ABSTRACT
Background/aim: Chitotriosidase (ChT) is an enzyme secreted by activated macrophages and neutrophils in response to proinflammatory signals. There is growing evidence indicating that ChT activity reflects the systemic inflammatory status. This study aimed to investigate whether serum ChT activity increased in patients with psoriasis and related comorbidities. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 53 (28 with associated comorbidities and 25 without comorbidities) patients with psoriasis and 52 healthy volunteers. All participants underwent laboratory investigations for serum ChT levels, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and serum lipid levels. Results: The patients with psoriasis showed significantly higher levels of ChT activity as compared to the healthy controls (23.5 ± 11.4 vs. 17.5 ± 10.4 µmol/mL/hour; p = 0.015). Additionally, the ChT activity was significantly higher in patients with comorbidities than in those without (p = 0.042). Conclusion: Our data support the pathogenetic role of inflammatory processes induced by macrophage activation in patients with psoriasis and related comorbidities. We believe that high ChT activity in patients with psoriasis may serve as an early prediction of the possible related comorbidities.
Subject(s)
Hexosaminidases/metabolism , Inflammation/blood , Psoriasis/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Biomarkers/blood , Comorbidity , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hexosaminidases/blood , Humans , Inflammation/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Psoriasis/epidemiology , Turkey/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The coexistence of psoriasis vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid is rare. Here, we report a 90-year-old patient with a 20-year history of psoriasis. She developed vesicles and bullae suddenly and was diagnosed as bullous pemphigoid. Low-dose methotrexate therapy quickly cleared both psoriatic and bullous lesions.
Subject(s)
Pemphigoid, Bullous/complications , Psoriasis/complications , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Aged, 80 and over , Dermatologic Agents/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Methotrexate/therapeutic use , Pemphigoid, Bullous/diagnosis , Pemphigoid, Bullous/drug therapy , Psoriasis/diagnosis , Psoriasis/drug therapy , Remission InductionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The classic Kaposi sarcoma is most common in the Mediterranean population over 50 years of age and presents with reddish-brown papules and nodules particularly on the lower limbs. Treatment depends on the clinical presentation and extension of lesions. Imiquimod is as an immune response modifier with antiangiogenic activity. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: We present a 74-year-old man with classic Kaposi sarcoma who had multiple, small, violaceous papules and nodules on the trunk and extremities with a history of 14 years. He complained particularly from plantar hyperkeratotic painful nodules. Treatment with imiquimod 5% cream under occlusion resulted with almost complete regression within 12 weeks. No local or systemic side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Topical imiquimod was a safe and effective therapy in our patient with classic Kaposi sarcoma.
