Abstract
Infection is an important factor leading to the exacerbation of heart failure (HF), resulting in hospitalization. Demodex species are obligatory parasites in human skin, and increased density was reported in immunocompromised patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the Demodex density in hospitalized HF patients compared to that of healthy controls. Methods: This study included 36 HF patients and 36 age and sex-matched healthy controls. Five standardized biopsies were taken from the face of participants and assessed for Demodex by a light microscope. Results: At least one Demodex mite was detected in 20 HF patients and nine of the control group. The number of Demodex mites was significantly higher in the HF group (median 1; min. 0 and max. 10) compared to the control group (median 0; minimum. 0 and maximum. 3). Demodicidosis was positive in 14 of the HF patients. Demodicidosis was not detected in the control group. Conclusions: This study showed that Demodex positivity is more common in HF patients hospitalized for HF exacerbation. Demodicidosis should be considered in hospitalized HF patients.
Highlights
Heart failure (HF) is defined by the presence of typical symptoms and signs caused by structural and functional cardiac abnormality, resulting in reduced cardiac output and/or elevated intracardiac pressures [1]
This study showed that Demodex positivity is more common in HF patients hospitalized for HF exacerbation
Among seventy-seven HF patients who were admitted to emergency and outpatient clinics for worsening heart failure, forty-one patients with malignancies, end-stage renal failure, facial erythematous lesions, whose ages were older than 75 years because of the high rate of reported Demodex positivity [22], and who were unable to consent or unwilling to participate were excluded from the study
Summary
Heart failure (HF) is defined by the presence of typical symptoms and signs caused by structural and functional cardiac abnormality, resulting in reduced cardiac output and/or elevated intracardiac pressures [1]. Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis are obligatory parasites and usually found in the hair follicles and pilosebaceous glands of human skin [11,12]. They were commonly detected on the facial skin especially, forehead, cheeks, nose, and nasolabial fold [12,13]. Demodex mites are accepted as pathogenic when their number exceeds the five mites/cm of skin [14,15] Their growth might be facilitated by some local or systemic factors [16,17]. Besides the immunocompromised patients, increased Demodex density was reported in patients with end-stage renal failure [20,21]
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