Mid‐dermal elastolysis preceded by acute neutrophilic dermatosis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background:  Mid‐dermal elastolysis is a rare idiopathic elastic tissue disorder that is characterized by localized patches of finely wrinkled skin and a ‘band‐like’ loss of elastic tissue in the mid‐reticular dermis. Lesions may be preceded by erythema and/or urticaria, and histological examination of inflamed lesional skin may demonstrate lymphohistiocytic dermal infiltration.Case report:  We report a case of mid‐dermal elastolysis in a 31‐year‐old woman who developed multiple erythematous and urticarial plaques on the arms and trunk. Histologic examination of a representative lesion revealed a neutrophilic infiltrate and a normal pattern of elastic tissue. Several months later, the erythema and urticaria was noted to have resolved, leaving soft, pendulous plaques with overlying finely wrinkled skin. A follow‐up biopsy at this time showed minimal lymphocytic inflammation but almost complete absence of elastic tissue in the mid‐reticular dermis.Conclusions:  To our knowledge, acute neutrophilic dermatosis resulting in mid‐dermal elastolysis has not been previously described. This observation lends support to an emerging theory that the pathogenesis of mid‐dermal elastolysis may be inflammatory.

This publication has 32 references indexed in Scilit: