PRIMARY LOCALIZED CUTANEOUS AMYLOIDOSIS - A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDYFROM SAUDI-ARABIA

Background Primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis (PLCA) refers to de position of amyloid in apparently previously normal skin with no evide nce of deposits in internal organs. Certain ethnic groups are particul arly predisposed. The objective of this study was to investigate the o ccurrence of PLCA in a hospital-based set-up and to review the clinico pathologic findings of histologically confirmed cases. Methods Methods included a retrospective evaluation of the records and paraffin secti ons of skin biopsies of all patients, diagnosed clinically as cutaneou s amyloidosis in a tertiary care teaching hospital during the period 1 987-95. Results Twenty-one out of 42 suspected cases were histological ly confirmed as PLCA; the total number of biopsied patients during the whole period was 920. Eleven were cases of lichen amyloidosis (LA) an d 10 were of macular amyloidosis (MA). All were adults, and women domi nated in MA. The mean duration of symptoms was shorter for the latter subtype. Histologically epidermal changes were the main differentiatin g feature between LA and MA. Conclusions PLCA is a rare chronic progre ssive skin disorder affecting adults, with a prevalence of 0.15 among patients attending the dermatology clinic in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia, There were few differences in demographic pr ofile or histochemical characteristics between LA and MA. Meticulous h istologic examination of sections and even sequential biopsies may be needed to confirm the diagnosis in clinically suspected cases.