An overlooked burden of acne in adolescents: the psychosocial well-being of their families.

INTRODUCTION: Acne vulgaris is significantly associated with an increased burden of care and has an important impact on the quality of life (QoL) and self-esteem of affected individuals. We aimed to assess the QoL of adolescents with acne and their families as well as the association of QoL with acne severity, treatment response, duration of acne and localization of lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample included a total of 100 adolescents with acne vulgaris, 100 healthy controls and their parents. We collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, presentation of acne, duration of acne, treatment history, treatment response, and parental sex. We used the Global Acne Severity scale, Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI), and the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index (FDLQI). RESULTS: In the group of patients with acne, the mean CDLQI score in the patients was 7.89 (SD, 5.43) and the mean FDLQI score in the parents was 6.01 (SD, 6.11). In the control group, the mean CDLQI score in healthy controls was 3.92 (SD, 3.88) and the mean FDLQI score in their family members was 2.12 (SD, 2.91). We found a statistically significant difference between the acne and control groups in CDLQI and FDLQI scores (P < .001). There were also statistically significant differences in the CDLQI score based on the duration of acne and the response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acne and their parents had a decreased QoL compared with healthy controls. Acne was associated with impaired QoL in family members. Assessing QoL in the family in addition to that of the patient may allow an improved management of acne vulgaris.

Concentración sérica de prolactina en la dermatitis atópica y su relación con la gravedad de la enfermedad / Serum prolactin levels in atopic dermatitis and the relationship with disease severity

Antecedentes. La prolactina actúa como modulador neuroendocrino de la proliferación de las células epiteliales de la piel y del sistema inmunitario cutáneo. Objetivo. Evaluar la concentración sérica de prolactina en los pacientes con dermatitis atópica y su relación con gravedad de la enfermedad. Métodos. El estudio se llevó a cabo en 46 pacientes con dermatitis atópica y 100 controles sanos de entre 0,5 y 19,5 años. El diagnóstico de dermatitis atópica se basó en las manifestaciones clínicas y se documentó la gravedad de la enfermedad. Se tomaron muestras de sangre venosa para medir la concentración de prolactina. Resultados. La concentración de prolactina no difirió entre los pacientes con dermatitis atópica y los controles, y no se estableció una relación entre la gravedad de la dermatitis atópica y la concentración sérica de prolactina. La prolactina no participa en la patogenia de la dermatitis atópica. Se necesitan otros estudios con tamaños muestrales más grandes y la medición de la concentración de prolactina en la piel para comprender la función de la prolactina en la patogenia de la dermatitis atópica.

Background. Prolactin performs as a neuroendocrine modulator of skin epithelial cell proliferation and the skin immune system. Objective. The aim was to assess the serum prolactin levels in patients with atopic dermatitis and the relationship with disease severity. Methods. The study was performed on 46 patients with atopic dermatitis and 100 healthy controls aged between 0.5 years and 19.5 years. The diagnosis of atopic dermatitis was based on clinical findings and the severity of the disease was documented. Venous blood sampling was performed in order to measure prolactin levels. Results. Prolactin levels in atopic dermatitis were not different from controls and there was no relationship between the severity of atopic dermatitis and serum prolactin levels. Prolactin may not have a role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Further studies with larger sample sizes and measurement of prolactin levels in the skin may help to understand the role of prolactin in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.

Serum prolactin levels in atopic dermatitis and the relationship with disease severity. / Concentración sérica de prolactina en la dermatitis atópica y su relación con la gravedad de la enfermedad.

BACKGROUND: Prolactin performs as a neuroendocrine modulator of skin epithelial cell proliferation and the skin immune system. OBJETIVE: The aim was to assess the serum prolactin levels in patients with atopic dermatitis and the relationship with disease severity. METHODS: The study was performed on 46 patients with atopic dermatitis and 100 healthy controls aged between 0.5 years and 19.5 years. The diagnosis of atopic dermatitis was based on clinical findings and the severity of the disease was documented. Venous blood sampling was performed in order to measure prolactin levels. RESULTS: Prolactin levels in atopic dermatitis were not different from controls and there was no relationship between the severity of atopic dermatitis and serum prolactin levels. Prolactin may not have a role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Further studies with larger sample sizes and measurement of prolactin levels in the skin may help to understand the role of prolactin in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.

ANTECEDENTES: La prolactina actúa como modulador neuroendocrino de la proliferación de las células epiteliales de la piel y del sistema inmunitario cutáneo. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la concentración sérica de prolactina en los pacientes con dermatitis atópica y su relación con gravedad de la enfermedad. MÉTODOS: El estudio se llevó a cabo en 46 pacientes con dermatitis atópica y 100 controles sanos de entre 0,5 y 19,5 años. El diagnóstico de dermatitis atópica se basó en las manifestaciones clínicas y se documentó la gravedad de la enfermedad. Se tomaron muestras de sangre venosa para medir la concentración de prolactina. RESULTADOS: La concentración de prolactina no difirió entre los pacientes con dermatitis atópica y los controles, y no se estableció una relación entre la gravedad de la dermatitis atópica y la concentración sérica de prolactina. La prolactina no participa en la patogenia de la dermatitis atópica. Se necesitan otros estudios con tamaños muestrales más grandes y la medición de la concentración de prolactina en la piel para comprender la función de la prolactina en la patogenia de la dermatitis atópica.

Association of clinical properties and compatibility of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test with the tuberculin skin test in patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with psoriasis show conflicting responses to the tuberculin skin test (TST), a commonly used screening test for latent tuberculosis infection. An alternative to TST is QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT), an in vitro interferon-gamma release assay. This study aimed to determine the effect of the clinical properties of psoriasis (disease severity and koebnerization status) on TST results and the agreement between the TST and QFT-GIT results in psoriatic patients. METHODS: One hundred patients with mild to severe psoriasis were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. Psoriasis properties, including disease severity (psoriasis area and severity index score and koebnerization status), latent tuberculosis infection risk factors, and bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination history, were recorded. All patients underwent a TST and QFT-GIT. TST positivity cut-off point was ≥10 mm for bacillus Calmette-Guérin-vaccinated patients and ≥5 mm for non-vaccinated patients. RESULTS: Psoriasis area and severity index scores and koebnerization status did not correlate with TST diameters. Only one of the 23 koebnerization-positive patients developed koebnerization in response to TST. QFT-GIT positivity was prominently higher in the TST-positive group, and this was the only factor that differed between the TST-positive and TST-negative groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Tuberculin skin test results were not affected by psoriasis severity or koebnerization status. QFT-GIT positivity was prominently higher in the TST-positive group (P < 0.001). Overall agreement between TST and QFT-GIT results was moderate (κ = 0.413). Concurrent negativity (44%) was higher than concurrent positivity (27%).