title: Pigmented purpura dermatosis and viral hepatitis: a case-control study.
abstract: Pigmented purpuric dermatosis (PPD) is characterized by petechial and pigmented macules on the lower limbs. The aetiology of PPD remains obscure. Some reports have suggested an association between PPD and hepatitis B or C infection. This prospective case-control study was designed to investigate the association of positive hepatitis B or C serology with PPD. A total of 60 PPD patients and 230 randomly selected controls were enrolled. Sera from all patients and controls were tested for liver function tests (LFT), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS Ag), and hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV Ab). The prevalence of HBS Ag in patients with PPD and the controls was 3 per cent (5/60) and 4.3 per cent (10/230), respectively. The prevalence of HCV Ab was 1.7 per cent (1/60) and 1.3 per cent (3/230) among patients and controls, respectively. No statistically significant difference was noted in the prevalence of positive hepatitis B or C serology (P-values 0.73 and 0.58, respectively). No statistically significant difference in LFT was observed between the two groups. Therefore, the authors believe it is unlikely that HBV or HCV are directly involved in the pathogenesis of PPD.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ehsani
authors.forename: Seyedeh Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Ghodsi
authors.forename: Perdram
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nourmohammad-Pour
authors.forename: Nessa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aghazadeh
authors.forename: Maede R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Damavandi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011693:Purpura / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies