title: Ultrastructure of the microvasculature in skin affected by systemic scleroderma.
abstract: The microvasculature of the upper dermis in cases of systemic scleroderma was examined with an electron microscope. Microvessels in clinically uninvolved skin areas showed nearly normal structure. On the other hand, in moderately involved skin, enlargement of the vascular lumen, endothelial swelling, increase in the pinocytotic vesicle and microvilli and reduplication of the basal lamina were observed. Along with these, Ruthenium red-positive granules, microfibrils and fine collagen fibrils were perivasculary increased. Markedly involved skin revealed a degenerative change in the endothelial cells with interendothelial gap; in the perivascular region the number of microfibrils and Ruthenium red-positive granules decreased, and were replaced by increased collagen fibrils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi 371, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*