Acta dermato-venereologica
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Sep 1997
Comparative Study Clinical TrialIsotretinoin, tetracycline and circulating hormones in acne.
Isotretinoin, used to treat severe acne, has been shown to induce hormonal changes, especially to reduce 5 alpha-reductase in the production of the tissue-derived dihydrotestosterone (DHT) metabolite 3 alpha-Adiol G. However, the effects of isotretinoin on other pituitary, adrenal or gonadal hormones have not been thoroughly elucidated. In the present study, isotretinoin administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks caused no marked changes in the serum levels of pituitary, adrenal or gonadal hormones or 3 alpha-Adiol G in patients with severe papulopustulotic acne (n = 19). ⋯ Isotretinoin did not affect the elevated LH/FSH ratio in a patient with the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS); nor did it change the high FAI or low SHBG in the male patients. For comparison, tetracycline had no effects on the serum hormonal levels of patients with mild acne (n = 19) after 7 days of treatment. This study confirms that the effects of isotretinoin on the serum hormone levels are small and unlikely to be of relevance for the resolution of acne or the suppression of sebum excretion.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Jul 1997
Letter Case ReportsUrethritis associated with isotretinoin therapy.
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Psychosocial stress has been reported to play a role in the onset and/or exacerbation of alopecia areata. Little is known about the clinical characteristics of alopecia areata patients whose alopecia is stress-reactive. We examined the relation between the stress reactivity of alopecia areata and a wide range of psychosocial measures among 16 patients with alopecia areata/totalis and 28 patients with alopecia universalis. ⋯ A wide range of psychologic measures correlated (p<0.05) with the stress reactivity score. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with higher depression scores were more likely to be in the high-stress reactor group. Patients whose alopecia is stress-reactive may suffer from depressive illness, a potentially important consideration in the overall management of such patients.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · May 1997
Comparison of the analgesic effect of EMLA cream and EMLA patch on normal skin evaluated with laser-induced pain stimuli.
In the present study the onset, duration and efficacy of the analgesic effect of EMLA patch compared to EMLA cream were investigated on the skin of the forearms of 12 healthy adults. EMLA patch and cream were applied for 30, 60 and 120 min. ⋯ After 120 min of application, both EMLA cream and EMLA patch ensured total analgesia. The clinical analgesic efficacy of EMLA patch was found equal to that of EMLA cream.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Jan 1997
Letter Case ReportsAtypical molluscum contagiosum--a diagnostic problem.