Farhad Malekzad; Mohammad Saeedi; Azin Ayatollahi
Volume 14, Issue 4 , 2011, , Pages 131-135
Abstract
Background: Lichen planus is a common inflammatory disease that can involve the skin, nails, mucous membrane, and hair follicles. There is a long list of topical and systemic therapies for its treatment. Methotrexarte has some characteristics that make it a good choice for generalized lichen planus. ...
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Background: Lichen planus is a common inflammatory disease that can involve the skin, nails, mucous membrane, and hair follicles. There is a long list of topical and systemic therapies for its treatment. Methotrexarte has some characteristics that make it a good choice for generalized lichen planus. Aim: The goal of this study was to assess the effect of low dose methotrexate in generalized lichen planus. Method: Eighteen patients (8 male and 10 female, mean age: 51.1, range: 22-80, SD: 14.9) with generalized lichen planus were enrolled in the study. After basic evaluations, low dose methotrexate (7.5-10 mg weekly) initiated. The response rate was appraised after 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Six-month follow-up was done for evaluating the recurrence rate. Result: At the end of the 8th week, 75% of the patients had more than 75% improvement. After six months, no case of recurrence was reported. Adverse effects were limited to laboratory abnormalities in two patients (abnormal liver function tests in one case and decreased hemoglobin in the other case). Conclusion: Low dose methotrexate is a very good and safe treatment for generalized lichen planus, especially when there is concern regarding the steroids undesired effects or when the disease is resistant to corticosteroids.
Fariba Ghalamkarpour; Reza Robati; Ghadeh Ghasir; Mohammad Saeedi; Nahid Mohtasham
Volume 14, Issue 1 , 2011, , Pages 12-15
Abstract
Background: Treatment of vitiligo remains an attractive topic and several therapies with varying degrees of success have been used. The aim of this study was to find out whether the combination of topical calcipotriol and excimer laser increases the efficacy of therapy compared to excimer laser alone. ...
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Background: Treatment of vitiligo remains an attractive topic and several therapies with varying degrees of success have been used. The aim of this study was to find out whether the combination of topical calcipotriol and excimer laser increases the efficacy of therapy compared to excimer laser alone. Methods: Twenty eight patients in two groups were treated with 308nm excimer laser alone (14 patients) and the combination of excimer laser–calcipotriol (14 patients). After 16 sessions, response rate, side-effects and compliance were assessed. Results: Repigmentation rate more than 50% was significantly higher in the laser- calcipotriol group. No differences were seen in complication rate between the two groups. Conclusion: Combination of calcipotriol and 308nm excimer laser might enhance the response rate without increasing treatment complications.
Mohammad Shahidi Dadras; Somayeh Hejazi; Azin Ayatollahi; Mohammad Saeedi
Volume 14, Issue 1 , 2011, , Pages 37-39
Abstract
Case: A 47-year-old Iranian man presented with a 3-month history of painful extremities lesions. The lesions began with an erythematous papule that progressively enlarged and ulcerated. His left calf was the first site of involvement. At the time we visited him, there were necrotic painful violaceous ...
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Case: A 47-year-old Iranian man presented with a 3-month history of painful extremities lesions. The lesions began with an erythematous papule that progressively enlarged and ulcerated. His left calf was the first site of involvement. At the time we visited him, there were necrotic painful violaceous skin ulcers with a symmetrical distribution involving lower parts of distal limbs and his left thigh. He had a 10-year history of hypertension and a 5-month history of peritoneal tuberculosis. Recently, he received dialysis due to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). He had received medications such as Furosemide, Omeprazol, Isoniazid, Ethambutol, Rifampin and Pyrazinamide from 5 months ago. Physical examination showed a cachectic middle aged man in distress because of severe pain. His abdomen was distended, but no ascitis or organomegaly was detected. The pedal pulse was absent. Large multiple ulcers with surrounding erythema and induration, some with dark eschar, were seen on his calves, thighs and left hand (Figure 1). Some of his toes and two fingers of his left hand were gangrenous. A hand x-ray and a skin biopsy from the newest lesion were obtained. Some soft tissue opacities were seen in the hand x-ray (Figure2).