Results
A total of 21 patients with persistent or recurrent IGM lesions used SJW
oil after completion of the standard treatment protocol. All patients
were women, and the mean age was 36.6 years (range, 21-52). Most of them
(n=19, 90.4%) were in the reproductive age (mean 32.4 years; range
21-42, p<0.001). Sixteen had a lactation history over one year
(76.1%, p<0.001). Four patients were nulliparous (19%) and
all others (80.9%) had at least one child (mean, 3 children, range 1-7,
p<0.001). Nineteen percent of the patients had a history of
oral contraceptive use (n=4), and another three were using
antidepressants (14.2%). Two patients had controlled diabetes mellitus
and four had a smoking history (9.5% and 19%, respectively). There was
no endocrinologic or autoimmune diseases, except thyroid disorders in
two patients (9.5%).
Physical examination revealed persistent hyperemia/erythema (n=21,
100%), scaling (n=13, 61.9%), induration (n=11, 52.3%) and
fissure/ulcer (n=6, 28.5%). Distributions of the lesions according to
the degree of severity are summarized in Table 2. Mild, moderate and
severe symptoms were seen in 35.2%, 41.1% and 23.5%, respectively.
Upper outer quadrant was the most common localization (n=8, 38%)
followed by upper inner (n=5, 23.8%), lower inner (n=4, 19% ) and
lower outer (n=4, 19%) quadrants. Post-treatment severity scores are
shown in Table 3. When compared with pre-treatment severity scores,
there were very significant regression in all (clear, 76.4%, mild,
17.6%, moderate 3.9%, severe 1.9%, p<0.001 for each). The
overall success rate (total clearance plus mild signs) of treatment was
94.1%. Images of patients before and after treatment are shown in
Figures 1 and 2.
The survey results revealed that all patients applied SJW topically as
instructed (100%). There was no important side effect, except burning
sensations (n=2, 9.5%). All patients were satisfied with the treatment
(100%).