title: Serum concentration of 5-S-cysteinyldopa in pediatric patients with giant pigmented nevi.
abstract: The serum concentrations of 5-S-cysteinyldopa (5-S-CD) in pediatric patients with giant pigmented nevi (GPN) were investigated and compared with those of pediatric patients with small- or medium-sized congenital nevi (CN), or non-melanocytic benign skin tumor (control group). Serum 5-S-CD levels in the GPN group (N = 21), particularly in patients less than 5 years old, were significantly higher (highest concentration 38.4, mean +/- S.D. 16.6 +/- 9.4 nmol/L) than those in the CN (N = 22) or control groups (N = 26). Serum 5-S-CD levels in the CN group were not significantly different from those in the control group. There was a significant correlation between the serum 5-S-CD level and size (surface area) of the GNP. There was a significant inverse correlation between the serum 5-S-CD level and age in the CN and control groups, but not in the GPN group. Serum 5-S-CD levels were transiently elevated immediately after treatment of patients with GPN with a combination of skin abrasion and cryotherapy with solid carbon dioxide. These results suggest that serum 5-S-CD levels in the GPN group reflected the 5-S-CD derived from GPN, particularly in patients less than 5 years old. This indicates that melanogenesis may be accelerated in infant patients in the GPN group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Saitama Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hanawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wakamatsu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017679:Cryotherapy; D003548:Cysteinyldopa / Q000097:blood*; D003869:Dermabrasion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009506:Nevus / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003548:Cysteinyldopa