Myotonic dystrophy (Steinert disease): a morphologic and biochemical hair study.
BACKGROUND
Myotonic dystrophy is a systemic genetic disorder, with dominant transmittance. It is characterized by generalized progressive muscular abnormality. Although frontoparietal alopecia is one of the most common symptoms in myotonic dystrophy, it has not received much attention.


METHODS
We examined 25 subjects from two families: 10 patients were affected by Steinert disease and 15 were not. The various morphologic and biochemical hair alterations are reported.


RESULTS
All investigated subjects (affected or not) presented the same type of morphologic and biochemical hair alterations.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings could be used to construct a hypothesis to explain the cause of the disease.
Istituto di Clinica Dermatologica, Università La SaPienza di Roma, Rome, Italy.
B
B
Amorosi
S
S
Giustini
A
A
Rossi
M
M
Giacanelli
S
S
Calvieri
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
D000596:Amino Acids