[Clinical aspects and etiology of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans].
We followed up nine patients with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) for an average of 2 years (6-44 months). Extradermal symptoms were observed in five patients, three of whom developed systemic signs such as fatigue or general sensitivity to cold; three suffered from cardiac symptoms; and two had joint and/or nervous system involvement. In one patient, erythema migrans and oligoarthralgia preceded the ACA. In most patients, the laboratory tests showed changes often seen in inflammatory diseases; we found an elevation of IgA, IgG and/or IgM in five patients. Using an indirect immunofluorescence test with Ixodes dammini spirochetes as antigen, the patients had more or less elevated IgG antibody titers and insignificant IgM antibody titers; similar results were obtained in some patients when an Ixodes ricinus spirochete isolated in the area of Munich was used as antigen. We believe that ACA is a chronic spirochetosis with manifestations present in the skin, joints, nervous system, and presumably in the heart.
D000169:Acrodermatitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001284:Atrophy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013145:Spirochaetales Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013986:Tick Toxicoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex
Zur Klinik und Atiologie der Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans.