Investigating the impact of added Profhilo mesogel to subcision versus subcision monotherapy in treating acne scars; a single-blinded, split-face randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Acne scar is an inflammatory condition, which commonly occurs in patients with acne vulgaris, especially in adults. Mesogels have been reported effective in improving atrophic acne scars. AIMS: We investigated the efficacy of adding Profhilo (a hyaluronic acid-based filler) to subcision as a new treatment method. METHODS: Twelve patients aged 18-45 years with atrophic acne scars on both sides of the face participated in this single-blinded, split-face, randomized controlled trial. Each side of the face was randomly assigned to one of the treatment methods, including subcision alone and subcision + Profhilo. Patients in the Profhilo arm received mesogel (1 cc) in addition to the subcision procedure. Both methods were carried out two times at 1-month intervals. Assessments were done based on the sonographic depth of scars, and two blinded observers examined photographs at baseline and 3 months after the final session and the results were reported based on an exclusively made formula as the total score. The Global Improvement Scale and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (for patient satisfaction) were also used. RESULTS: The VAS score of patient satisfaction was statistically significant in the Profhilo arm, with a mean improvement of 528.08 and 219.06 in the subcision arm (p = 0.02). No significant difference was seen in total acne scar reduction comparing the two methods (29.74 in the Profhilo arm and 22.27 in the subcision arm, p = 0.56). Sonographic depth reduction was also non-significant, with a mean of 29.21 in the Profhilo arm and 28.53 in the subcision arm (p = 0.4). The mean global improvement was reported as four in both arms, and no statistical significance was observed (p = 0.89). The best response to treatment belonged to the rolling subtype in both methods (p = 0.029 for the Profhilo arm and p = 0.001 for the subcision arm). CONCLUSION: Despite no significant difference between the methods, Profhilo is more effective due to a higher satisfaction rate and better physiologic effects.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of tretinoin 0.05% and glycolic acid peeling 70% in axillary and neck lesions of acanthosis nigricans: A single-blinded, randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Acanthosis nigricans is a non-inflammatory skin pigmentary disorder characterized by a dark, velvety appearance, primarily observed in the neck and axillary areas. It is commonly associated with obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance. Although the primary treatment is correcting the underlying disorders, many aesthetic modalities have been established to improve appearance owing to cosmetic concerns. AIMS: We aimed to compare and investigate the effectiveness and side effects of tretinoin 0.05% and glycolic acid 70% in treating acanthosis nigricans lesions of the axillary and neck area. METHODS: This single-blinded, randomized trial recruited patients with neck or axillary involvement. Each patient was randomized to use cream tretinoin 0.05% every other night on one side, while the other side was treated with glycolic acid 70%, which was applied every 2 weeks at the clinic for four consecutive sessions. The study duration was 8 weeks, and patients were evaluated every 2 weeks based on their response to treatment, satisfaction, and side effects. RESULTS: Thirty patients, including 14 with neck lesions and 16 with axillary lesions, were included. Tretinoin was significantly more effective for axillary lesions in terms of treatment response and patient satisfaction (p = 0.02 and p = 0.008, respectively). It was also shown that as the severity of the lesions increased, the response to treatment and patient satisfaction decreased, specifically when treating axillary lesions with glycolic acid (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: Neither method was significantly effective for neck lesions. However, tretinoin 0.05% was shown to be more efficacious in treating axillary lesions of acanthosis nigricans, despite causing minimal side effects.

Association of alternative healthy eating index and severity of pemphigus vulgaris: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the association between following healthy eating and the severity of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between adherence to the alternative healthy eating index (AHEI) and the severity of Pemphigus vulgaris disease in adults. METHODS: In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, a total of 138 pemphigus vulgaris cases were studied, of which 108 had pemphigus disease area index (PDAI) ≤15, and 30 had PDAI>15. Dietary intakes were assessed using a valid 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). To calculate the AHEI, the data received from the diet were used. The subjects of this index received a score of 1-10. The final AHEI was calculated by summing the component scores. RESULTS: After adjusting for age and sex, we found that individuals with the highest AHEI score were 72% less likely to have increased PV severity compared with those with the lowest score (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.08-0.92, P trend = 0.020). Further control for another potential confounder, intake energy, made the association stronger (OR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.06-0.88, P trend = 0.017). Also, after controlling the body mass index (BMI) confounding factor, it maintained its strong relationship (OR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.06-0.88, P trend = 0.016). CONCLUSION: The evidence of our study shows that following the healthy eating index is associated with a reduction in the severity of pemphigus vulgaris. Prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Combination therapy for management of pemphigus patients with unexpected therapeutic response to rituximab: A report of five cases.

Key Clinical Message: The immunosuppressant agents should be considered earlier in the course of treatment with rituximab, possibly after the unfavorable response at first cycle of treatment, especially in male patients and those with high BMI. Abstract: Rituximab (RTX) has recently been proposed as an alternative first-line therapy for pemphigus patients. However, there are some rare reports of worsening of pemphigus following RTX therapy in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using a combination treatment of mycophenolate mofetil or dapsone and methotrexate in case of nonresponse, exacerbation or development of allergic reactions following rituximab therapy in pemphigus patients. In this case series, archive files of pemphigus patient in a tertiary care hospital from 2016 to 2021 who were treated with rituximab were reviewed and those with failure in treatment process including nonresponsiveness, exacerbation or development of allergic reactions to rituximab were identified and assessed. The study includes five patients out of 1245 RTX-treated patients, who did not respond to RTX (one patient) or experienced an exacerbation of disease (two patients) or development of allergic reactions (two patients). Male patients with high BMI (BMI > 25) whose response to rituximab was not good at first cycle and happened to receive rituximab later in the course of disease, had highest number of relapses and benefited the most from this combination immunosuppressive treatment as an alternative for repeating rituximab cycles. The lower risk of relapse and a better chance of remission might indicate the efficacy of adjuvant immunosuppressant therapy in patients with no-response, exacerbation, or allergic reaction to rituximab. These therapeutic effects were better observed in patients who received lower doses of rituximab which could suggest that the immunosuppressant agents should be considered earlier in the course of the disease, possibly after the first failed trial of rituximab therapy.

Two cases of neglected leishmaniasis with marked facial disfigurement: A diagnostic conundrum.

Key Clinical Message: There is a need to pay more attention to cutaneous leishmaniasis in endemic regions which may mimic other dermatoses and treatment should be initiated with a strong clinical suspicion even without any histopathologic or PCR confirmation to avoid disfigurement or development of secondary malignancy. Abstract: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease with a variety of Clinical manifestations. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common form of disease and can mimic other dermatoses. We describe two unusual cases of chronic leishmaniasis that remained undiagnosed for many years and led to superimposition of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on lesions of one patient. These reports showed that the leishmaniasis should be borne in mind by clinicians when encountering any infiltrated lesion in patients from endemic regions and treatment should be initiated with a strong clinical suspicion even without any histopathologic or PCR confirmation to avoid disfigurement or development of secondary malignancy.

A case report of esophageal cancer in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris: A coincidence or something beyond that?

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus is a group of rare but serious autoimmune blistering disorders, affecting skin and mucus membrane. Different reports have been published in respect to the coexistence of pemphigus with neoplasms, especially lympho-proliferative ones. CASE: Here, we have reported a patient previously diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) who developed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). CONCLUSION: Dyspepsia and dysphagia in patients with PV might not be merely due to pemphigus erosions or simply an adverse effect of systemic corticosteroid such as irritant or candidal esophagitis and should raise the suspicion of more serious conditions in case of resistant symptoms without appropriate response to treatment.

COVID outcome in pemphigus: Does rituximab make pemphigus patients susceptible to more severe COVID-19?

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised some concerns regarding the management of chronic skin diseases, especially in patients on immunosuppressive therapy including patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Literature review reveals conflicting results about the effect of monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab on clinical outcome of COVID-19. OBJECTIVES: To assess the reciprocal interaction of COVID-19 and pemphigus and the effect of rituximab on prognosis of COVID-19 in patients. METHODS: We set up a retrospective study on adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris and a history of COVID-19 with or without symptoms during 2020. RESULTS: Thirty-six adults with pemphigus vulgaris and SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. The SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed with positive RT-PCR test results in 31 cases (86.1%) and suspected in the 5 others (13.9%). Gender, total dose of rituximab, number of rituximab cycles, and involvement of head and neck were not associated to duration of COVID-19 symptoms (p values: 0.32, 0.23, 0.84, and 0.51, respectively), severity of disease (hospitalization) (p values: 0.46, 0.39, 0.23, and 0.72, respectively), or the percentage of lung involvement on CT scan (p values: 0.07, 0.36, 0.38, and 0.09, respectively). Regarding the impact of COVID-19 on pemphigus, the majority of patients did not experience any changes in their pemphigus regarding clinical phenotype (100%) or severity (83.3%), but PV was worsened in 6 (16.9%) patients which was controlled with increasing the prednisolone dosage. CONCLUSION: Rituximab appears to be safe with no increased risk of severe form of COVID-19 in patients with pemphigus vulgaris.

Serologic Biomarkers in Pemphigus Monitoring: C-reactive Protein, Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor, and Prolactin Levels Versus Autoantibody Assays.

Evaluation and monitoring of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) typically involve autoantibody detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). We aimed to determine the levels of antipemphigus immunoglobulin (Ig) G autoantibodies using ELISA and IIF (as standard biomarkers), and compare it to prolactin, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (as nonstandard biomarkers) to determine which of these non-standard biomarkers is appropriate for PV monitoring. The experiment was performed before and during therapy. Anti-Dsg immunoglobulin G autoantibodies were measured using ELISA and IIF (as standard biomarkers) versus prolactin, MIF, and CRP (nonstandard), before 1 and 3 months after the treatment. Before beginning the treatment, the severity of the disease was determined using the pemphigus disease area Index (PDAI). We enrolled 60 newly diagnosed patients with PV (32 men and 28 women; mean age=43.8±14.2 years). Before treatment, the levels of anti-Dsg1, anti-Dsg3, and IIF were high and had a significant relationship with PDAI. PDAI also had a connection with the levels of CRP and prolactin. The anti-Dsg1, anti-Dsg3, IIF, and CRP titers decreased in patients treated with conventional (prednisolone plus azathioprine) and rituximab therapy during and after treatment. In conclusion, anti-Dsg1, anti-Dsg3, and IIF autoantibody titers remain standard biomarkers for assessing disease activity, severity, and PV monitoring. The trend of CRP was similar to that of anti-Dsg1, anti-Dsg3, and IIF. Thus, CRP may be used for PV monitoring.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, a mini review.

BACKGROUND: The SARS-Cov-2 pandemic has caused dermatologists around the world to adapt their practice in the aim of protecting patients with special clinical conditions such as those having skin cancers or premalignant conditions and some diagnostic or therapeutic programs would be suspended due to being infected to SARS-CoV-2. We focused the existing data in this regard through searching on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus and tried to summarize recommendations for treating this group of patients in COVID era to provide a practical guide for clinicians. RECENT FINDINGS: The number of diagnosed skin cancers dropped significantly since the beginning of the pandemic, specially in the peaks of various variants of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The new guidelines allowed even a 3-month delay in excision and recommended surgery for non-melanoma growing skin cancers. CONCLUSION: Dermatologists should perform a careful, individualized risk-benefit assessment for their patients and consider some changes in routine protocols such as having a delayed diagnostic or therapeutic intervention.

Isotretinoin and timing of procedural interventions: Clinical implications and practical points.

BACKGROUND: For decades, the notion that elective surgeries and cutaneous procedures should be postponed for 6-12 months in patients on, or recently administered with isotretinoin, has been widely accepted. However, some recent studies showed the need for a change in this regard. METHOD: Here, we reviewed the existing data in this regard through searching on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. All of the relevant papers published in English, until October, 2022, which we could access to their full-texts, were included. RESULTS: We found some recommendations made by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, ENT surgeons, ophthalmologists, orthopedic surgeons, and dentists regarding the correct timing of procedural interventions in patients on, or recently administered with isotretinoin and tried to summarize them to provide a practical guide for clinicians. CONCLUSION: Physicians may discuss with patients regarding the known risk of abnormal wound healing in the setting of systemic isotretinoin treatment and suggest that, when possible, surgical procedures be postponed until the activity of the retinoids has time to subside. It is even more important regarding patients with darker skin phototypes to follow an even more strict guideline.

Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Flare-Up after Both Doses of BBIBP-CorV Vaccination in a Patient under Adalimumab Treatment: A Case Report.

