Involvement of aquaporin 5 and Na-K-2Cl cotransporter 1 in the pathogenesis of primary focal hyperhidrosis: evidence from the primary sweat gland cell culture.

People with primary focal hyperhidrosis (PFH) usually have an overactive sympathetic nervous system, which can activate the sweat glands through the chemical messenger of acetylcholine. The role of aquaporin 5 (AQP5) and Na-K-2Cl cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) in PFH is still unknown. The relative mRNA and protein levels of AQP5 and NKCC1 in the sweat gland tissues of three subtypes of patients with PFH (primary palmar hyperhidrosis, PPH; primary axillary hyperhidrosis, PAH; and primary craniofacial hyperhidrosis, PCH) were detected with real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blot. Primary sweat gland cells from healthy controls (NPFH-SG) were incubated with different concentrations of acetylcholine, and the relative mRNA and protein expression of AQP5 and NKCC1 were also detected. NPFH-SG cells were also transfected with si-AQP5 or shNKCC1, and acetylcholine stimulation-induced calcium transients were assayed with Fluo-3 AM calcium assay. Upregulated AQP5 and NKCC1 expression were observed in sweat gland tissues, and AQP5 demonstrated a positive Pearson correlation with NKCC1 in patients with PPH (r = 0.66, P < 0.001), patients with PAH (r = 0.71, P < 0.001), and patients with PCH (r = 0.62, P < 0.001). Upregulated AQP5 and NKCC1 expression were also detected in primary sweat gland cells derived from three subtypes of patients with PFH when compared with primary sweat gland cells derived from healthy control. Acetylcholine stimulation could induce the upregulated AQP5 and NKCC1 expression in NPFH-SG cells, and AQP5 or NKCC1 inhibitions attenuated the calcium transients induced by acetylcholine stimulation in NPFH-SG cells. The dependence of ACh-stimulated calcium transients on AQP5 and NKCC1 expression may be involved in the development of PFH.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The dependence of ACh-stimulated calcium transients on AQP5 and Na-K-2Cl cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) expression may be involved in the development of primary focal hyperhidrosis (PFH).

Subclinical effects of botulinum toxin A and microwave thermolysis for axillary hyperhidrosis: A descriptive study with line-field confocal optical coherence tomography and histology.

Botulinum toxin A (BTX) and microwave thermolysis (MWT) are standard axillary hyperhidrosis treatments, but comparison of their subclinical effects is lacking. Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is a promising non-invasive imaging tool for visualizing tissue-interactions. This study aimed to describe subclinical effects of BTX and MWT for axillary hyperhidrosis with LC-OCT-imaging compared to histology. This study derived from an intra-individual, randomized, controlled trial, treating axillary hyperhidrosis with BTX versus MWT. Subclinical effects based on LC-OCT images from baseline and 6-month follow-up (n = 8 patients) were evaluated and compared to corresponding histological samples. At baseline, LC-OCT visualized eccrine pores at the skin surface and ducts in the upper dermis (500 µm), but not deeper-lying sweat glands. Histology identified entire sweat glands. Six months post-treatment, LC-OCT revealed no detectable morphology changes in any BTX-treated axillae (100%), while recognizing obstructed eccrine pores and atrophy of eccrine ducts in most MWT-treated axillae (75%). Histology corroborated LC-OCT findings, while also showing substantial changes to entire sweat glands. LC-OCT enabled visualization of subclinical alterations of superficial eccrine ducts after MWT and unchanged morphology after BTX. LC-OCT is a promising tool for non-invasive assessment of treatment-specific tissue-interactions that can be complementary to histology.

Hyperhidrosis as the initial symptom in FUS mutation-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a case report and comprehensive literature review.

BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is now recognized to involve autonomic dysfunction. The burden of autonomic dysfunction is an important factor in the quality of life and prognosis of ALS patients. This article presents the clinical characteristics of a young female ALS patient with a fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene mutation and notable hyperhidrosis. METHOD: Detailed clinical characteristics of the patients were collected, and comprehensive examinations such as electrophysiological assessment, neuro-ultrasound, genetic testing, and relevant blood tests were conducted. RESULT: A 24-year-old female experienced progressive weakness in both lower limbs for over 5 months, along with excessive sweating on both palms and feet. A positive skin iodine-starch test was observed. Electromyography revealed extensive neurogenic damage and prolonged sympathetic skin response (SSR) latency in both lower limbs. Full exon gene sequencing showed a heterozygous mutation c.1574C>T (p.Pro525Leu) in the FUS gene. CONCLUSION: The pathogenesis of ALS remains unclear at present. This case underscores the presence of autonomic nervous symptoms in ALS associated with FUS mutation and highlights the importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment intervention to enhance patient prognosis.

A novel pathogenic variant in TDP2 causes spinocerebellar ataxia autosomal recessive 23 accompanied by pituitary tumor and hyperhidrosis: a case report.

TDP2 gene encodes tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase 2, an enzyme required for effective repair of the DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Spinocerebellar ataxia autosomal recessive 23 (SCAR23) is a rare disease caused by the pathogenic mutation of TDP2 gene and characterized by intellectual disability, progressive ataxia and refractory epilepsy. Thus far, merely nine patients harboring five different variants (c.425 + 1G > A; c.413_414delinsAA, p. Ser138*; c.400C > T, p. Arg134*; c.636 + 3_ 636 + 6 del; c.4G > T, p. Glu2*) in TDP2 gene have been reported. Here, we describe the tenth patient with a novel variant (c.650del, p. Gly217GlufsTer7) and new phenotype (pituitary tumor and hyperhidrosis).

Fractional CO2 Laser-Assisted Delivery of Botulinum Toxin-A Versus Aluminum Chloride in Treatment of Primary Palmar Hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: Primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) constitutes a distressing dermatologic condition that greatly affects patients' quality of life. Its management still needs to be addressed to find a suitable therapeutic modality that is readily available, cost effective, and gives patients a quite long disease-free period. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of fractional CO2 laser as a delivery method for botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) and aluminum chloride in treating PPH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four subjects with PPH were treated on both hands with fractional CO2 laser followed on the right hand with topical BTX-A and on the left hand with topical aluminum chloride. Minor's starch-iodine test and Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) were used for evaluation of treatment response and for follow-up. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in HDSS in both groups, but there was no statistically significant difference in the therapeutic response for both modalities. There was a statistically significant longer disease-free period in the BTX-A-treated hands. CONCLUSION: Fractional CO2 laser-assisted drug delivery (LADD) represents a safe, minimally invasive procedure that enhances the delivery of BTX-A and aluminum chloride, the two most widely used agents for treating PPH, with a comparable anhidrotic response.

Treatment of Palmar Hyperhidrosis With Radiofrequency Microneedling-Based on Ultrasound Measurements.

This study addresses the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis, which has been difficult to manage. A new treatment has been developed using radiofrequency microneedling to reduce sweating non-surgically by ablating sweat glands. Based on ultrasound measurements of the dermis and precise microneedling damage, effective energy was applied to locate the sweat glands and disabled their function. Radiofrequency microneedling with ultrasound can safely and effectively treat hyperhidrosis in a minimally invasive way.

Management of primary plantar hyperhidrosis with botulinum toxin type A: A retrospective case series of 129 patients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To date, scientific data on the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) for primary plantar hyperhidrosis (PPH) are mainly derived from case reports and small case series. Herein, we sought to assess the efficacy and safety of BoNT-A for PPH on a large series of patients. METHODS: Medical records of patients who were referred to the outpatient department for hyperhidrosis of a tertiary care hospital and received BoNT-A for PPH from March 2003 until December 2022 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 129 patients [12 males, 117 females; median age 32 years (range, 16-72)] were included in the study, after excluding 24 patients with insufficient documented follow-up data. Most patients [115 (89.1%)] received onabotulinumtoxin-A, nine (7.0%) abobotulinumtoxin-A and five (3.9%) both in subsequent sessions. The mean number of sessions was 2.02 [standard deviation (SD), 2.29] and the mean duration of response 6.16 months (SD, 4.01). The percentage of response, as evaluated by Minor's test, was 71.67%, 63.44%, 47.78% and 34.13% after 1, 3, 6 and 9 months, respectively. Most patients were satisfied (21.7%) or very satisfied (58.9%) with the treatment. No serious side effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this retrospective study suggest that BoNT-A is an effective and safe treatment option for PPH.

