Comparing Pulsed-dye Laser with Cryotherapy in the Treatment of Common Warts

INTRODUCTION: No modality has been identified as the treatment of chice for treating common warts. Cryothearpy and pulsed-dye laser (PDL) are among common modalities for treating these lesions. The aim of this study was to compare pulsed dye laser with cryotherapy in terms of efficacy and complications.METHODS: Of a total of 46 patients enrolled in this study, 7 patients withdrew the study, 20 patients underwent cryotherapy and 19 patients underwent PDL. Patients underwent a maximum of 4 therapeutic sessions at 3-week intervals in both groups. They were assessed for the remission rate (complete and partial),side effects and recurrence rate in each session and 1 month after termination of the treatments.RESULTS: At the end of the study complete remission was achieved in 37.8% of patients in cryotherapy group and in 52.3% of patients in PDL group. This difference wasn’t statistically significant (P=0.229), though after first and second sessions of treatment complete and excellent partial remission occurred more in PDL group with significant difference (P=0.007 and P=0.021). Pain and bulla formation occurred statistically higher in cryotherapy group (P=0.002 and P=0.001). Other complications were rare in both groups.CONCLUSION: In terms of efficacy, we couldn’t demonstrate the superiority of pulseddye laser therapy to cryotherapy in treating common warts. Both methods were safe for long-term complications but PDL was much safer for short-term complications

Successful management of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis with anthelmintics, and intravitreal triamcinolone followed by laser photocoagulation

Purpose: Diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN), a form of posterior uveitis, is secondary to the presence of a highly motile nematode in the intraretinal or subretinal space. Herein, we report a case of DUSN that was successfully managed by an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone and laser therapy. Case Report: A middle-aged man with complaint of decreased vision and marked unilateral vitritis and neuroretinitis. Fluorescein angiography revealed disc leakage, vessel wall staining, and diffuse track-like transmission defects of the RPE. Optical coherence tomography confirmed the subretinal location of the worm. The patient received oral thiabendazole and an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide. After 10 days, media haziness decreased, and a live motile subretinal worm was identified. Direct laser photocoagulation was performed to destroy the worm. After two months, a localized chorioretinal scar developed and no further active inflammation and subretinal worms were detected. Conclusion: Intravitreal steroids can be used safely in cases with DUSN and may help detect the causative worm for applying laser photocoagulation

THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE EFFICACY OF HIGH DOSE ACYCLOVIR AND ERYTHROMYCIN ON THE PERIOD AND SIGNS OF PITIRIASIS ROSEA

<b>Background:</b> Pityriasis Rosea (PR) is an acute inflammatory and self-limiting skin disorder, sometimes with troublesome symptoms. To date, there are few treatments available for this disorder. <b>Aim:</b> Compare the traditional treatment with erythromycin to a newly introduced antiviral treatment acyclovir for PR. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Patients with clinically confirmed diagnosis of PR, matching our exclusion criteria, were enrolled. They were randomized in two groups that received high-dose oral acyclovir or erythromycin. The participants were evaluated two, four, and eight weeks after commencement of the study and followed for one year. <b>Results:</b> A total of 30 patients including 15 males and 15 females completed the study. After eight weeks, 13 patients in the acyclovir group experienced complete response, while in the erythromycin group only six patients had complete response (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Also, patients in the acyclovir group experienced faster resolution of pruritus in comparison with the erythromycin group (not significant). No adverse drug reaction was detected in both groups. <b>Conclusion:</b> It seemed that a high-dose of oral acyclovir was a safe and effective therapy for PR, although this remained to be confirmed in larger studies