Evaluation of Serum Paraoxonase, Arylesterase, Prolidase Activities and Oxidative Stress in Patients with Alopecia Areata.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a disease characterized by the hair loss sharply limited in any part of the body, especially on the scalp, in circular or oval areas. The purpose of this study is to search the serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1), arylesterase and oxidative status with serum prolidase activities in people with AA. METHODS: The study included 60 AA and 50 healthy control subjects. In both groups, serum PON1, prolidase, arylesterase activities, total oxidative status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAS) levels and oxidative stress index (OSI) were calculated. RESULTS: TOS, OSI levels and prolidase activity in patients with AA were found to be significantly higher compared to the control group (p = 0.02, p = 0.004, p < 0.001, respectively), whereas PON1 and arylesterase activities were significantly lower (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, respectively). There was no difference in serum TAS levels between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive work shows that the role of oxidative stress is very important in the pathogenesis of AA. In this study, we believe that we clarified the pathogenesis of oxidative stress for AA patients by investigating the TAS, TOS, OSI levels, PON1, arylesterase and prolidase enzyme activity parameters.

An Uncommon Side Effect of Bupropion: A Case of Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a rare inflammatory dermatosis characterized by multiple nonfollicular pustules that occur on erythematous skin. Despite its similarity to pustular psoriasis and association with fever and leukocytosis, AGEP typically heals quickly. Etiologically, drugs and viruses have been suspected in most cases. Here, we present a case of AGEP, in a woman, that developed 1 day after starting bupropion for smoking cessation, as a rare side effect of the treatment.

A case of scar sarcoidosis developing in an old scar area on the forehead.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease characterized by noncaseating granuloma development. Scar sarcoidosis is a rare cutaneous form of sarcoidosis developing on previous cutaneous scar areas. The lesions may be solitary or occur along with systemic disease. We present the case of a female patient that developed cutaneous sarcoidosis in an old scar area on the forehead that was acquired 30 years ago due to injuries from a fall. Histopathological examinations of the excisional scar biopsy revealed non-necrotizing, noncaseating granulomatous inflammatory structures comprised of epithelioid cells and Langhans giant cells with lymphocytic infiltration within the reticular dermis consistent with sarcoidosis. High-resolution CT revealed bilateral mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Patients with inflammatory skin lesions at the sites of preexisting scars should be investigated for sarcoidosis. Histopathological examination of skin biopsy specimens usually provides the correct and final diagnosis.