Background:Demodex folliculorum (DF), which is a resident in human pilosebaceous follicles, has been implicated in infections of patients under cancer chemotherapy and with AIDS. Objective: We aimed to determine the influence of immunosuppression on carriage of DF. Methods: Mite density was compared, of 30 renal transplant (RT) patients under a combination therapy of cyclosporine, azathioprine and prednisolone with that of age- and sex-matched controls. Two samples of standardized skin surface biopsies were taken from each subject. Results: DF was not found in any of the RT patients while a mean density of 0.55 DF/cm2 was present in healthy subjects (Fisher’s exact test, p < 0.0001). The relationship between mite density and classic risk factors was not found to be statistically significant (Fisher’s exact test, p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that there may be other factors than immunosuppressive therapy influencing DF density.

Keywords:
Demodex folliculorum, Renal transplantation, Immunosuppressive chemotherapy
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© 1997 S. Karger AG, Basel
1997
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