Mehmet Harman

An epidemiological study of pityriasis rosea in the Eastern Anatolia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features of pityriasis rosea (PR) in the Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Three hundred ninety-one patients (214 females, 177 males) with PR seen during the years 1992–1995 were analyzed for annual incidence among dermatologic outpatients, sex, age, and distribution by month and year. The average annual incidence was 0.75 per 100 dermatologic patients. PR was reported to be slightly more common in women by margin of 1.2:1.0. Eighty-seven of the cases were between the ages of 10 and 39 years, with a peak in the 20–29 age group. The incidence of the disease was much higher in the rainy and snowy months. No declining incidence was observed over the years. Changes in incidence from year to year, though not great, were statistically significant.

Congenital non-familial unilateral basaloid follicular hamartoma

Basaloid follicular hamartoma is not a well‐recognized clinical entity and has often been diagnosed as trichoepithelioma or basal cell carcinoma. It is a unique benign follicular tumour which comprises a variety of clinical manifestations. We present the case of a 24‐year‐old male with unilateral basaloid follicular hamartoma present at birth and later misdiagnosed as basal cell carcinoma. Histological features of basaloid follicular hamartoma are not always diagnostic and clinico‐pathological correlation is particularly important to distinguish this benign hamartoma from other basaloid tumours including basal cell carcinoma. Continuous follow‐up of our patient did not reveal any clinical or histological malignant transformation.

Atypical familial Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome.

The Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. Consanguinity seems a notable prerequisite. Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome manifests in the first 6 months of life with rapidly progressive periodontitis and severe alveolar bone destruction leading to early loss of both the deciduous and permanent teeth in association with palmo‐plantar hyperkeratosis. We present two unusual cases of familial Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome, one of whom has only late onset of mild skin lesions and the other has severe skin lesions and relatively mild periodontal disease. A number of other cases recently described have also had atypical features.

Leishmaniasis in Turkey: first clinical isolation of Leishmania major from 18 autochthonous cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in four geographical regions.

To report isolation of Leishmania major strains obtained from 18 Turkish autochthonous cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients infected with L. major between 2011 and 2014.

The seroprevalence of varicella zoster antibodies in Behçet's and other skin diseases

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) IgG, and IgM antibodies with Behçets and other skin diseases (group 1: recurrent aphthos stomatitis, fungal infections, psoriasis; group 2: vitiligo, lichen planus). Twenty eight patients with Behçets disease (BD), and 117 patients with dermatological disorders other than BD were evaluated for specific VZV IgG and IgM antibodies by using a third generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Mantel Heizshel χ2 method was used to adjust the confounding of age and sex of the patients. The serological positivity for VZV IgG and IgM antibodies in BD was not statistically different from other skin diseases. When we considered the age of the patients, χ2 = 2.64, CI (0.27–1.65), odds ratio (1, 1.25, 2.21) (p = 0.10) and when we considered the sex of the patients, χ2 = 0.31, CI (0.81–1.28), odds ratio (1, 1.45, 1.41), (p = 0.57).

Mycosis fungoides with involvement of the oral cavity

Mycosis fungoides rarely involves the oral cavity. To our knowledge only 29 cases of oral cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma have been described up to 1994. This report presents a case of mycosis fungoides with involvement of the oral cavity in a 57‐year‐old man who died from septicemia 7 months after the onset of oral involvement.

Kyrle's disease in diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure.

