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Structural aspects of initial psoriatic lesions

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Summary

A total of 32 pin-sized lesions were excised in 29 patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The specimens were prepared for light and electron microscopy.

In four specimens there was psoriatic thickening of the epidermis with typical histological features of the disease. In the remaining 29 biopsies there was a moderate to heavy perivascular infiltrate with exocytosis, spongiosis and initial loss of the granular layer. The tissue changes present in these initial lesions are highly uncharacteristic for psoriasis.

Ultrastructurally a wide range of tissue changes was observed in the dermis as well as in the epidermis. These alterations were representative for non-specific activation of the various cutaneous elements.

No particular features typical for early events in the evolution of the disease were found.

The results demonstrate the preponderance of dermal changes in the development of psoriatic skin lesions.

Zusammenfassung

Bei 29 Patienten mit Psoriasis vulgaris wurden 32 stecknadelkopfgroße initiale Psoriasisherde excidiert. Das bioptische Material wurde für Licht- und Elektronenmikroskopie zubereitet.

In vier Biopsien wurde eine psoriatische Verdickung der Epidermis mit typischen histologischen Zügen der Erkrankung festgestellt. In den übrigen 29 Biopsien fand sich ein mäßiges bis starkes perivasculäres Infiltrat mit Exocytose, Spongiose und initialem Verlust der Keratohyalinschicht. Die Gewebsveränderungen in den initialen Psoriasisherden sind sehr uncharakteristisch für Psoriasis.

Elektronenmikroskopisch konnten Gewebsveränderungen sowohl in der Dermis wie auch in der Epidermis nachgewiesen werden. Diese Veränderungen entsprachen einer unspezifischen Aktivierung der verschiedenen Hautelemente. Spezielle Veränderungen, die allein typisch sind für frühe Ereignisse bei der Entwicklung von Psoriasis vulgaris konnten nicht festgestellt werden. Die Untersuchungen initialer psoriatischer Hautläsionen zeigen ein Übergewicht dermaler Veränderungen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, BRD

    Otto Braun-Falco & Enno Christophers

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  1. Otto Braun-Falco
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  2. Enno Christophers
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Braun-Falco, O., Christophers, E. Structural aspects of initial psoriatic lesions. Arch. Derm. Res. 251, 95–110 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00560390

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