated psoralens were studied in sixty cases of tuberculoid leprosy for the repigmentation of hypopigmented macules. It was observed that in 42 (70%) cases there was significant repigmentation within 6 months of therapy; in 5 (8.33%) cases there was mild to moderate repigmentation and in 13 (22.64%) cases, there was no change. No significant untoward effects of drug were encountered, except in four patients (6.66%), who developed, marked erythema and eczematous reaction.

Primary hyperpigmented cutaneous lesions in tuberculoid leprosy.

Two cases of tuberculoid leprosy with primary hyperpigmented anaesthetic lesions are reported and subject is reviewed.

Leprous lesion with hyperpigmented border.

Two cases of leprosy--one Tuberculoid and the other Borderline are reported. The Tuberculoid patch shows sharply defined hyperpigmented border whereas in the Borderline patient, diffuse hyperpigmentation is present around the lesion. The cases are reported for documentation due to rare clinical pressentation.

Hypopigmentation in leprosy.

Hypopigmentation of macular leprosy lesions was not found to correlate with cellular infiltrate and AFB load in tissues. It is felt that hypopigmentation is in some way related to neural involvement.