To the Editor: The association of perforating dermatoses with renal disorders andor diabetes mellitus has recently been a focus of attention. We report two male patients with chronic renal failure secondary to diabetic nephropathy who developed the typical clinical picture of Kyrle’s disease. Both patients had terminal-stage renal disease and died face of renal failure within 1 year. Case 1. A 54-year-old male patient with diabetes mellitus, type 11, and chronic renal failure secondary to diabetic nephropathy had developed pruritic hyperkeratotic papules, initially located on the limbs but later more generalized, since November 19%. There was no previous history of skm disease, nor was there any slgruficant family history. Physical examination showed numerous small to large red-brown papules and nodules, with a central, dome-shaped keratotic plug, scattered over the limbs and trunk, but with a predominance on the legs (Fig. 1). The lesions were non-confluent and partly follicular. During the period April 1996 to May 1997 blood urea ranged from 73229 mg/dl, serum creatinine 2.0-9.5 mg/dl; results of repeated fasting blood glucose tests ranged from 128 to 216 mg/dl. Histology of a skin biopsy showed follicular and perifollicular, hyperkeratotic, focally parakeratotic plugs penetrating through the epidermis into the dermis. A chronic inflamatory infiltrate was noted in the adjacent dermis. Topical corticosteroids and topical retinoids were ineffective; subsequent treatment consisting of 20 mg acitretin on alternate days (low dose because of renal failure) was partly effective. The patient died of chronic renal failure in May 1997. Case 2. A 14-year-old boy with chronic renal failure and juvenile diabetes mellitus presented pruritic, hyperkeratotic papules which had gradually become more generalised since March 1997. On physical examination, numerous small papules with central keratotic plugs were found in a widespread distribution (Fig. 2). During the period 1992-1997 fasting blood glucose ranged from 148 to 342 mg/dl, serum creatinine 2.0-8.6 mg/dl, blood urea 87-217 mg/dl. Skin biopsy specimen revealed a heavily keratotic, partly parakeratotic plug with invagination of the epidermis. No epidermal perforation was found. Treatment consisted of 20 mg acitretin on alternate days. SECTION\ \

The frequency of osteoporosis in patients with pemphigus vulgaris on treatment

BACKGROUND Pemphigus vulgaris was almost fatal before the advent of glucocorticoids. Unfortunately, the high doses and prolonged administration of glucocorticoids, which often needed to control the disease, result in numerous adverse effects many of which are serious. AIMS To evaluate the patients with pemphigus vulgaris on treatment in respect of osteoporosis and to compare the frequency of osteoporosis in these patients with the healthy ones. METHODS The study consisted of 40 patients with pemphigus vulgaris and 34 healthy controls. Bone mineral density measurements were obtained by dual- energy X-ray absorptiometry. Blood serum, bone parameters, and biochemical hormonal measurements were examined in both groups. RESULTS When the bone mineral density values of patients with pemphigus vulgaris were compared with those of the control group, there was no significant difference between hip bone mineral density values, while lumbar region T and Z scores were found significantly low in the patient group (p = 0.034 and p = 0.006, respectively). Osteoporosis, osteopenia, and normal dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry rates in the patient group were found to be 32.5%, 32.5%, and 35%, respectively. These rates were found to be 18%, 23%, and 59% in control group, respectively. There were more fractures in the patient group and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION An increase in osteoporosis frequency and secondary fracture to osteoporosis in the patients with pemphigus vulgaris was detected.

Diagnostic value of telecytology in tertiary teledermatological consultation: a retrospective analysis of 75 cases.

The addition of dermatoscopic images to clinical images is reported to increase the diagnostic value of teledermatology. No study has investigated the contribution of telecytology to teledermatology. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of telecytology in tertiary teledermatological evaluation.

Multiple Primary Cutaneous Plasmacytomas: An Unusual Presentation

Background: Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the skin, a rare type of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma, is characterized by clonal proliferation of plasma cells primarily in the skin without evidence of multiple myeloma. Only about 30 cases with extramedullary plasmacytoma of the skin are reported in the literature. Case Report: An 82-year-old male patient presented to our clinic with complaints of asymptomatic red nodular swelling and pain in the anterior chest wall. A dermatologic examination revealed multiple nodular lesions of varying sizes with a hard smooth surface and vivid red color. Serum protein and immunoglobulin electrophoresis, skeletal radiography, and bone marrow biopsy showed normal results in this patient. Here a rare case of multiple primary plasmacytoma localizing in the skin is reported.