The Frequency of Skin Tumors and Infections in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases ()
Received 6 May 2016; accepted 8 August 2016; published 11 August 2016
1. Introduction
Human autoimmune diseases (AD) occur frequently as affecting in aggregate more than 5% of the population worldwide, and impose significant burden of morbidity and mortality on the human population. Autoimmunity arises when immune responses mounted in the host are directed against self-components. AD are pathophysiological states that result from a loss of self-tolerance and the consequent immune destruction of host tissues. Autoimmunity is mediated by a variety of molecular and cellular events and responses. The development of an autoimmune disease is a very complex process in which recognition of self-antigens by lymphocytes is centrally involved in pathologic organ damage [1] .
All these AD are common dermatological problems where there is immune reaction against normal tissue causing destruction of cells and resulting in disease state like pemphigus, systemic lupus erythematosus, vitiligo, alopecia areata. From clinical observations, we have noticed that patients with autoimmune diseases have lower frequency of skin malignancies and infections. This observation has been documented by many studies like patients with pemphigus, systemic lupus erythematous and vitiligo has protection against tumors [2] - [4] . While on reviewing literatures, we only found occasional case reports of infections and skin malignancies in these AD [5] - [14] .
Kidney transplant patients are immunosuppressed because they are receiving steroids and cytotoxic drugs for long time, consequently skin infections and skin malignancies are increased among these patients like viral warts, bacterial and fungal infections. In addition, there was also increase in the skin malignancies like solar keratosis, squamous and basal cell carcinoma with Kaposi’s sarcoma [15] - [18] .
Among patients with kidney transplant, an entity has been described so called acquired epidermodysplasia verruciformis which has many features of the inherited type [19] [20] .
So the aim of this study is to record skin tumors and infections in all autoimmune diseases gathered together in a one pathological state, and singly and to be compared with renal transplant recipients and normal control.
2. Patients and Methods
A case, series, descriptive, controlled study was conducted during 1.5 year starting on June 2014 to October 2015.
Formal consent was taken from each patient after full explanation about the goal and nature of the present work. Also, ethical approval was taken from the Scientific Council of Dermatology and Venereology-Arab Board for Medical Specializations.
Four hundred patients with different autoimmune diseases were evaluated. Fifty patients with pemphigus (15 males, 35 females) their ages ranged from 20 - 70 (41.23 ± 3.89) years. Fifty patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (50 females) their ages ranged from 17 - 45 years (30.58 ± 10.08) years. One hundred patients with vitiligo (59 males, 41 females) their ages ranged from 9 - 71 (42.89 ± 5.28) years. One hundred patients with alopecia areata (42 males, 58 females) their ages ranged from 7 - 52 (38.67 ± 9.52) years. One hundred patients with psoriasis(56 males, 44 females) their ages ranged from 7 - 71 (47.36 ± 8.62) years were seen in the Department of Dermatology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. One hundred twenty patients (101 males, 19 females) their ages ranged from 14 - 70 (45.43 ± 4.63) years with renal transplantation were seen in Baghdad and Al-Karama Teaching Hospitals, Baghdad, Iraq.
Five hundred apparently healthy individuals, their ages ranged from 20 - 71 (44.53 ± 11.48) years, had been seen. The patients and control were examined for dermatological tumors, infections and other skin lesions. Long history was taken from all patients, regarding: age, sex, duration of disease and detailed history for the treatment protocols. Physical examination was done for all patients and control including the covered and exposed areas looking for infections, tumors and other skin diseases. Each lesion was examined specifically regarding the type, size, color.
The treatment protocols for renal transplant patients were as follow:
1) Intravenous methylprednisolone succinate for the first 3 days:
Day 0 250 mg. pre-op. 500 mg. I.OP. 250 mg. post-operative.
Day 1 250 mg twice daily. Day 2 250 mg twice daily. Followed by oral prednisolone 60 mg/day tapered after one week to 20 - 30 mg/day for two week then tapered slowly to a maintenance dose of 10 mg/day 0r 20 mg every other day.
2) Azathioprine was given at doses ranging from 1 - 3 mg/kg/day according to the white blood cell count, doses were reduced whenever the WBC count fell below 4000/mm.
3) Cyclosporine, in combination with azathioprine was given orally starting with 8 - 10 mg/kg/day, decreased every two weeks by 2 mg/kg/day to a maintenance dose of 5 mg/kg/day.
4) Mycophenolate mofetal may be used with other immunosuppressant in a dose 1 - 2 gm/day, the dosage should be gradually reduced in proportion to a favorable treatment response.
The treatment protocol for pemphigus includes the following:
1) Oral prednisolone given at a dose of 60 - 80 mg/day tapered slowly after remission to a maintenance dose of equal to 10 mg/day.
2) Azathioprine was given at doses ranging from 1 - 3 mg/kg/day, started with 150 - 200 mg/day.
The treatment protocol for SLE includes the following:
1) Oral prednisolone given in a dose of 60 mg/day then tapered slowly after remission to a maintenance dose of equal to 10 mg/day.
2) Azathioprine was given in doses ranging from 1 - 3 mg/kg/day, started with 150 mg/day.
While patients with other diseases like vitiligo, alopecia areata and psoriasis were having long history of using immunosuppressive drugs like topical and systemic corticosteroids with or without cytotoxic drug like methotrexate.
Statistical analysis of data was carried out using the statistical package of SPSS-20 (Statistical Packages for Social Sciences- version 20). Data were presented in simple measures of frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Comparison between groups was done by using Chi Square, Fisher exact test, T-test and ANOVA test, P-value < 0.05 was considered as the level of significance.
3. Results
The frequency of skin diseases in renal transplant and AD patients includes the following:
I―Benign tumors:
1―Viral warts: In renal transplantation, viral warts were seen in 45(37.5%) cases, while viral warts was found in only 52(10.4%) cases in a control group and there was statistically significant difference (P-value 0.00000).
Most of the warty lesions were of the verruca vulgaris present as multiple and severe form mainly located on the face, neck, dorsum of the hands and feet, extensor of the forearm and legs and subungual verrucokeratotic lesions. These lesions appeared early in the course of immunosuppresion mostly in the first 10 yrs.
In pemphigus group, viral warts observed only in 3(6%) cases (Table 1). The warty lesions were single verrucous lesion and located on the dorsum of the hands in two patients and multiple verrocus lesions on the genital area in the other patient.
In SLE group, viral warts observed only in 4(8%) cases (Table 1). The warty lesions were of verruca vulgaris type, presented as a multiple lesions and located mainly on the hands and feet in 3 patients, and multiple verrocus lesions on the genital area in one patient.
In vitiligo group viral warts observed only in 2(2%) cases (Table 1). The warty lesions were single verrucous lesion and located on the dorsum of the hand in one patient and multiple verrocus lesions on the knee of the other patient, both of the two patients had mild vitiligo.
In alopecia areata group viral warts observed only in 9(9%) cases (Table 1). Four of those patients had single verrucous lesion and located mainly on the dorsum of the hand, legs, sole, the warty lesions were multiple verrucous lesion in two patient located hands and multiple verrocus lesions on the knee in one patient. Those patients have localized disease. Two patient with alopecia universals developed verrucous lesions, the first patient has single verrucous lesion and located on the ventral surface of the index finger and the other has multiple verrocus lesions on the sole of the feet.
In psoriasis group viral warts observed only in 14(14%) cases (Table 1). Most of the warty lesions were of the verruca vulgaris present as multiple form mainly located on dorsum of the hands, palms, in one patient had multiple plane warts on the dorsum of the hands and ventral wrist.
2―Solar keratosis: In renal transplantation, solar keratosis observed in 15(12.5%) cases, while 24(4.8%) case were found in a control group, with statistically significant difference, P value < 0.0018 (Table 3). Solar keratosis was seen in sun exposed areas like the face and the dorsa of both hands.
These were associated with solar lentigens and appeared at late onset of renal transplantation. No similar lesions found in all pemphigus, vitiligo, alopecia areata, SLE patients.
3―Seborrheic keratosis: In renal transplantation, seborrheic keratosis was seen in 14(11.6%) cases, while 17(3.4%) patients were found in control group this findings was statistically significant when compared with control( P value < 0.0001) (Table 3). These lesions were mainly present on the face, trunk and found in a severe form. In vitiligo seen in 1(1%) cases, no similar lesions were found in all pemphigus, alopecia areata, SLE, psoriasis patients.
4―Sebaceous hyperplasia: In renal transplant, appeared in 13(10.8%) cases. These lesions distributed mainly in the face and mainly found in patients received mycophenolate mofetil treatment. While 11(2.2%) cases observed in a control group. This was significantly difference when compared with control (P value < 0.00001) (Table 3). In psoriasis 2 cases were found. In vitiligo, alopecia areata, SLE patients, only one case was found.
5―Skin tags: In renal transplant, the lesions were present in 22(18.3%) cases. while 57(11.4%) cases in the control group (Table 1), in renal transplant these lesions were present mainly on the neck and the trunk and appeared in a severe form. In pemphigus 8(16%) cases were observed. In vitiligo 7(7%) cases were observed, alopecia areata 16(16%) cases were observed, SLE 7(14%) cases were found and in psoriasis 17(17%) cases were found (Table 1).
6―keratoacanthoma: In renal transplant only one(0.8%) case was present, while 2(0.4) cases were observed in control group, (Table 1). No similar lesion was present in pemphigus, vitiligo, alopecia areata, SLE, psoriasis.
II―Malignant tumors:
1―Basal cell carcinoma: In renal transplantation 4(3.3%)cases were present (Table 1), these were present in male patients and in sun exposed parts, the face and dorsum of the hands, this increased with increased duration of immunosuppression, while 2(0.4%) cases were observed in the control group. In pemphigus, vitiligo, alopecia areata, SLE, psoriasis no basal cell carcinoma was detected.
2―Squamous cell carcinoma: In renal transplant, there were 3(2.5%) cases (Table 1), these lesions were noted in male patients and on sun exposed parts, the face and dorsum of the hands, and associated mainly with solar keratosis, while 2(0.4%) cases were observed in a control group. In AD no similar lesions were present.
3―Kaposi’s sarcoma: In renal transplant patients, 4(3.3%) cases were found, while was absent in control group, (Table 1). In two cases the lesions found in the buccal mucosa (1 female, 1 male), and in one patient had lesion on the hard palate, in preauricular area and lower extremities and in one young male patient had lesion in the upper and lower extremities. The lesions appeared at an early onset after renal transplantation. No similar lesions were detected in AD.
4―Bowen’s disease: In renal transplant, the lesion was present in only one (0.8%) case on the dorsum of the right hand. No such lesion present on control and on AD group.
III―Infectious lesions:
1―Herpetic infections: Were seen in 30(25%) cases of transplant patients. Herpes zoster were present in 14(11.6%) cases, while herpes simplex infection found in 10(8.3%) of cases. Chicken pox was found in one (0.8%)case. These infections were present mainly in the first years following transplantation, while in pemphigus, only one case was detected, in vitiligo, alopecia areata 3(3%) had herpes simplex in each group, in SLE herpetic infections were seen in 12(24%) cases, herpes zoster were present in 4(8%) cases, while herpes simplex infection found in 8(16%) of cases and in psoriasis herpes simplex were seen in 10(10%) cases. In control group there were 36(7.2%) cases most of them had herpes simplex infection (Table 2).
