Cancer

In 2003, Srivastava et al. conducted a retrospective review of 120 patients tested for anti-Ro/SSA antibodies, identifying 70 cases of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), with 15 associated with new drug exposure. Drugs such as hydrochlorothiazide and statins were implicated, and discontinuing these drugs led to lesion improvement within 8 weeks and a decrease in Ro/SSA titers within 8 months. A study from December 2000 found that Disperse Blue dyes and Disperse Orange 3 were common sensitizers in 130 patients with hand dermatitis, including 3 cases of occupational allergic contact dermatitis. Monoclonal antibody therapies for psoriasis were found to be clinically effective, but further research is needed. Oral pimecrolimus was highly effective in 50 psoriasis patients, and a large study in the Chinese population linked smoking and drinking to psoriasis, especially in men. Alefacept showed significant improvement in psoriasis in a study of 553 patients, and infliximod rapidly decreased epidermal inflammation in psoriasis vulgaris. Imiquimod cream was effective for actinic keratoses in 36 patients. Two phase 2 studies showed that 5% imiquimod cream had a high clearance rate for nodular basal cell carcinoma, with the best results from once-daily application for 7 days per week. Lastly, a study of 194 women with chronic diffuse telogen hair loss found no clear link between low serum ferritin and the condition, questioning the role of iron supplementation in treatment.