The vascular characteristics of melasma.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of melasma is not yet fully understood. Previous studies indicate that dermal environment such as fibroblasts may have an important role in the development of melasma. Recently, it has been suggested that interactions between the cutaneous vasculature and melanocytes might have an influence on the development of pigmentation.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the vascular characteristics in melasma lesions. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a major angiogenic factor of the skin, was also investigated in melasma.


METHODS
Erythema intensity was quantified by the increase of the a* parameter using a colorimeter. Skin samples were obtained from lesional and non-lesional facial skin of 50 Korean women with melasma. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of factor VIIIa-related antigen and VEGF in melasma.


RESULTS
The values of a* was significantly higher in the melasma lesion than that of perilesional normal skin. Computer-assisted image analyses of factor VIIIa-related antigen-stained sections revealed a significant increase of both the number and the size of dermal blood vessels in the lesional skin. There was significant relationship between the number of vessels and pigmentation in melasma. The expression of VEGF was significantly increased in melasma


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that increased vascularity is one of the major findings in melasma. VEGF may be a major angiogenic factor for altered vessels in melasma.
Kim
En Hyung
EH
Department of Dermatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 5 Wonchon-Dong, Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon 443-721, South Korea.
Kim
You Chan
YC
Lee
Eun-So
ES
Kang
Hee Young
HY
D044466:Asian People; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D004890:Erythema / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015944:Factor VIIIa / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007723:Korea; D008548:Melanosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D015944:Factor VIIIa