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The role of dermal blood vessels in the pathogenesis of malignant atrophic papulosis (Degos' disease)
Author(s) -
BLACK MARTIN M.,
NISHIOKA KIYOSHI,
LEVENE GERALD M.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1973.tb07537.x
Subject(s) - medicine , histopathology , dermatology , pathology
SUMMARY The role of dermal blood vessels in the histopathogenesis of malignant atrophic papulosis has been investigated in two patients using enzyme histochemical, tissue fibrinolysis and electron‐microscopic techniques. In the earliest papules the normal enzymatic reactions of the endothelium and fibrinolytic activity of affected blood vessels were markedly impaired or absent. The endothelial cells were swollen and showed minor degenerative changes, but no cytoplasmic inclusions suggestive of virus particles could be detected. The results of intradermal skin tests and lymphocyte transformation cultures did not suggest the presence of any immunological defect. It is suggested that the skin lesions of malignant atrophic papulosis could be secondary to the slow occlusion of deeper arterioles.