title: Secondary anetoderma associated with mastocytosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mastocytosis represents a wide spectrum of proliferative disorders of mast cells in the bone marrow, skin and/or internal organs. The most common manifestation is urticaria pigmentosa (UP), which is characterized by small or large brown-red maculopapules on the skin. Occasionally, elastic and collagen fibers in the lesions degenerate and result in a lax area of skin termed anetoderma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a 21-year-old male patient with multiple cutaneous anetodermic lesions, present since infancy, at UP sites confirmed with histochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urinary N-methyl 24-hour histamine levels were elevated, but serum tryptase levels were within normal limits. Radiologic examination of long bones was unremarkable, as well as all other blood results. UP biopsy showed absence of epidermal involvement and increased number of mast cells located perivascularly. There was fragmentation of elastic fibers in the papillary dermis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A patient with multiple cutaneous anetodermic lesions, presented since infancy, led to the diagnosis of UP. Such an association is rare and raises intriguing questions concerning the pathogenesis of anetoderma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Attikon Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kalogeromitros
authors.forename: Stamatis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gregoriou
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Georgala
authors.forename: Duraisamy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kempuraj
authors.forename: Theoharis C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Theoharides
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014582:Urticaria Pigmentosa / Q000150:complications*