Journal of

Background and Aim: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disease which is specific for skin and mucosal membranes. Its association with connective tissue diseases has already been reported. Considering this association, presence of Anti Nuclear Antibodies (ANAs) in PV patients will not be surprising. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of ANA positive cases in patients suffering PV with a control group.
Methods: In this case-control study, the cases were selected from the patients with PV whom were hospitalized at Razi Hospital, Tehran. The controls were chosen from patients who did not have PV. The data were collected using a questionnaire, which was designed for gathering information on participants' age, sex, PV phenotypes, and the result of ANA test. ANA positivity was assessed using indirect immunofluorescence, HEP2.
Results: In 8 (26.7%) of 30 PV patients and 3 (10.0%) of 30 controls ANA was positive (P=0.095). The most common ANA positive patterns among cases and controls were homogeneous and speckled patterns, respectively (P=0.26).
Conclusion: Although in this study the frequency of positive ANA result among controls was similar to what were reported in previous studies, the frequency of this finding among PV patients was different from the previous reports. Differences in the sensitivity of the laboratory kits used in different studies as well as in the threshold for ANA positivity, and differences in the patients' eligibility criteria in different studies may explain the observed discrepancies. Clinical follow up of the PV and requesting an ANA test in the case of appearance of the signs of connective tissue diseases is recommended.

Background and Aim: Pruritus is a major symptom of dermatologic diseases and a common symptom of systemic diseases. Severity of itch cannot be measured objectively. It’s usually determined to using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). But none of them can determine the effect of pruritus on patients' quality of life. So in the present study we sought to translate and develop a validated reliable Farsi version of pruritus specific quality of life instrument, ItchyQoL.

Methods: ItchyQoL questionnaire was translated to Farsi by two bilingual people, and then it was back-translated to English by two other bilinguals. These two questionnaires were matched and revised and the final Farsi questionnaire was established. Forty four patients with dermatologic pruritus filled the questionnaire at the baseline and 72 hours later, and the structural reliability and validity of it was analyzed.

Results: The questionnaire had internal consistency and reproducibility. The questionnaire reliability was also analyzed by test-retest which was significant. Construct validity was analyzed by examining the relationship between intensity and frequency of itching with the total score in the three main axis symptoms, which was significant in all except the dysfunction axis.

Conclusion: The Farsi version of ItchyQoL questionnaire has favorable reliability and validity.