Measurement of pesticides in hair samples from pemphigus foliaceus and pemphigus vulgaris patients in Southeastern Brazil

Author(s)

La Serra, Leonardo ; Salathiel, Adriana Martinelli ; Lanaro, Rafael ; de Martinis, Bruno ; Roselino, Ana Maria

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ANAIS BRASILEIROS DE DERMATOLOGIA; v. 98, n. 5, p. 7-pg., 2023-09-01.

Abstract

Background: Pesticides, mainly organophosphates (OP), have been related to increased risk of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF), nevertheless, their measurement has not been determined in pemphigus patients. Objective: To evaluate pesticide exposure and pesticide measurement, comparing PV, PF and control groups in Southeastern Brazil. Methods: Information about urban or rural residency and exposure to pesticides at the onset of pemphigus was assessed by questionnaire interview; hair samples from the scalp of PV, PF, and controls were tested for OP and organochlorines (OC) by gas-phase chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Results: The minority of PV (2 [7.1%] of 28) and PF (7 [18%] of 39), but none of the 48 controls, informed living in rural areas at the onset of pemphigus (p = 0.2853). PV (33.3%), PF (38.5%), and controls (20%) informed exposure to pesticides (p = 0.186). Twenty-one (14.8%) of 142 individuals tested positive for OP and/or OC: PV (2 [6.3%] of 32) and PF (11 [25.6%] of 43) had similar pesticides contamination as controls (8 [11.9%] of 67) (p = 0.4928; p = 0.0753, respectively), but PF presented higher contamination than PV (p = 0.034). PV did not present any positivity for OP. Three (7%) PF tested positive for both OP and OC. Some PF tested positive for three or four OP, mainly diazinon and dichlorvos. Study limitation: Lack of data for some controls. Conclusion: Although the frequency of PV and PF patients exposed to pesticides was similar, pesticides were more frequently detected in hair samples from PF compared to PV. The cause-effect relationship still needs to be determined. (c) 2023 Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. This is anopen access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/51729-2 - Relation between immunogenetics and environmental factors in a Brazilian epidemiological study of Pemphigus vulgaris and Pemphigus foliaceus
• Grantee: Ana Maria Ferreira Roselino
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants