SUDORIFEROUS ACROSYRINGEAL ACANTHOLYTIC DISEASE - A SUBSET OF GROVERSDISEASE

Three selected cases of transient acantholytic dermatosis were studied because of their definitive correlation with sweating due to fever an d/or bed-ridden situations. Biopsy specimens were serially sectioned a nd acantholysis was found in the acrosyringium or traced to connect to the acrosyringium in all biopsy specimens. Carcinoembryonic antigen ( CEA) and eccrine gland-specific monoclonal antibody, IKH-4, were posit ive in acantholytic cells. Electron microscopy revealed electron dense material filling the lumen of intraepidermal eccrine ducts. This mate rial leaked into lateral intercellular spaces of the luminal cells, pa ssing tight junctions. Marked edema and numerous lysosomes were remini scent of those found when eccrine acrosyringium is formed in the embry o; this suggested that an occluded and damaged eccrine intraepidermal duct was being rebuilt via lysosomal digestion.