The Possible Relation of Demodex and Facial Erythema in  Connective Tissue Diseases

Abdulsamet  Erden; Berkan  Armağan; Serdar Can  Güven; Özlem  Karakaş; Fatma  Erden; Bahar  Özdemir; Ahmet  Omma; Orhan  Küçükşahin

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v18i2.13190

Abdulsamet Erden Ankara City Hospital, Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey
Berkan Armağan Ankara City Hospital, Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey
Serdar Can Güven Ankara City Hospital, Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey
Özlem Karakaş Ankara City Hospital, Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey
Fatma Erden Department of Dermatology, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey
Bahar Özdemir Ankara City Hospital, Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey
Ahmet Omma Ankara City Hospital, Clinic of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey
Orhan Küçükşahin Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara City Hospital, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Anka-ra, Turkey

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v18i2.13190

Keywords: Parasite; Connective tissue; Disease; Erythema; Demodex

Abstract

Background: We aimed to investigate the frequency of Demodex infestation and clinical implications in connective tissue disease patients with facial erythema.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with a connective tissue disease and had facial erythema were consecutively enrolled in the study from 2019-2020. An age and gender matched control group was formed from healthy volunteers. Presence of Demodex was investigated by standardized skin surface biopsy. Number of Demodex mites over 5 per centimeter square was considered meaningful for infestation. Topical or systemic metronidazole treatment was given to the connective tissue disease patients with Demodex infestation. Facial erythema visual analog scale was questioned in patients at treatment onset and one month after.

Results: A total of 31 connective tissue disease patients with facial erythema were enrolled. Control group included 31 healthy volunteers. Demographics and comorbidities were similar between groups. Demodex infestation was present in 58.1% of the disease group and in 25.8% of the control group (P=0.01). Pruritus was the most common symptom in patients with infestation. Median (IQR) facial erythema visual analog scale score was 6 (3) at treatment onset and was 2 (2.5) one month later (P<0.001).

Conclusion: When evaluating facial cutaneous lesions, Demodex infestation should not be overlooked in a patient group like connective tissue diseases with dysfunctional immune system.