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INTRODUCTION: Currently, various destructive and ablative treatment options are conventionally used for warts, but all of them are limited in some form by their adverse effects, high recurrences, suboptimal effectiveness, and the need to treat every wart. Lately, immunotherapy has emerged as a safe treatment relying on biological substances that modulate the immune system to achieve disease control. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: We aimed at conducting a placebo-controlled study to compare the rate of efficacy of intralesional MMR vaccine with vitamin D3 in the management of recalcitrant extragenital warts in immune-competent adults. Follow-up was done at third and sixth month. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were divided into three groups, namely, group A, B, and C. Groups A, B, and C received intralesional MMR vaccine, vitamin D3 and normal saline, respectively, in the largest wart. The injections were repeated every 2 weeks, for a maximum of four injections. RESULTS: Among injected warts, in group A, complete clearance was seen in 29 (87.8%) patients, partial clearance in two (6.1%) and no response in two (6.1%) patients. In group B, 24 (77.4%) patients, five (16.1%) patients, and two (6.5%) patients showed signs of complete, partial, and no clearance, respectively, in injected warts. Complete response in distant warts was seen in 25 (75.7%) patients in group A and 20 (64.5%) patients in group B. There was no statistically significant difference between responses of the two groups. In group C, only three (12.5%) patients had complete clearance in injected warts, and none in distant warts. Recurrence was seen in two (6.4%) patients, each in group B and C. However, for management of verruca plana MMR was found to be superior to vitamin D3. LIMITATIONS: Our study was limited by a small sample size, absence of immunological analysis, and limited follow-up period. CONCLUSION: MMR vaccine and vitamin D3 are equally effective and safe treatment option for multiple, recalcitrant warts, as well as warts on difficult to treat sites with minimal recurrence.
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BACKGROUND: Extra-genital warts (EGWs) affect 7-10% of population. Even though a plethora of studies have been conducted to assess the impact of genital warts (GWs) showing a significant impact on the quality of life but surprisingly, barely any data has been collected on the impact of EGWs on quality of life. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed at comparing the magnitude of EGWs on health-related quality of life and various variables with that of GWs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study consisted of two groups of immunocompetent adults, each with 100 patients aged 18 years or above, attending the skin outpatient department at our tertiary center between April 2018 and March 2019 and consented to participate. Group A consisted of patients with EGWs and group B comprised of patients with GWs. All patients were asked to fulfill the validated Hindi hard copy of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean DLQI score of patients with EGWs was 8.73 ± 0.84 and that of patients with GWs was 5.83 ± 0.83 (P = 0.026). In group A, those affected the most were patients with warts on multiple exposed sites (mean DLQI score of 14), followed by warts on feet (mean DLQI score of 10.69), followed by warts on hands (DLQI score of 9.12), and facial warts (DLQI score of 6.80). Patients with a prior history of failed treatment and/or a longer duration of illness had a higher level of dissatisfaction. To the best of our knowledge, no such study has been conducted in the past in our country. CONCLUSIONS: EGWs inflict a severe negative impact on the quality of life. Owing to its notorious persistence and recurrence, healthcare professionals must educate patients on how to prevent the spread and recurrence, discuss details of available treatment modalities while keeping in view the psychological and sociological impact.
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BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is associated with spondyloarthropathy in 10%-30% of cases. Enthesitis is major feature of psoriatic arthritis. Ultrasonography can detect subclinical entheseal abnormalities in psoriasis patients. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of subclinical enthesopathy in psoriasis vulgaris using ultrasonography and evaluating its correlation with severity and duration of psoriasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 50 patients of psoriasis vulgaris and 50 healthy controls. Sonographic evaluation of six sites bilaterally (proximal plantar fascia, distal Achilles tendon, distal and proximal patellar ligaments, distal quadriceps, and brachial triceps tendons) were done in each subject. All Ultrasonographic findings were identified according to MASEI (Madrid sonography enthesitis index). Enthesopathy scores of patients and controls were compared and receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine cut off value of MASEI, above which ultrasound enthesitis of clinical significance could be diagnosed. RESULTS: 31 (62%) psoriasis patients had subclinical enthesopathy of clinical significance as compared to only 5 (10%) of controls. Mean MASEI score between psoriasis cases and control was statistically different, 12.72 ± 7.55 (Mean ± SD) and (5.14 ± 4.69), respectively (P value 0.000001).The receiver operating characteristic curve established an ultrasound score of >11 as the best cut-off to differentiate between subject with enthesopathy of clinical significance from those with enthesopathy of unknown significance. No statistically significant correlation was found between the degree of enthesopathy (MASEI score) and duration and severity of the psoriasis. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography can effectively screen subclinical entheseal abnormalities in psoriasis patients.
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BACKGROUND: Chikungunya fever is caused by chikungunya virus which is transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes. AIMS: To study the various mucocutaneous manifestations in suspected cases of chikungunya fever. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients who attended our outpatient department from July 2016 to October 2016 and fulfilled the criteria for "suspect cases" of chikungunya infection stipulated by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India, were included in the study prospectively. A total of 112 patients (62 males and 50 females) with mucocutaneous manifestations of chikungunya fever were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Mucocutaneous manifestations were found more in males than females. Serological immunoglobulin M enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IgM ELISA) test for chikungunya virus was positive in 62 (55.3%) patients. Generalized erythematous maculopapular rash (53.5%) was the most common finding. Genital pustular rash with aphthae (4.4%), oral and intertriginous aphthae, red lunula, subungual hemorrhage, localized erythema of the ear pinnae, erythema, swelling, and eczematous changes over the preexisting scars and striae (scar phenomenon) were the other interesting findings. Various pattern of pigmentation (37.5%) were observed including striking nose pigmentation in a large number of patients, by looking at which even a retrospective diagnosis of chikungunya fever could be made. There was flare-up of existing dermatoses like psoriasis and dermatophytic infection. CONCLUSIONS: Wide varieties of the mucocutaneous manifestations were observed in our study, but the striking nose pigmentation was present irrespective of age and this peculiar pigmentation may be considered as a specific clinical marker of chikungunya fever. Chikungunya fever must be suspected in any patient with painful oro-genital and intertriginous aphthous-like lesions associated with febrile polyarthralgia with rash.