Seray Külcü Çakmak

Clinical aspects of epidermodysplasia verruciformis and review of the literature

Background  Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), is an unusual genodermatosis characterized by persistent human papilloma virus infection with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Clinically, it is characterized by flat wart‐like lesions, scaly hypo‐ and hyperpigmented macules and/or patches, which resemble pityriasis versicolor, and development of early beginning nonmelanoma cutaneous carcinomas.

Homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels in psoriasis patients

Background  Hyperhomocysteinaemia is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, stroke, peripheral arterial occlusive disease and venous thrombosis. An association between psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases has been reported.

Risk factors for pressure ulcers.

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers (PrUs) remain a common problem in all healthcare settings. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of risk factors in patients with PrUs. METHODS: The study included 32 immobilized inpatients with PrUs and 30 immobilized inpatients without PrUs as a control group, who were being followed up at the Ankara Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Patients were given physical examinations and assessed for medical history, as well as for associated diseases, the duration of PrUs, the presence of stool and urinary incontinence, the use of pressure-reducing bed surface, and change of position. Routine biochemical and hematologic blood examinations were performed in all of the patients involved in the study. RESULTS: When risk factors for PrUs were assessed, 81.2% of the patients with PrUs had stool and urine incontinence, 46.8% had been smoking, 46.8% had hypoalbuminemia, 15.6% had been drinking alcohol, and 9.3% had diabetes; 18.7% had been using a pressure-reducing bed surface before the ulcer appeared, and 40.6% started to use a pressure-reducing bed surface after the ulceration occurred; and 59.3% were repositioned periodically. PrUs were found to develop earlier in patients who were smoking and who had anemia. A significant relation also was found between the grade of the ulcer and the frequency of change of position in bed. Smoking and urinary/stool incontinence were found to be significantly present more frequently in the patient group than the control group. Stool incontinence and the absence of the use of a pressure-reducing bed were also found to be risk factors in the patient group when compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The authors believe that stool and urinary incontinence, smoking, anemia, not using a pressure-reducing bed surface, and infrequent change of position in bed are considerable risk factors for the development of PrUs. Immobilized patients should be assessed for these risk factors, and measures should be taken to prevent PrU development.

A case of generalized discoid lupus erythematosus: Successful treatment with Imiquimod cream 5%

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is the most common form of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Classic DLE lesions begin as red-purple macules, papules, or small plaques and rapidly develop a hyperkeratotic surface. Most patients with untreated classic DLE lesions suffer indolent progression to large areas of cutaneous dystrophy and scarring alopecia that can be psychosocially devastating. A 44-year-old male patient presented to the clinic with erythematous scaly patches that began on his nose 1 y before. His face was most affected, however, lesions were also noted on his scalp, ears, and limbs. Histopathologic examination verified a diagnosis of DLE. Laboratory examinations and consultations revealed no signs of systemic involvement. Imiquimod cream 5% was applied to the lesions once a day 3 times a week. After 20 applications, entire lesions regressed significantly. Imiquimod cream 5% may represent an alternative treatment method for patients with DLE.

Upper gastrointestinal abnormalities and Helicobacter pylori in Behçet's disease

Background  There are few published clinical trials concerning upper gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in Behçets disease (BD), and most have been performed on patients with upper GI tract symptoms.

Pediatric Skin Disorders Encountered in a Dermatology Outpatient Clinic in Turkey

Abstract:  This study documents the spectrum and frequency of skin disorders in a total of 2370 children encountered in a dermatology outpatient clinic in Turkey. Infectious skin diseases were most frequently observed (27.6%) followed by, eczemas (17.9%), acne (14,5%), papulosquamous diseases (6.9%), hair diseases (4.1%), pigmentation disorders (3.8%), generalized pruritus (2.8%), urticaria (2.7%), and insect bite (2.3%). Epidemiologic data are useful in planning of the health care and taking preventive measures to decrease the prevalence of skin disorders in children.

Smoking, alcohol consumption and denture use in patients with oral mucosal lesions.

BACKGROUND Epidemiologic researches about oral mucosal lesions have been performed in different populations. But, in dermatology outpatients, oral mucosal lesions have not been investigated previously. OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions among dermatology outpatients and the relationship between OML and smoking, alcohol intake, denture and dental filling use and skin diseases. METHODS Randomly selected 1041 dermatology outpatients were examined for dermatological diseases and oral mucosal lesions. All of the patients were questioned about smoking, alcohol intake, denture and dental filling use. RESULTS In 235 patients, oral mucosal lesions were recorded. 268 (25.7%) of the patients had history of smoking, 42 (4%) drinking alcohol and 180 (17.3%) denture and dental filling. 32 (64%) of the smokers, 54 (30%) of denture users and 10 (23.8%) alcohol consumers had at least one OML. Age and smoking were found as significant risk factors for oral mucosal lesions. Fissured tongue was the most common oral lesion and it was seen significantly higher in patients with denture. Smoking was risk factor for coated tongue and linea alba. CONCLUSIONS Oral mucosa should be examined carefully even if the patients do not attend with the complaint of oral lesions, especially in elderly patients, smokers and denture users.

Is the health-related quality of life and functional status of patients with psoriatic arthritis worse than that of patients with psoriasis alone?

The aim of this study was to compare the health‐related quality of life and functional status of patients with psoriasis (Ps), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and control subjects.

Serum vitamin B12, folate, ferritin and iron levels in Turkish patients with vitiligo.

Oxidative stress, characterized by an increase in free-radical production exceeding the intracellular antioxidant defence, has been proposed as a possible pathogenetic mechanism for vitiligo.[1] Iron is involved in antioxidative system and large amounts of iron is sequestered by ferritin. Ferritin is an important acute phase reactant and its serum level is increased in some autoimmune disorders.[2] There is only one report investigating serum ferritin levels in vitiligo.[3] We retrospectively investigated the levels of serum vitamin B12, folate, ferritin and iron levels in vitiligo patients.

Xeroderma pigmentosum: a Turkish case series

Background  Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare, autosomal recessive genodermatosis in which affected individuals exhibit sun sensitivity, cutaneous pigment abnormalities, and a high incidence of skin cancers of sun‐exposed skin.