Mid-dermal elastolysis: a pathological and ultrastructural study of five cases.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of inflammatory phenomena and elastic fiber phagocytosis in mid-dermal elastolysis. The pathological and ultrastructural features of 5 Caucasian female patients (ranging from 26 to 40 years) with acquired diffuse asymptomatic areas of skin wrinkling have been reviewed. The clinical features of all cases were characteristic of this condition and only in one patient were erythematous urticaria-like, non pruriginous patches also observed. In 4 cases a history of prolonged sun bathing was present and in 3 cases there was a short history of oral contraception. The pathological study confirmed the typical absence of elastic fibers in the midreticular dermis. In two cases elastic fibers were still detectable in the periadnexal dermis. Hematoxylin and eosin sections showed a mild perivascular infiltrate in two cases, while in three patients histiocytes were scattered among collagen bundles. Multinucleated giant cells containing fragmented elastic fibers were detectable in one patient. Ultrastructural analysis revealed large mononuclear cells with phagocytic aspects toward elastic fibers in all cases.