Hypercarotenaemia or hypercarotenoidaemia.
BACKGROUND
Serum carotenoids consist of a variety of different compounds. Xanthoderma may result from an increased concentration of any of the carotenoids.


RESULTS
High-performance liquid chromatography of serum carotenoids shows that a normal chromatogram contains mainly beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene. Serum alpha- and beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin were found to be increased in the investigation of hypercarotenaemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients presenting with possible xanthoderma should have a dietary history taken and serum sent for carotenoid analysis.
Chaparro
R Saldana
RS
Department of Chemical Pathology and Metabolism, St Helier Hospital, Carshalton SM5 1AA, UK.
Carr
E
E
Barron
J L
JL
D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood; D000077276:Lycopene; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood*
D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene; D014975:Lutein