LINEAR FOCAL ELASTOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH STRIAE-DISTENSAE IN AN ELDERLYWOMAN

We report the case of a 73-year-old woman with linear focal elastosis (LFE) associated with striae distensae. Yellow palpable striae were fo und extending horizontally in the lumbar region. The yellow striae app eared to be joined to striae distensae in the lateral sides of the yel low striae. Striae distensae were also present in regions other than t he back but were not associated with yellow striae. Histologic examina tion of a yellow stria revealed a focal increase in elastic fibers in the dermis. Although there have been some unusual cases of LFE arising in women or in young persons, this disorder still predominantly affec ts aged men. A fairly uniform feature of LFE is its occurrence on the dorsal skin, suggesting involvement of this specific anatomical site i n its pathogenesis. We suspect that LFE usually arises de novo in the skin, although striae distensae may also be a cause of it.