Maryam Zahed; Ladan Dastgheib; Maryam Sadat Sadati; Asma Soukhakian
Abstract
Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a life-threatening autoimmune disease that affects the skin and mucosa. In most regions, little data is available on its epidemiology. This study aimed to present an overview of the worldwide epidemiology of pemphigus and evaluate the epidemiological features of ...
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Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a life-threatening autoimmune disease that affects the skin and mucosa. In most regions, little data is available on its epidemiology. This study aimed to present an overview of the worldwide epidemiology of pemphigus and evaluate the epidemiological features of PV in the southwest of Iran.Methods: In this study, data including sex, age, time of disease onset, phenotype of the disease, geographic location of birth, geographic location of residence, level of education, and occupation of PV patients from 2004 to 2019 were collected from the records existing in the Oral Medicine Department of Shiraz Dental School and Shahid Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran.Results: In total, 249 PV patients with a mean age of 42.72 ± 13.3 years were included. The female to male ratio was 1.74:1. The annual incidence of PV in Fars province was 2.7 per million people. In this region, the most frequent phenotype was the mucocutaneous phenotype in 204 patients (81.9%), followed by the mucosal dominant phenotype in 40 (16.1%) and the cutaneous phenotype in 5 (2%). Regarding the level of education, 43.4% had less than a high school diploma, 24.9% had a high school diploma, 17.3% had an associate diploma or higher, and 14.5 % were illiterate. Moreover, 55.8% were housewives, 21.7% were self-employed, 19.3 % were employed, and 3.2% were jobless.Conclusion: The findings indicate that PV is a rare disease in the southwest of Iran compared with other regions. According to previous studies in this region, the incidence has decreased since 2005.
Robabe Abedini; Saeed Shakiba; Narges Ghandi; Farnaz Yazdaniamjad; Nazgol-Sadat Haddadi; Maryam Nasimi
Abstract
Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease involving the inflammation of hair follicles. In many autoimmune diseases, inadequate levels of vitamin D have been reported. We aimed to determine the association between vitamin D levels and AA.
Methods: In this case-control study, 50 AA patients ...
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Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease involving the inflammation of hair follicles. In many autoimmune diseases, inadequate levels of vitamin D have been reported. We aimed to determine the association between vitamin D levels and AA.
Methods: In this case-control study, 50 AA patients and 50 controls were assessed regarding serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25-(OH)-D3]. The levels of 25-(OH)-D3 were classified as deficient ( < 20 ng/ml), insufficient (20 to 30 ng/ml), and sufficient ( > 30 ng/dl). The severity of the disease was scored according to the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT).
Results: The serum level of 25-(OH)-D3 was significantly lower in AA cases compared with the control group. Patients with the totalis or universalis pattern of hair loss had lower levels of 25-(OH)-D3 relative to patients with the patchy or ophiasis type of AA. Moreover, severe cases showed significantly lower levels of vitamin D relative to mild and moderate cases. We found a significant inverse association between 25-(OH)-D3 level and age. We found no association between serum levels of 25-(OH)-D3 and gender, disease duration, disease recurrence, nail involvement, or positive family history of AA.
Conclusion: AA patients had lower serum levels of vitamin D, though this did not contribute to the severity or duration of disease or pattern of hair loss. More studies are required to evaluate the role of vitamin D supplementation in the pathophysiology of AA.
Akbar Mokhtarpour neilagh; Farzam Alizadeh; Mehdi Aghazadeh Barenji; Shahin Behrouz Sharif; Amin Sedokani
Abstract
Background: Vitiligo is an acquired disorder characterized by the selective destruction of melanocytes, culminating in white macules on the skin. It usually begins at an early age; however, late-onset vitiligo also may occur. The disease burden arising from the psychological effects, ...
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Background: Vitiligo is an acquired disorder characterized by the selective destruction of melanocytes, culminating in white macules on the skin. It usually begins at an early age; however, late-onset vitiligo also may occur. The disease burden arising from the psychological effects, especially during childhood, highlights the importance of epidemiological studies of this disease and investigations of differences of disease features between earlyonset and late-onset forms.Methods: A total of 234 vitiligo patients were included in this study and divided into two groups considering the age of onset. The disease characteristics and clinicopathological features of the patients were obtained and compared using written questionnaires.Results: Overall, 25.6% of patients were early-onset and the mean of age in this group was 18.86 years compared with 37.14 years in the late-onset group. The most frequent involvement sites for the early-onset and late-onset groups were the eyelid and hand, respectively. A significant difference was observed between the groups regarding thyroid disorder as a comorbid disease.Conclusion: Marked differences in clinical features were present between patients with early-onset and late-onset vitiligo. Females were more prevalent in the early-onset group and the frequency of thyroid disorder was less relative to the late-onset group. Further studies with different age cut-offs for categorizing early and late-onset vitiligo seem necessary.
Banihashemi Mahnaz; Nahidi Yalda; Meibodi Naser Tayyebi; Jarrahi Lida; Livani Fatemeh; Seifnia Sahar
Abstract
Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Because vitamin D deficiency is associated with many immune disorders, we compared the levels of vitamin D between PV patients and healthy controls. Methods: Vitamin D level of 20 patients with ...
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Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Because vitamin D deficiency is associated with many immune disorders, we compared the levels of vitamin D between PV patients and healthy controls. Methods: Vitamin D level of 20 patients with PV was compared with 20 healthy individuals matched for age, gender, hours spent in the sun, body mass index (BMI) and daily vitamin D intake at the same time interval. The severity of the disease was estimated according to ABSIS score. The serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) was measured by a commercial ELISA test. Results: Vitamin D deficiency in the pemphigus vulgaris group (75%) was higher than healthy controls (45%) (P = 0.053). Mean level of vitamin D in PV patients was significantly lower than healthy controls, and was in the range of vitamin deficiency (P ? 0.05). No significant relationship was observed between the severity of the PV disease and vitamin D levels (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results of the present study, the mean level of vitamin D in patients with PV was significantly lower than healthy people. Based on our findings and given the important role of vitamin D in preventing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, vitamin D deficiency can be considered as a factor triggering the onset of PV.
