Leprosy Reactions: Clinical and Therapeutic Profile of Patients Registered at a Dermatology Reference Center in Brazil

Introduction: During the course of leprosy, 10 to 50% of individuals can be surprised by reaction states, which are immune system reactions of the patient to Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy reactions constitute the main cause of nerve damage and disability caused by leprosy. Objective:To analyze the clinical and therapeutic profile of patients with leprosy reactions registered in a Dermatology Service in the city of Belém-PA. Methods:This is a cross-seccional, descriptive study. It was investigated through analysis of medical records, 52 patients who fit the established inclusion criteria. Data were collected in july and august 2016. Results: It was found a predominance of men, from the metropolitan region. The clinical form most common of Leprosy was Borderline, and the leprosy reaction type 1. The most of reactions occurred right after the introduction of multidrug therapy,and more than a half of patients with type 1 reaction showed edema of limbs. Regarding the type 2, fever and general symptoms were the most common, present in all cases. The frequency of neural damage was evident, showing reduction of motor force level andloss of protective sensation. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic management of reactive events is critical to the prevention of disabilities

Dohi's Reticulated Acropigmentation: a Case Report

Background: Dohi's Reticulated Acropigmentation is a rare autosomal dominant genodermatosis with high penetrance, characterized by small, irregular, hypo and hyperpigmented macules on the dorsal surface of the distal extremities. Case: The authors report a case of Dohi’s Reticulated Acropigmentation in a 61 years old female patient. The patient complained of spots on hands, feet and posteriorly face involvement since she was 7 years old. Conclusion: Dohi's Reticulated Acropigmentation is a rare clinical condition, which usually appear in childhood and commonly interrupt their onset before adolescence. The diagnosis is based on clinical data, physical examination and histopathological findings. The treatment is unsatisfactory and still no therapy is proposed

Clinical and Epidemiological Study of Vitiligo Patients at a Dermatology Service in Northern Brazil

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired hypomelanosis that affects between 0.5% and 4% of the world population, characterized by distinct acromic macules of various shapes and sizes, and may appear in any region of the skin. Worldwide, there are few publications on vitiligo that address epidemiological characteristics. Thus, the objective was to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with this condition at the State University of Pará’s Dermatology Clinic, in the city of Belém, Northern of Brazil. Methods and Findings: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed, in which 180 medical records of patients treated at the State University of Pará’s Dermatology Clinic, from July 2000 to July 2014, were analyzed using a protocol consisting of variables related to the disease. The information obtained was organized in a database and submitted to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The study was approved by the ethics and research committee under the number 923.213. A predominance of the female gender (72.2%), of the adult age group (55%) was observed; without relation to family history (46.7%); without progression (58.3%); with a predominant clinical form of vitiligo of the generalized type (67.2%), being the common generalized one with the highest prevalence (57%). The most affected sites were head and neck (27.5%), and upper limbs (25.3%). Conclusions: This study revealed the characteristics of the vitiligo patient residing in the Amazon region, and patients were found to have a generalized clinical form, most of the patients achieved improvement of the lesions with the proposed treatment, and only a minority presented progression of the disease. It is concluded that vitiligo is a disease with great therapeutic difficulty, and it is emphasized the importance of an early diagnosis, since in the early stages is easier to resolve the disease

Clinical and Epidemiological Study of Vitiligo Patients at a Dermatology Service in Northern Brazil

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired hypomelanosis that affects between 0.5% and 4% of the world population, characterized by distinct acromic macules of various shapes and sizes, and may appear in any region of the skin. Worldwide, there are few publications on vitiligo that address epidemiological characteristics. Thus, the objective was to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with this condition at the State University of Pará’s Dermatology Clinic, in the city of Belém, Northern of Brazil. Methods and Findings: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed, in which 180 medical records of patients treated at the State University of Pará’s Dermatology Clinic, from July 2000 to July 2014, were analyzed using a protocol consisting of variables related to the disease. The information obtained was organized in a database and submitted to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The study was approved by the ethics and research committee under the number 923.213. A predominance of the female gender (72.2%), of the adult age group (55%) was observed; without relation to family history (46.7%); without progression (58.3%); with a predominant clinical form of vitiligo of the generalized type (67.2%), being the common generalized one with the highest prevalence (57%). The most affected sites were head and neck (27.5%), and upper limbs (25.3%). Conclusions: This study revealed the characteristics of the vitiligo patient residing in the Amazon region, and patients were found to have a generalized clinical form, most of the patients achieved improvement of the lesions with the proposed treatment, and only a minority presented progression of the disease. It is concluded that vitiligo is a disease with great therapeutic difficulty, and it is emphasized the importance of an early diagnosis, since in the early stages is easier to resolve the disease