Generalized pustular psoriasis is a possibly serious condition that can be triggered by various factors. Previous studies show a slight likelihood of disease exacerbation subsequent to COVID-19 vaccination. Here, we present the first (to the best of our knowledge) case of pustular psoriasis flare after each one of the two shots of the BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) vaccine despite adalimumab treatment.

Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris mimicking exacerbation of pemphigus.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare multifocal angiogenic tumor often seen in immunocompromised setting such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or organ transplantation recipients. Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare blistering disorder with mucocutaneous involvement for which immunosuppressive therapy has long been the core of treatment. Iatrogenic form of KS has been reported infrequently in pemphigus patients as a result of long-term immunosuppressive therapy. CASE: We describe a 39-year-old male patient with confirmed diagnosis of PV who developed KS after receiving immunosuppressive agents for his pemphigus. KS was initially localized to the oral cavity with features mimicking exacerbation of his pemphigus. CONCLUSION: This interesting case of KS suggests that dermatologists visiting patients with pemphigus with discomfort in the oral cavity should have a high degree of awareness and consider other differential diagnoses along with merely an exacerbation of PV.

Rituximab Treatment and Improvement of Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Pemphigus.

Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disease that can negatively affect patients' lives. Assessing the impact of treatment from a patient's perspective using outcome assessment measures is important and relevant in trials of new pemphigus treatments including rituximab (RTX). We sought to evaluate the effect of RTX on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in pemphigus patients and peruse the clinical relevance of the patient-reported outcomes. A retrospective cross-sectional study was designed with 96 pemphigus patients given RTX either 3 months earlier or in the last 2 weeks. The treatment was evaluated by patients using HRQOL assessment tools: 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Another patient-reported assessment was the patient global assessment (PGA). We found that RTX administration in pemphigus patients led to rapid and notable improvement in HRQOL and patient-assessed measures.

Nail abnormalities in subepidermal blistering diseases: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Nail involvement in subepidermal autoimmune blistering diseases (SEABD) is not common. Although these changes can be transient, permanent changes can also occur. This study addresses nail involvement manifestations and their associated factors in patients with SEABD. METHODS: From March 2020 to March 2021, we enrolled 56 patients with SEABD who were being examined at a tertiary skin hospital and checked their nail changes. We investigated the association between the SEABD subtypes and treatments that patients were receiving and the nail abnormalities. Additional factors including age, gender, duration since diagnosis, presence of mucosal involvement, and anti-bp230 and anti-bp180 IgG antibody quantitative levels (in those patients with bullous pemphigoid) were analyzed. RESULTS: The most common nail abnormalities were ridging, onycholysis, and onychoschizia. We observed a lower prevalence of onycholysis in EBA, a lower prevalence of periungual bullae in MMP, and a higher prevalence of scarring loss in EBA. Rituximab and dapsone were effective in preventing onycholysis as well as prednisolone in preventing subungual hematoma. Multiple lesions were found to be more common in the foot digits including great toes, probably because of higher exposure to trauma. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, in patients with SEABD and concomitant nail involvement, the underlying disease control, proper treatment, and avoidance of trauma may be helpful.

Infections in Hospitalized Patients with Psoriasis in a Skin Referral Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis and its treatments may predispose patients to various infections. This is considered one of the most significant complications in patients with psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of infection in hospitalized psoriasis patients and its relationship with systemic and biologic treatments. METHODS: All hospitalized patients with psoriasis from 2018 to 2020 in Razi Hospital in Tehran, Iran, were studied and cases of infection were recorded. RESULTS: Overall, 516 patients were studied and 25 types of infection in 111 patients were found. The most common types of infection were pharyngitis and cellulitis, followed by oral candida, urinary tract infections, common cold, fever of unknown origin, and pneumonia. Female sex and pustular psoriasis were significantly associated with infection in psoriatic patients. Those patients who received prednisolone had a higher risk of infection, and those under treatment with methotrexate or infliximab had a lower risk of infection. CONCLUSION: Overall, 21.5% of psoriasis patients in our study had at least one episode of infection. This demonstrates that the prevalence of infection in these patients is not low. Using systemic steroids was associated with a higher risk of infection, while using methotrexate or infliximab was concomitant with a lower risk of infection.