Cluster Analysis Identifies Clinical Phenotypes of Primary Hyperhidrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Identifying subgroups of patients with primary hyperhidrosis (PHH) can improve the understanding of the disease pathophysiology. The study objective was to determine the naturally occurring subgroups of patients with PHH based on clinical characteristics. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, data were collected from participants included in a clinical trial. The data were collected between January 2020 and June 2021 from outpatients with PHH attending a dermatologic department in Denmark. Overall, 84 patients with PHH were screened for inclusion in the clinical trial. Of these, 41 met the eligibility criteria. Four participants were excluded because of missing data. The main outcome was the identification of subgroups of patients with PHH using an unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 37 patients were included {28 (76.7%) females; median age at inclusion 28.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 24.0-38.3); median body mass index 24.9 (IQR 20.9-27.4); median age of onset 13.0 (IQR 9.5-18.5); and 26 (70.3%) had a familial disposition toward PHH}. Two clusters of 18 and 17 patients were identified. The first cluster had, when compared to the second, a younger age of onset (median age 11.0 [IQR 0-13.0] vs. 17.0 [IQR 15.0-21.0], p = 0.003) and higher sweat rates on gravimetry (median 175.0 [IQR 121.2-252.5] vs. 40.0 [IQR 20.0-60.0] milligrams of sweat/5 min, p < 0.001) and transepidermal water loss (median 93.7 [IQR 91.2-97.8] vs. 59.0 [IQR 44.4-73.2] g/m2/h, p < 0.001). No differences were observed for the other variables. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies 2 subgroups of patients with PHH. The patients with an onset of PHH during childhood had a substantially higher sweat and evaporation rate in adulthood than those with an onset during adolescence. These findings may imply a changed understanding of the pathophysiology of PHH, by indicating that an early disease onset can lead to a worse disease course.

Evidence of heat sensitivity in people with Parkinson's disease.

Examining how heat affects people with Parkinson's disease is essential for informing clinical decision-making, safety, well-being, and healthcare planning. While there is evidence that the neuropathology associated with Parkinson's disease affects thermoregulatory mechanisms, little attention has been given to the association of heat sensitivity to worsening symptoms and restricted daily activities in people with this progressive disease. Using a cross-sectional study design, we examined the experiences of people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the heat. Two-hundred and forty-seven people completed an online survey (age: 66.0 ± 9.2 years; sex: male = 102 (41.3%), female = 145 (58.7%)), of which 195 (78.9%) reported becoming more sensitive to heat with Parkinson's disease. Motor and nonmotor symptoms worsened with heat in 182 (73.7%) and 203 (82.2%) respondents, respectively. The most commonly reported symptoms to worsen included walking difficulties, balance impairment, stiffness, tremor, fatigue, sleep disturbances, excess sweating, difficulty concentrating, and light-headedness when standing. Concerningly, over half indicated an inability to work effectively in the heat, and nearly half reported that heat impacted their ability to perform household tasks and social activities. Overall, heat sensitivity was common in people with Parkinson's disease and had a significant impact on symptomology, day-to-day activities and quality of life.

Long-term efficacy of fractional microneedle radiofrequency versus botulinum toxin-A in primary axillary hyperhidrosis: a randomized controlled trial.

Primary axillary hyperhidrosis is an idiopathic disorder that creates severe psycho-social burden due to excessive uncontrolled sweating. Various therapeutic agents have been described, but each has its own limitations. The use of fractional microneedling radiofrequency has emerged lately with promising results. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of fractional microneedle radiofrequency in comparison to Botulinum toxin-A (BT-A) in patients with primary axillary hyperhidrosis. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 20 patients (40 sides) were randomized to either fractional microneedle radiofrequency (4 sessions at 3-week intervals) or BT-A (single session), where each side received one of the treatment modalities. Efficacy was measured at 3, 6 and 12 months using Minor's starch iodine test, HDSS score, Hqol questionnaire, and patient satisfaction. Fractional microneedle radiofrequency, although showed moderate efficacy, is inferior to BT-A regarding longitudinal efficacy at 12 months, as well as patients' satisfaction. Both treatment modalities showed to be equally safe, but fractional microneedle radiofrequency procedure was substantially more painful. In conclusion, fractional microneedle radiofrequency does not offer a better substitute to BT-A in primary axillary hyperhidrosis. BT-A shows higher efficacy, is less painful, less expensive, and needs a smaller number of sessions.

Revealing the Antiperspirant Components of Floating Wheat and Their Mechanisms of Action through Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology.

Floating wheat is a classical herbal with potential efficacy in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. Aiming at revealing the main components and potential mechanisms of floating wheat, a comprehensive and unique phytopharmacology profile study was carried out. First, common wheat was used as a control to look for chemical markers of floating wheat. In the screening analysis, a total of 180 shared compounds were characterized in common wheat and floating wheat, respectively. The results showed that floating wheat and common wheat contain similar types of compounds. In addition, in non-targeted metabolomic analysis, when taking the contents of the constituents into account, it was found that there indeed existed quite a difference between floating wheat and common wheat and 17 potential biomarkers for floating wheat. Meanwhile, a total of seven components targeted for hyperhidrosis were screened out based on network pharmacology. Seven key differential components were screened, among which kaempferol, asiatic acid, sclareol, enoxolone, and secoisolariciresinol had higher degree values than the others. The analysis of interacting genes revealed three key genes, namely, MAP2K1, ESR1, and ESR2. The Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses showed that various signaling pathways were involved. Prolactin signaling, thyroid cancer, endocrine resistance, gonadotropin secretion, and estrogen signaling pathways were the main pathways of the intervention of floating wheat in excessive sweating, which was associated with the estrogenic response, hormone receptor binding, androgen metabolism, apoptosis, cancer, and many other biological processes. Molecular docking showed that the screened key components could form good bindings with the target proteins through intermolecular forces. This study reveals the active ingredients and potential molecular mechanism of floating wheat in the treatment of hyperhidrosis and provides a reference for subsequent basic research.

Internalized stigma, disease severity, quality of life, anxiety and depression in axillary hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: Axillary hyperhidrosis (AH) is characterized by excessive underarm sweating. It is a chronic autonomic disorder that can lead to social embarrassment, impaired quality of life (QoL), anxiety and depression. Internalized stigma (IS), defined as the acceptance of negative societal attitudes and stereotypes about an individual's illness, has not been previously studied in AH. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of IS in patients with AH and the relationships between IS, disease severity, quality of life, anxiety, and depression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and four patients with AH were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. The Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) was used to define disease severity. Assessment was made using the Internalized Stigma Scale (ISS) (between 29 and 116, the higher the score the greater the stigma), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 34.1 ±â€¯10.9 years. The HDSS grade was mostly moderate to severe. The mean ISS score was 57.5 ±â€¯6.5. Median HADS scores were 7 [interquartile range (IQR) 2-12] and 5 [IQR 2-10], respectively. HADS scores ≥ 8 were observed respectively in 39.4% and 8.7% of patients. The median DLQI score was 14 [IQR 4-24]. A DLQI score ≥ 11 was observed in 75% of patients. Significant correlation was found between ISS score and HDSS (r = 0.445, p < 0.001), HADS-A (r = 0.455, p < 0.001), DLQI (r = 0.478, p < 0.001) scores and symptom duration (r = 0.207, p = 0.035). The relationship between ISS and HADS depression scores was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: IS is common in patients with AH. Disease severity, symptom duration and anxiety increased IS. Patient's quality of life is reduced in AH.

