[Papillary dermal elastolysis similar to pseudoxanthoma elasticum]

Role of Steroid Therapy in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum-like Papillary Dermal Elastolysis

Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum-like Papillary Dermal Elastolysis (PXE-PDE) is a peculiar idiopathic elastolytic disorder that clinically resembles Psudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). It is histologically characterized by a total or partial loss of elastic fibers in the papillary dermis. It more often affects elderly women and is characterized by asymptomatic and symmetrical yellowish papules localized predominantly on the neck, supraclavicular regions, and flexural areas. After analyzing a series of cases and the recent literature suggesting that glucocorticoids may down-regulate the elastin gene expression and elastin mRNA, in cultured human skin fibroblasts, we think that high dose and prolonged steroid therapy may contribute to the appearance of PXE-PDE lesions.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum papillary dermal elastolysis: a case report

PXE-PDE is a rare clinicopathological entity with few cases reported. It affects more often elderly women and is characterized by asymptomatic bilateral and symmetrical yellowish papules localized predominantly on the neck and supraclavicular regions. It is clinically similar to Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum. The authors report a case of a 64-year-old woman presenting asymptomatic, yellowish, non-follicular papules, affecting the occipital and the posterior region of the neck for 1 year. The patient denied pruritic or inflammatory changes, marked solar exposition or trauma on the affected areas. Routine laboratory studies: thoracic x-ray and ophthalmologic examination were normal. The histopathologic examination of a biopsy of one of the cutaneous lesions showed an absence of elastic fibers in the papillary dermis.The diagnosis of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum-like Papillary Dermal Elastolysis (PXE-PDE) was made. Of great importance is the differential diagnosis with Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), but we have also to consider other elastolytic disorders: mid-dermal elastolysis (MDE), linear focal elastosis (LFE) and white fibrous papulosis of the neck (WFPN). Until know, there is no effective treatment for this pathology.