2―Bacterial infections: In renal transplant patients were seen in 12(10%) cases (Table 2). These lesions include 9 cases of folliculitis and one impetigo, one abscess and one with tuberculosis. While in pemphigus patients only 2(4%) cases were detected one case with impetigo and one with multiple boils, in SLE bacterial infections were seen in 3(6%) cases, these lesions include one case of multiple boils, one abscess and one with distal dactylitis, in vitiligo only 2(2%) cases were detected one case with impetigo and one with folliculitis, in alopecia areata 3(3%) cases were detected, 2 cases with folliculitis and one with impetigo, in psoriasis bacterial infections were seen in 3(6%)cases, these lesions include one case with multiple boils, one abscess and one with cellulitis, and in control group bacterial infections were seen in 11(2.2%) of cases, most of the lesions were in the form of impetigo and folliculitis.
3―Fungal infections: In renal transplant patients there were 24(20%) cases (Table 2). These lesions were mainly tinea versicolor, tinea cruris and tinea pedis. While in pemphigus patients fungal infections was present in 4(8%) cases which included one case with tinea pedis, one case with tinea cruris, one case with pityriasis versicolor and one case with Candida. In SLE fungal infections was present in 10(20%) cases, most of the lesions were in the form of pityriasis versicolor and Candida, in vitiligo 3(3%) cases were detected including 2 cases with tinea pedis and one case with Candida, these cases had mild vitiligo in alopecia areata 4(4%) were detected including two cases with tinea pedis and one case with pityriasis versicolor, one case with Candida cases, these cases had localized alopecia areata, in psoriasis 12(12%) of cases which included 5 cases with tinea pedis, 2 cases with tinea cruris and 5cases with Candida of oral cavity and interdigital spaces. In control group 29(5.8%) cases were detected, most of cases were in the form of pityriasis versicolor, tinea pedis, Candida in the interdigital spaces and sub-mammary region.
When all AD were considered together as one disease and compared with kidney transplant and control groups, the results were shown in (Table 3, Table 4).
4. Discussion
Autoimmune diseases are pathophysiological states that result from a loss of self-tolerance and the consequent
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Table 1. The distribution of benign and malignant skin tumors in renal transplant patients, AD and control.
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Table 2. The distribution of skin infections in renal transplant patients, AD and control.
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Table 3. The distribution of benign and malignant skin tumors in renal transplant patients, AD and control.
*significant difference when P value was equal or less than 0.05 level.
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Table 4. The distribution of skin infection in renal transplant patients, AD and control.
*significant difference when P value was equal or less than 0.05 level.
immune destruction of host tissues [1] . All these AD are common dermatological problems where there is immune reaction against normal tissue causing destruction of cells and resulting in disease state like pemphigus vulgaris, SLE, vitiligo, alopecia areata.
Sharquie et al. had conducted and published many studies that found AD like as pemphigus, SLE and vitiligo had protection against skin tumors and infections although these diseases were treated by immunosuppressive drugs as prolonged course of therapy [2] - [4] . These interesting findings are supported when these results are compared with patients with kidney transplant who had high frequency of skin tumors and infections. And to support more this new hypothesis, the present work was conducted where many AD under prolonged drug induced immunosuppression, are considered together in order to study the frequency of skin tumors and infections and to be compared with patients with kidney transplant. In the present work we confirmed similar findings as there was increase in infections like viral warts, herpetic, bacterial, fungal infections and tumors like BCC, SCC in kidney transplant patients.
While all cases of pemphigus vulgaris, vitiligo, alopecia areata showed no increase in the frequency of these infections, compared to kidney transplant patients and healthy control and most infections were seen in cases of mild vitiligo and localized alopecia areata. Also, no skin malignancies including solar keratosis, BCC, SCC and Kaposi’s sarcoma were seen in patients with AD while they were in high frequency in patients with kidney transplant. But some AD are more protective than the others in decreased order like pemphigus, vitiligo, alopecia areata, SLE as had been seen in the present study.
5. Conclusion
All autoimmune diseases including pemphigus vulgaris, vitiligo, alopecia areata are protective against skin tumors and infections although some results are comparable between AD and the control group but still significant as patients with AD have already received immunosuppressive drugs for a long time.
Funding
This study was an independent study and not funded by any drug companies.
NOTES
*Corresponding author.