Evaluation of the effectiveness of 10% Dimethyl Sulfoxide gel in the treatment of Macular Amyloidosis: A case series of 30 patients

Introduction: The deposition of various types of proteins in different organs, which can lead to the dysfunction of that organ, is called amyloidosis. Recent studies have focused on the role of dimethyl sulfoxide in the treatment of cutaneous forms of amyloidosis. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on patients who were referred to the dermatology clinic of the Vali-Asr Hospital in Qaemshahr and to private dermatology practices in the city of Sari during a 4-year period, from April 2018 to April 2022. Diagnosis was made based on clinical examinations and precise biopsies by a dermatologist. A 10% dimethyl sulfoxide gel once daily was prescribed for patients. Before the treatment, the lesions were examined by colorimetry, and itching was assessed based on the visual analogue scale (VAS). These were repeated after 24 weeks. Analyses were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: The average age of participants was 35.20 ± 6.87 years; 7% of the patients had side effects, none of which was considered severe. Of the patients, 66.7% responded to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 33.3% did not respond to treatment. Conclusion: With a 66.7% response rate, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) can be considered as a potential treatment in patients with macular amyloidosis, either as a first-line therapy or in refractory cases.