Nasiri Soheila; Iranmanesh Behzad; Gheisari Mehdi; Abdollahimajd Fahimeh; Nobari Niloufar
Abstract
Background: Alopecia Areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease affecting hair follicles. Although many details are well specified in the pathogenesis of the disease, there exist certain aspects which require more investigations. Given the fact that the increase in Th-1 immunity is the essential part of the ...
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Background: Alopecia Areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease affecting hair follicles. Although many details are well specified in the pathogenesis of the disease, there exist certain aspects which require more investigations. Given the fact that the increase in Th-1 immunity is the essential part of the pathogenesis, the incrimination of osteopontin, as a Th-1 cytokine, is considered appropriate in the pathogenesis of the disease. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the role of osteopontin in alopecia areata and its correlation with disease pattern and severity.
Methods: This case-control study consisted of 45 patients with alopecia areata and 45 health individuals. The level of osteopontin was measured through blood sampling and ELISA method.
Results: The mean plasma level of osteopontin was significantly lower in patients with alopecia areata than controls (P<0.05)
Conclusions: The plasma level of osteopontin in patients with alopecia areata is lower than healthy controls. Moreover, there is no significant relationship between the plasma level of osteopontin and disease severity. The clinical manifestations of alopecia areata might be a sign of the altered protective effects of osteopontin. Needless to say, more investigation is required to clarify the correlation between alopecia areata and osteopontin.
Shahidi-Dadras Mohammad; Kheradmand Zohreh; Abdollahimajd Fahimeh
Abstract
Background: Recently, rituximab has been successfully used for the treatment of pemphigus family, the main subtype of which is pemphigus vulgaris (PV). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of rituximab in refractory PV. Methods: In an observational study extending from November ...
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Background: Recently, rituximab has been successfully used for the treatment of pemphigus family, the main subtype of which is pemphigus vulgaris (PV). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of rituximab in refractory PV. Methods: In an observational study extending from November 2014 to February 2016, 30 patients with refractory PV were treated with rituximab. Response to therapy, duration of clinical remission, relapse rate, serology, and side effects of treatment with rituximab were evaluated. Results: At the end of the follow-up with a mean duration of 7.6 (6-14) months, 25 (83.3%) patients achieved complete remission with or without systemic therapy. The mean duration of disease control was 2.8 months. In all patients, the serum levels of antidesmoglein 1 and 3 IgG antibodies were reduced after rituximab therapy. In 23.4% of the patients, a clinical relapse occurred at a mean of 9.6 months following the initiation of the treatment. Infusion-related reactions occurred in 18 (60%) patients. The lack of a control group, concomitant use of corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents, and a limited follow-up period were among the limitations of our research. Conclusions: Rituximab is a good treatment modality for refractory PV, which extends the mean time to relapse in patients. To further extend our knowledge on the efficacy and safety of rituximab therapy, more randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and prolonged follow-up durations are required.
Shahidi-Dadras Mohammad; Abdollahimajd Fahimeh; Younespour Shima; Nikvar Mohammad
Volume 19, Issue 4 , 2016, , Pages 119-124
Abstract
Background: Psoriasis is a chronic disease with multiple biochemical and vascular abnormalities. Several studies have evaluated circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in psoriasis, but none of them evaluated it after reaching a PASI-75 response, as a practical treatment goal. ...
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Background: Psoriasis is a chronic disease with multiple biochemical and vascular abnormalities. Several studies have evaluated circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in psoriasis, but none of them evaluated it after reaching a PASI-75 response, as a practical treatment goal. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of VEGF in moderate to severe psoriatic patients before and after treatment compared with healthy controls.Methods: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Fifty-eight patients with moderate- severe psoriasis and 60 age-and gender-matched healthy controls were recruited to this study. Serum VEGF levels (pg/ml) of both groups were measured. We used Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scoring to assess disease activity in patients. According to the disease severity, the patients received proper treatment. When they reached a PASI-75 response, serum VEGF levels were measured once more.Results: In our study, the median serum VEGF level was significantly higher in psoriatic patients (before and after treatment) as compared to healthy controls. Moreover, patients showed a significant reduction in their serum VEGF levels after reaching PASI-75. The median time of therapeutic effect (reaching a PASI- 75 response) was four months. Furthermore, our study showed a significant correlation between the serum VEGF level and age, BMI, PASI, and disease duration (P
Yousefi Maryam; Ershadi Sarah; Abdollahimajd Fahimeh
Volume 18, Issue 1 , 2015, , Pages 38-39
Abstract
Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is an autoimmune blistering disease presenting in endemic and sporadic forms. The typical presentation is recurrent shallow erosions in a seborrheic distribution. PF has also been found in association with autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroid disease (e.g. toxic nodular ...
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Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is an autoimmune blistering disease presenting in endemic and sporadic forms. The typical presentation is recurrent shallow erosions in a seborrheic distribution. PF has also been found in association with autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroid disease (e.g. toxic nodular goiter and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis). In some patients, PF appears to be triggered by radioiodine therapy.
Dadrass Mohammad Shahidi-; Mozafari Nikoo; Abdollahimajd Fahimeh; Asadi-Kani Zahra
Volume 16, Issue 2 , 2013, , Pages 77-79
Abstract
A 61-year-old man was referred to our dermatology departmentfor the evaluation of a single asymptomatic plaque on hisleft lower back that has been present for one year. The lesionbegan as an erythematous scaly plaque that
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A 61-year-old man was referred to our dermatology departmentfor the evaluation of a single asymptomatic plaque on hisleft lower back that has been present for one year. The lesionbegan as an erythematous scaly plaque that