Persistent Horner Syndrome Following Bilateral Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathotomy: A Case Report.

Horner syndrome, manifesting as ptosis and miosis, arises from disruptions within the oculosympathetic pathway. This syndrome is classified based on the lesion's location along the sympathetic nerve pathway into central, preganglionic, or postganglionic types. While endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy, a surgical intervention for hyperhidrosis, is associated with several complications, including compensatory hyperhidrosis, Horner syndrome, and pneumothorax, these complications are notably rarer in sympathotomy procedures. Importantly, the incidence of Horner syndrome post-operatively is notably low, particularly in comparison to compensatory hyperhidrosis, with most cases being reversible and not necessitating further intervention. This report delineates a rare case of persistent Horner syndrome following a bilateral sympathotomy at the T3 and L3 levels, performed to alleviate symptoms of palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis. The discussion underscores the rarity of such a complication and explores the implications for surgical practice and patient counselling.

Sexual effects and long-term outcomes of endoscopic lumbar sympathectomy for plantar hyperhidrosis in men: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Plantar hyperhidrosis (PHH) is a disease with high psychosocial impact, and endoscopic lumbar sympathectomy (ELS) has been shown to be the best choice for treatment, but with some concerns such as compensatory sweating (CS) and sexual effects (SE), particularly in men. Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of ELS for controlling PHH in men, its side effects, and perceived sexual modifications. Methods: A cross-sectional study including only male patients operated for PHH with ELS between 2014-2022 at a private practice. During remote interviews, patients were asked about symptoms before and after ELS and about the postoperative effects on PHH. They were also objectively asked about any SE during the postoperative period. Validated quality of life for hyperhidrosis and erectile function questionnaires were also administered. Results: 10 male patients averaging 4.26±2.86 years post-ELS were interviewed. Eight of them (80%) achieved complete response (≥80% of sweat reduction) in the first month after surgery and this response was maintained up to the interview date. Two patients had partial response. In six patients, CS occurred, with 5 reporting it as non-troublesome. Six patients reported some type of SE, but none reported erectile dysfunction. Regarding the functional results, all patients rated ELS from good (10%) to very good (30%) or excellent (60%). Conclusions: Endoscopic lumbar sympathectomy was effective for treatment of plantar hyperhidrosis in these patients, improving their quality of life and providing lasting PHH control, with some transient sexual dysfunctions that did not impair their sexual life.

Contexto: A hiperidrose plantar (HHP) é uma doença de alto impacto psicossocial, e a simpatectomia lombar endoscópica (SLE) tem se mostrado a melhor escolha de tratamento. Porém, há algumas preocupações como suor compensatório (SC) e efeitos sexuais (ES), particularmente em homens. Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia a longo prazo da SLE para controlar a HHP em homens, seus efeitos colaterais e as modificações sexuais percebidas. Métodos: Tratou-se de um estudo transversal incluindo apenas pacientes do sexo masculino operados de HHP por meio de SLE entre 2014 e 2022 em consultório particular. Por meio de entrevistas remotas, os pacientes foram questionados sobre os sintomas antes e depois da SLE e sobre a evolução pós-operatória da HHP, assim como foram questionados objetivamente sobre qualquer ES percebido durante o pós-operatório. Também foram aplicados questionários validados de qualidade de vida para hiperidrose e função erétil. Resultados: Foram entrevistados 10 pacientes do sexo masculino com média de 4,26±2,86 anos pós-SLE. Oito deles (80%) obtiveram resposta completa (≥80% de redução do suor) no primeiro mês após a cirurgia e mantiveram a resposta na entrevista. Dois pacientes tiveram resposta parcial. Em seis pacientes, ocorreu SC, com cinco relatando-a como não problemática. Seis pacientes relataram algum tipo de ES, mas nenhum apresentou disfunção erétil. Todos os pacientes avaliaram o resultado funcional da SLE como bom (10%), muito bom (30%) ou excelente (60%). Conclusões: A SLE pode tratar de forma eficaz a HHP nesses pacientes, melhorando a qualidade de vida e proporcionando efeitos duradouros no controle da HHP, com algumas disfunções sexuais transitórias que não prejudicam a vida sexual.

Topical Anticholinergics in the Management of Focal Hyperhidrosis in Adults and Children. A Narrative Review. / Anticolinérgicos tópicos en el manejo de la hiperhidrosis focal en adultos y niños. Una revisión narrativa.

Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is characterized by overactivity of the eccrine sweat glands, usually associated with dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Primary focal hyperhidrosis is the most common form and can affect the axillae, palms, soles, and/or face, often leading to significantly impaired quality of life and social functioning. Treatment is complex. Topical antiperspirants are normally recommended as the first-line treatment for mild hyperhidrosis. Multiple clinical trials and prospective studies support the efficacy and tolerability of oral and topical anticholinergics in the management of hyperhidrosis. Topical glycopyrronium, which has been investigated in at least 8 clinical trials enrolling more than 2000 patients, is probably the first-line pharmacological treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis in patients with moderate to severe disease poorly controlled with topical antiperspirants. Second-line treatments include botulinum toxin injections, microwave treatment, and oral anticholinergics. We review the use of topical anticholinergics in the management of focal hyperhidrosis in adults and children.

Hyperhidrosis in sleep disorders - A narrative review of mechanisms and clinical significance.

Hyperhidrosis is characterized by excessive sweating beyond thermoregulatory needs that affects patients' quality of life. It results from an excessive stimulation of eccrine sweat glands in the skin by the sympathetic nervous system. Hyperhidrosis may be primary or secondary to an underlying cause. Nocturnal hyperhidrosis is associated with different sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome/periodic limb movement during sleep and narcolepsy. The major cause of the hyperhidrosis is sympathetic overactivity and, in the case of narcolepsy type 1, orexin deficiency may also contribute. In this narrative review, we will provide an outline of the possible mechanisms underlying sudomotor dysfunction and the resulting nocturnal hyperhidrosis in these different sleep disorders and explore its clinical relevance.

A novel lotion formulation of 20% oxybutynin hydrochloride for the treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase III study.

BACKGROUND: No previous controlled studies have been specifically designed or adequately powered to show the efficacy of topical oxybutynin for palmar hyperhidrosis by using quantitative measures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of 20% oxybutynin hydrochloride lotion (20% OL) in reducing palmar sweat volume in patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPHH). METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, Japanese patients with PPHH aged 12 years and older received either 20% OL (n = 144) or placebo (n = 140) on both palms once daily for 4 weeks. Palmar sweat volume was measured by the ventilated capsule method. For the primary outcome, response was defined as a reduction of sweat volume of at least 50% from baseline. RESULTS: At week 4, the responder rate for sweat volume was significantly higher in the 20% OL arm than in the placebo arm (52.8% vs 24.3%, respectively; treatment difference, 28.5% [95% CI, 17.7% to 39.3%]; P < .001). No serious adverse events occurred, and no adverse events led to treatment discontinuation. LIMITATIONS: The treatment period was only 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PPHH, 20% OL is superior to placebo in reducing palmar sweat volume.

Evaluation of quality of life (QOL) of young patients with primary hyperhidrosis (PH) before and after endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS).

