Demodex Species Frequency and Risk Factors in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Hatice YAZISIZ1
, Yeşim ÇEKİN2, İlhan SEZER3, Feyzi BOSTAN4, Fatma Gülsüm KOÇLAR5
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Division of Parasitology, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
2Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
3Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Division of Rheumatology University of Health Sciences, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
4Department of Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
5Department of Medical Parasitology, University of Health Sciences, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
Keywords: Biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, Demodex folliculorum, infestation, mite, rheuma- toid arthritis
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the presence of Demodex species in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, to identify the risk factors for developing Demodex infestation, and to determine the effect of immunosuppressant drugs on Demodex mite infestations.
Patients and methods: The study included 93 RA patients (16 males, 77 females; mean age 53.3±11.3 years; range, 27 to 83 years) and 76 healthy controls (19 males, 57 females; mean age 50.3±13.9 years; range, 19 to 86 years). Specimens were collected from face skin by using standardized sur- face skin biopsy. Demodex infestation was considered for ≥5 living parasites/cm2 of skin while Demodex mite presence was defined as any Demodex larvae, adults, or eggs found in the specimen.
Results: The frequencies of Demodex mite presence were 44% for the RA patients and 15.7% for the healthy controls (p<0.001). The rates of Demodex infestation were similar between the two groups (18.3% versus 7.9%, p=0.054). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding skin type, skin care, epilation, body washing, use of a moisturizer, personal towel use, the number of residents at home, or whether there were pets at home or in proximity. Itching in eyes was higher in RA patients, but the frequency of other skin symptoms was not differ- ent from healthy controls. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the diagnosis of RA was an independent risk factor for Demodex mite presence in this study population. Disease activity and duration, use of corticosteroids, conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biological DMARDs were not effective factors on Demodex mite presence in RA patients.
Conclusion: Although Demodex mite presence was 3.5-fold higher in RA patients, the rate of Demodex infestation was similar to that of healthy controls.
Citation: Yazısız H, Çekin Y, Sezer İ, Bostan F, Koçlar FG. Demodex Species Frequency and Risk Factors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arch Rheumatol 2020;35(3):376-384.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.