WDC Journal

Exploring the Rare Association: A Case Report of Dermatomyositis Coexisting with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

M. Fida, M. Gega, O. Kaçani, E. Celiku, I. Sotiri — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease characterized by pancreatic β-cell destruction, leading to insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia. Coexisting autoimmune conditions are common, with thyroid diseases being prevalent. Dermatomyositis, a rare systemic autoimmune disorder, primarily affecting muscles and skin, has been infrequently reported in association with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, indicating a potential shared genetic susceptibility. This article aims to present a rare case of a 32-year-old patient with the simultaneous occurrence of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and dermatomyositis, with focus on the unique challenges and considerations in managing these coexisting autoimmune conditions.

Cellular Neurothekeoma – Rare but exists

M. Fida, Vladimir Filaj, G. Prifti, T. Bushati, A. Fida, I. Sotiri — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Cellular neurothekeoma is a rare, benign cutaneous neoplasm with uncertain histogenesis, that most commonly develops on the head or neck. It predominantly affects females in their third or fourth decade. Usually, they do not have any symptoms, but there may be pressure-related pain. Since cellular neurotheke-omas are typically rare and do not have well defined clinical symptoms, it is often difficult to distinguish them from other types of skin tumors. We present the case of a 40-year-old fema-le with a slowly growing violaceous nodule on her scalp, noted since childhood but recently exhibiting growth. We describe the diagnostic and therapeutic approach. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by cellular neurothekeoma due to its histological and clinical variability. Accurate diagnosis through histopathology and immunohistochemistry is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and ensure appropriate management.

Botulinum toxin type A treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia

M. Fida, V. Alliu, V. Filaj, I. Sotiri — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is a chronic neuropathic disorder characterized by episodic, sharp facial pain, often unresponsi-ve to standard pharmacologic treatments. This case report pre-sents a 51-year-old female with classical TN affecting the right maxillary branch (V2), who experienced inadequate relief from conventional anticonvulsants and declined surgical interven-tion. Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) was administered intra-dermally at the sites of pain, following a protocol based on pri-or literature. Two weeks post-treatment, the patient reported a significant reduction in pain intensity—from a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score of 9/10 to 3/10—and decreased frequency of attacks. Symptom relief persisted for approximately 4.5 months with no observed adverse effects. This report highlights BTX-A as a promising alternative therapy for refractory TN, especially in patients unsuitable for invasive procedures. Further stu-dies are warranted to evaluate long-term efficacy and safety.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in psoriatic patients in Albania

D. Hajro, M. Fida, E. Hajro, S. Dedej, E. Vasili — Wed, 14 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated skin, now reco-gnized as a systemic inflammatory disease linked to comor-bidities such as metabolic syndrome (MetS), cardiovascu-lar disease, and psychiatric disorders. This study explores the prevalence of MetS among psoriasis patients in Albania. This is a prospective case-control study conducted in the Uni-versity Hospital Center “Mother Theresa”, Tirana, Albania. It included 148 psoriasis patients and 150 age- and sex-ma-tched controls. Data collected from patients included age, sex, psoriasis severity (PASI score), and metabolic parame-ters such as fasting blood glucose, lipid levels, and blood pressure. MetS was diagnosed based on NCEP-ATP III crite-ria. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. The mean age was 52.3±12.6 years in psoriatic patients and 54.46±15.18 years in controls. Psoriatic patients were 38,5% wo-men and 61,5 % men. The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in psoriasis patients (62.8%) compared to controls (37.2%) (p<0.002). PASI score was greater in patients with MetS than tho-se without MetS (p=0.004). Psoriasis severity correlated with an increased likelihood of MetS (OR: 2.6, p<0.0001). There was a si-gnificant relationship between PASI>10 and obesity (p=0.0152). Significant positive correlations were observed between age, dise-ase duration, and MetS (p<0.0001). Stress was also significant-ly associated with MetS (p=0.006). No significant associations were found between smoking or sex and MetS in this cohort. The study confirms a high prevalence of MetS in psoriasis patients in Albania. Disease severity, age, and duration are significantly as-sociated with MetS, underscoring the importance of early identifi-cation and comprehensive management. Addressing both physical and psychological factors is critical for improving patient outcomes.