Bg. Mccann et al., THE PRESENCE OF MYOFIBROBLASTS IN THE DERMIS OF PATIENTS WITH DUPUYTREN CONTRACTURE - A POSSIBLE SOURCE FOR RECURRENCE, Journal of hand surgery. British volume, 18B(5), 1993, pp. 656-661
Samples of skin and underlying cord obtained at dermofasciectomy for D
upuytren's contracture have been examined for the presence of smooth m
uscle alpha-actin (SM alpha-actin), a marker for myofibroblasts. 15 of
the 20 samples stained positively for SM alpha-actin corresponding wi
th areas of hypercellular Dupuytren's tissue. In 12 of these 15 sample
s SM alpha-actin-positive hypercellular Dupuytren's tissue extended in
to the dermis, in three cases reaching the epidermis. In eight samples
, diffusely distributed cells positive for SM alpha-actin and resembli
ng fibroblasts were seen in the dermis. These cells appeared to be sep
arate from the Dupuytren's foci. The presence of hypercellular foci an
d isolated fibroblasts positive for SM alpha-actin within the dermis m
ay explain the high recurrence rate of Dupuytren's disease after fasci
ectomy.