MERKEL CELL HYPERPLASIA IN CIRCUMSCRIBED NEURODERMATITIS - A QUANTITATIVE STUDY

Six patients with circumscribed neurodermatitis were studied to evalua te whether the epidermal hyperproliferation was associated with distur bances of the number or distribution of Merkel cells (MC). The MC were identified by immunohistochemical staining, using anti-cytokeratins ( no. 20 and 8) and anti-synaptophysin antibodies. MC were increased In number in lesional skin compared with normal skin (P < 0.0001). Howeve r they appeared of normal in their usual basal position. This observat ion supports the hypothesis at MC hyperplasia may be linked to epiderm al hyperproliferation.