| dc.description | Erythema dyschromicum perstans (EDP) is a pigmentary disease of unknown etiology in which
damage to basal cells is thought to be mediated by adhesion molecules. The aim of this study
was to characterize the histopathology and immunopathology of EDP. Forty-three patients from
Medellín, Colombia, with the diagnosis of EDP were evaluated. Skin biopsy specimens were
obtained for histopathology and immunohistochemistry, using monoclonal antibodies directed
against the following markers: CD4, CD8, CD56, CD1a, CD68, CLA, HLA–DR, ICAM-1 and
LFA-1
α
.
A dermal lymphocytic infiltrate was observed in all cases, with a perivascular location in 86%.
Other histologic features included melanophages in all specimens, vacuolization of the
basement membrane zone (BMZ) 58% and exocytosis of lymphocytes (53.5%). The mean
number of total leukocytes was 1510 cells mm
−
2
of tissue. There was a predominance of
CD8
+
T lymphocytes in the dermis and HLA–DR
+
, ICAM-1
+
keratinocytes in the epidermis.
Exocytosis of cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA) + cells was observed in areas of BMZ
damage, suggesting that response to antigenic stimulation may play a role in the development
of EDP. | |
