Xerosis cutis and associated co-factors in women with prurigo nodularis

Abstract: Background: Current data regarding the associated factors of prurigo nodularis are still uncertain, except for atopic predisposition. Objectives: The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the frequencies of xerosis and other accompanying diseases of female patients with prurigo nodularis; (2) compare the demographic, clinical and accompanying disease characteristics by grouping these patients according to whether they have associated xerosis (who were subsequently subgrouped as atopic or non-atopic) or not. Methods: In this retrospective descriptive study, 80 females with PN were categorized according to the accompanying diseases (dermatological, systemic, neurological, psychogenic, mixed, or undetermined origin). Results: A total of 45 associated co-factors including dermatological in 63 (78.8%), systemic in 57 (71.3%), psychological in 33 (41.3%) and neurological co-factors in 14 (17.5%) of all patients with prurigo nodularis were detected. Xerosis was observed in 48 (60%) patients (non-atopic co-factors in 66.7% of them). The ratio of patients with mixed co-factors, dermatological+systemic co-factors and dermatological+systemic+psychological co-factors were found to be significantly higher in patients with xerosis compared to those without xerosis. Study limitations: Our study has certain limitations such as the absence of an age-matched control group, absence of follow-up data and the fact that the diagnosis of xerosis has not been based on objective methods. Conclusions: Xerosis has been identified in more than half of the patients with PN and it has been determined that in most patients xerosis is associated especially with diabetes mellitus and other conditions related to prurigo nodularis.

Xerosis cutis and associated co-factors in women with prurigo nodularis.

BACKGROUND: Current data regarding the associated factors of prurigo nodularis are still uncertain, except for atopic predisposition. OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the frequencies of xerosis and other accompanying diseases of female patients with prurigo nodularis; (2) compare the demographic, clinical and accompanying disease characteristics by grouping these patients according to whether they have associated xerosis (who were subsequently subgrouped as atopic or non-atopic) or not. METHODS: In this retrospective descriptive study, 80 females with PN were categorized according to the accompanying diseases (dermatological, systemic, neurological, psychogenic, mixed, or undetermined origin). RESULTS: A total of 45 associated co-factors including dermatological in 63 (78.8%), systemic in 57 (71.3%), psychological in 33 (41.3%) and neurological co-factors in 14 (17.5%) of all patients with prurigo nodularis were detected. Xerosis was observed in 48 (60%) patients (non-atopic co-factors in 66.7% of them). The ratio of patients with mixed co-factors, dermatological+systemic co-factors and dermatological+systemic+psychological co-factors were found to be significantly higher in patients with xerosis compared to those without xerosis. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Our study has certain limitations such as the absence of an age-matched control group, absence of follow-up data and the fact that the diagnosis of xerosis has not been based on objective methods. CONCLUSIONS: Xerosis has been identified in more than half of the patients with PN and it has been determined that in most patients xerosis is associated especially with diabetes mellitus and other conditions related to prurigo nodularis.

Examination of the Microbial Spectrum in the Etiology of Erythema Nodosum: A Retrospective Descriptive Study.

Even though infections are the most common cause of erythema nodosum (EN), only certain microorganisms take the great interest such as streptococci in knowledge. Our aim was to examine the frequency and type of infections in EN, to determine the characteristics of patients with an infectious etiology, and to discuss the role of these microbes in EN pathology in the context of their interactions with humans. Charts of 81 patients with EN who were seen between 2003 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Identified etiological factors were classified into three groups: infectious, noninfectious, and idiopathic. While there were no significant demographic and clinical differences between the infectious and idiopathic groups, systemic symptoms (p = 0.034) and the number of EN lesions (p = 0.016) were significantly lower; the mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was significantly higher (p = 0.049), but the mean aspartate aminotransferase value was significantly lower in the infectious group compared to the noninfectious group (p = 0.019). Besides streptococci, many other microbes, including the ones living on and inside us, were identified in the etiology of EN. There is a need for large-scale prospective studies involving control groups for a better understanding of the microbial immunopathology of EN.