Pseudoxanthoma elasticum diagnosed 25 years after the onset of cardiovascular disease

A 63-year-old man who had experienced cerebral infarction and myocardial in farction at an early age, and repeatedly underwent coronary angioplasty was admitted to our hospital for cardiac evaluation. A coronary angiography sh owed complex multi-vessel disease with significant stenosis in all major ve ssels and coronary-artery bypass grafts. A funduscopic examination to evalu ate hypertensive and diabetic changes revealed angioid streaks. Therefore, a skin biopsy was performed despite the absence of characteristic skin lesi ons. Histopathologic examinations revealed calcification and fragmentation of elastic fibers. Therefore, he was finally diagnosed as having pseudoxant homa elasticum 25 years after the onset of cardiovascular disease.