Search

Objective: Skin prick test (SPT) is mainly used for diagnosis and follow-up of diseases like atopic dermatitis (AD), chronic urticaria (CU), allergic asthma (AA) and allegic rhinitis (AR). The aim of current study is to explore the results of SPT retrospectively which were performed in Dermatology Outpatient Allergy Unit (DOAU) for identifying indications and positivity. Methods: Results of SPT which were performed on 2014-2016 were investigated based on archives of DOAU. Results of SPT were analyzed from the SPT Forms which were prepared for each patient. Results: SPT were performed on 1916 individuals who admitted to DOAU during 2015-2016. AA was determined in 941, AR in 133 and dermatological diseases were 842 patients. SPT positive results, for at least one or more allergen agents, of patients with AA, AR and dermatological diseases were 92.1%, 71.4% and 50% respectively. Dermatological diseases included; except CU in 69 patients and AD in 55 patients. In the remaining 718 patients were diagnosed with dermatitis, idiopathic generalised pruritus (IGP) and other dermatological disorders. SPT positivity rates in CU was 55.1%, 52.7% in AD and 48.6% in several dermatological diseases. Conclusions: As a result, the rate of SPT positivity in patients with AA and AR were higher than both CU, AD and several dermatological diseases. The reason of this may be related with lesser role of type 1 hypersensivity reaction in etiopathogenesis of CU and AD, and/or improper SPT indications who were directed with diagnosis of several dermatological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a chronic, common and debilitating disease and associated with severely impaired quality of life (QoL). The main aim of this study is to explore the presence of Chronic Widespread Pain (CWP) in patients with CSU and to reveal the possible associations between CWP and CSU on the clinical features, laboratory markers and urticaria activity scores with QoL. Methods: There were assessed the 91 patients with CSU for CWP in a tertiary outpatient clinic. CWP (pain in four or more out of five bodily regions, i.e., the four quadrants and axially at least for three months) was defined in a rheumatology outpatient clinic in patients with CSU. We also analyzed the test results of anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), blood sedimentation rate, CRP (C-reactive protein), B12, total IgE, and anti-TPO. Patients were specified for their onset and duration of disease, comorbidities, the occurrence of angioedema and history of atopy, and nocturnal pruritus with disturbed sleep. Patients disease activity were detected by the urticaria control test (UCT), urticaria activity score (UAS) and visual analog scale of physician and patient's global assessment. Furthermore, patients completed a questionnaire to assess the quality of life (QoL) for dermatologic diseases. Results: 91 patients with CSU assigned for CWP, 23 (25.3%) were positive. CWP + patients with CSU had significantly higher physician global assessment score (p=0.003), Patients global assessment score (p=0.005), UAS (p=0.046), dermatologic QoL (p<0.001) and lower UCT (p=0.005) scores. Nine of 23 CWP + patients had asthma (39.1%) as a comorbidity (p=0.008). Conclusion: The presence of CWP in patients with urticaria may have a negative impact on the quality of life of the patients and disease scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of isotretinoin treatment on sleep and quality of life in patients with AV. Methods: 109 total patients who identified as 66 AV patients attended the dermatology outpatient clinic and started isotretinoin treatment, and 43 healthy controls, were enrolled in the study. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), short form-36 (SF-36), and Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) were administered to all patients twice; before and two months after the treatment. The results were compared with the healthy control group. Results: The pretreatment physical health scores of the patients were significantly higher than the healthy controls. No significant differences were observed between before-after isotretinoin treatment regarding physical and mental health scores in AV patients. While there were no significant differences between the pretreatment and healthy control group in terms of total PSQI scores; the scores of sleep duration were significantly lower in the pretreatment group. No significant differences were observed between before-after isotretinoin treatment regarding total PSQI and subcomponent scores in AV patients. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between pre- and post-treatment total PSQI scores and physical, mental health scores in patients with AV. Conclusion: Results of the present study suggest that isotretinoin therapy does not affect the sleep quality in patients with AV. The impairment of sleep quality negatively affects the quality of life in patients with AV. More comprehensive studies assessing the effect of isotretinoin treatment on sleep quality are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]