title: Cutaneous nerve lesions in prurigo nodularis. Electron microscopic study of two patients.
abstract: Skin biopsies from two patients with pruirgo nodularis were studied with the electron microscope. Lesions were found in the cutaneous myelinated and unmyelinated nerves. Schwann-cell cytoplasm showed large, irregular, membrane-bound, electron-lucent vacuoles. Umyelinated axons were distended and devoid of neurotubules and neurofilaments. Myelinated nerves showed various degrees of demyelination. Onion-bulb formations with a centrally located myelinated fibre were also observed and numerous mast cells were found in the cellular infiltrate. All these findings indicate the presence of a chronic peripheral neuropathy, the etiology of which remains to be determined.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001706:Biopsy; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011536:Prurigo / Q000473:pathology*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012867:Skin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000648:ultrastructure