MID-DERMAL ELASTOLYSIS - A PATHOLOGICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY OF 5 CASES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of inflammatory phe nomena and elastic fiber phagocytosis in mid-dermal elastolysis. The p athological and ultrastructural features of 5 Caucasian female patient s (ranging from 26 to 40 years) with acquired diffuse asymptomatic are as of skin wrinkling have been reviewed. The clinical features of ail cases were characteristic of this condition and only in one patient we re erythematous urticaria-like, non pruriginous patches also observed. In 4 cases a history of prolonged Sun bathing was present and in 3 ca ses there was a short history of oral contraception. The pathological study confirmed the typical absence of elastic fibers in the mid-retic ular dermis. In two cases elastic fibers were still detectable in the periadnexal dermis. Hematoxylin and eosin sections showed a mild periv ascular infiltrate in two cases, while in three patients histiocytes w ere scattered among collagen bundles. Multinucleated giant cells conta ining fragmented elastic fibers were detectable in one patient. Ultras tructural analysis revealed large mononuclear cells with phagocytic as pects toward elastic fibers in all cases.