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperhidrosis (PH) affects young patients and may cause emotional distress and a negative quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the QOL of children and adolescents with PH treated by endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. METHODS: A study of 220 patients was performed, based on submitted QOL questionnaires from their first consultation. Patients were evaluated within 1 week and 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: Before endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy, the QOL in relation to PH was declared very poor by 141 patients, and poor by the remaining 79 (P = .552). Postoperative cure was reported in 100% of palmar and axillary PH cases, and in 91.7% of facial PH. After 24 months, the QOL was described as much better by 212 patients, a little better by 6 patients, and 2 patients reported no change. LIMITATIONS: Convenience sampling was used and patients were taken from private practice only, raising the possibility of bias in gathering the data. CONCLUSION: Onset of PH symptoms was mainly before the age of 10 years and substantially affected daily activities. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy cured PH and promoted significant improvement in the QOL of these young patients.

The differentiating effect of COVID-19-associated stress on the morbidity of blood donors with symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa, hyperhidrosis, or psoriasis.

PURPOSE: The burden of different skin diseases may vary leading individuals to have different sensitivity to stress. Therefore, we compared the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and stress before and during the universal stress from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2-pandemic in individuals with and without hyperhidrosis, hidradenitis suppurativa, or psoriasis. METHODS: The study cohort was the Danish Blood Donor Study. Overall, 12,798 participants completed a baseline questionnaire before the pandemic, in 2018-2019, and a follow-up questionnaire during the pandemic, in 2020. Regression determined the association between the skin diseases and outcomes. Outcomes were the physical and mental component summary (MCS, PCS, respectively), which assess the mental and physical HRQoL, and the perceived stress scale, which assesses stress in the past four weeks. RESULTS: Overall, 1168 (9.1%) participants had hyperhidrosis, 363 (2.8%) had hidradenitis suppurativa, and 402 (3.1%) had psoriasis. At follow-up, the participants with hyperhidrosis had worse MCS (coefficient -0.59 [95% confidence interval (CI) -1.05, -0.13]) and higher odds of moderate-to-severe stress (odds ratio 1.37 [95% CI 1.13, 1.65]) and the participants with hidradenitis suppurativa worse PCS (coefficient -0.74 [95% CI -1.21, -0.27]) than the control groups. The associations were independent of baseline HRQoL, stress, the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale, and other covariables. Psoriasis was not associated with the outcomes. CONCLUSION: Individuals with hyperhidrosis or hidradenitis suppurativa experienced worse mental or physical well-being and individuals with hyperhidrosis also had higher stress during the pandemic compared to healthy individuals. This suggests that individuals with these skin diseases are particularly susceptible to external stress.

Anatomical variations of the thoracic sympathetic ganglions and their effects on sympathicotomy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis.

PURPOSE: The results and side effects of sympathicotomy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) can vary due to anatomical variations of the sympathetic ganglions. The aim of our study was to clarify anatomical variations of the sympathetic ganglions by near-infrared (NIR) thoracoscopy and determine their effects on sympathicotomy for PPH. METHODS: The cases of 695 consecutive patients with PPH treated with either R3 or R4 sympathicotomy either by normal thoracoscopy or by NIR fluorescent thoracoscopy between March 2015 and June 2021 were retrospectively reviewed and followed up. RESULTS: The variation rate of third and fourth ganglions was 14.7% and 13.3% on the right side and 8.3% and 11.1% on the left side. Real T3 sympathicotomy (RTS3) was more effective than real T4 sympathicotomy (RTS4) in the short-term and long-term follow-up (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). RTS3 was more satisfactory than RTS4 in the long-term follow-up (p = 0.03), but no significant difference was found in the short-term follow-up (p = 0.24). The incidence and severity of compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) in the areas of the chest and back in the RTS4 group were significantly lower than those in the RTS3 group according to both the short-term results (12.92% vs. 26.19%, p < 0.001; 17.97% vs. 33.33%, p = 0.002, respectively) and the long-term results (19.66% vs. 28.57%, p = 0.017; 21.35% vs. 34.52%, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: RTS3 may be more effective than RTS4 for PPH. However, RTS4 appears to be associated with a lower incidence and severity of CH in the areas of the chest and back than RTS3. NIR intraoperative imaging of thoracic sympathetic ganglions may improve the quality of sympathicotomy surgeries.