Prognosis of acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis

Prognosis after steroid pulse therapy and seasonal effect in acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis

“…The male : female ratio of the patients was 3.6:1.0, and the median age was 32 years (interquartile range [IQR], 21–41). The overall age and sex distribution were similar to those in previous studies, 1,3,4,8,9 but the female patients tended to be younger than the male patients (24 [IQR, 18–33] vs 33 years [IQR, 21–41]; Mann–Whitney U ‐test, P = 0.033). Of the 124 patients, 90 (73%) responded to the steroid pulse therapy, recovering their perspiration function within 1 month after the therapy (Table 1, Fig.…”

“…An expectation of spontaneous remission may also affect the decision to use steroids. Indeed, Cao and Tey 9 reported that spontaneous remission was observed in five of 13 (38.5%) patients during several years of follow up. We might have waited for spontaneous remission if our patients had only mild symptoms; however, most of our patients had severe symptoms that restricted their activities: 80% of the patients showed severe hypohidrosis/anhidrosis (>75% of body surface area) and 71% had pain (Table 1).…”

“…We recommend that basically all patients with AIGA should be considered for steroid pulse therapy. Systemic steroid therapy is currently the most frequently reported treatment for AIGA, but it is not always the first choice 4,9,21,22 . The main reasons to avoid using steroids may be the risk of recurrence, adverse effects associated with long‐term use of steroids and expectation of spontaneous remission.…”

“…The cause of the disease has not been determined, but studies have suggested that immunological mechanisms may be involved in the impairment of sweating 5–7 . Although some cases of AIGA are cured spontaneously, most appear to become intractable after a certain time without treatment 3,8,9 …”

Acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis: A case series of two Caucasian patients

“…The exact pathomechanism remains unknown, and it is unclear why the nerves that stimulate sweating (sudomotor) fail. Varying clinical courses have been described and include spontaneous resolution, relapsing, and chronic 1,3,4 . Patients with AIGA may experience signs and symptoms such as cholinergic urticaria, cutaneous pain, pruritus, facial or full‐body flushing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, weakness, palpitations, or hyperthermia 1,2,5 .…”