Summaries of Papers on Dermatological Conditions Conducted in 2008
June 2008
in “
British Journal of Dermatology
”
TLDR Herpes gestationis is linked to certain antigens, atopic eczema affects T cell populations and may be eased by breastfeeding, higher doses of anti-androgen treatment can improve androgenic alopecia, topical minoxidil increases hair thickness, long-term methotrexate therapy can cause liver fibrosis in psoriasis patients, and Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus patients aren't at higher risk for autoimmune disorders.
In 2008, multiple studies were conducted on various dermatological conditions. A study on 30 patients with herpes gestationis found associations with HLA antigens B8 and DR3, and the antigen combination DR3/DR4. Another study on 22 patients with atopic eczema found a significant reduction in suppressor T cell population and an increase in helper T cell population. A study on 138 children with atopic eczema suggested that breast feeding could potentially reduce the severity of the condition. A study on androgenic alopecia in women found that higher doses of anti-androgen treatment were required for clinical effectiveness, with 18 out of 29 patients showing improvement. A study on the use of topical minoxidil in androgenic alopecia found a significant increase in hair shaft diameter by 8 weeks. A study on 82 patients with severe psoriasis receiving long-term methotrexate therapy found that 62% of the patients did not develop any hepatic fibrosis, but 31 patients did have some degree of fibrosis. Lastly, a study on 50 female patients with Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus found that despite the high incidence of auto-antibodies and autoimmune diseases in these patients, they did not appear to be at continued excessive risk of developing autoimmune disorders after the diagnosis.
