Clinical and histomorphometric characteristics of three different families with hereditary gingival fibromatosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the histomorphologic and histomorphometric features of tissue from 3 unrelated families with hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF).


METHODS
Twelve affected individuals from 3 HGF families and 3 control subjects were evaluated. Gingival samples were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin for hematoxylin and eosin stain to count the number of fibroblast and inflammatory cells. Sirius red staining was performed to quantitate the amount of collagen present.


RESULTS
Histomorphologic analysis of HGF showed extension of epithelial rete ridges into the underlying lamina propria and the presence of collagen bundles in the connective tissue. Analysis of the mean area fraction of collagen showed that there were significant increases in the collagen fraction for all HGF types compared with control subjects (P < .05). There were significant increases in the number of fibroblasts for HGFa and HGFb compared with control subjects (P < .05). The number of fibroblasts for HGFc were similar to that for control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The collagen fraction was significantly greater in all HGF types compared with controls. The number of fibroblasts was significantly increased in 2 of the 3 HGF types compared with controls. These data indicate that different mechanisms may be responsible for tissue enlargement in different forms of HGF.
Department of Periodontology, University of Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil.
Jorge
J
Kather
Miguel Angel Castillo
MA
Salgado
Ulisses Fernando Lodi
UF
Salgado
José Roberto
JR
Cortelli
Débora
D
Pallos
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D005351:Fibromatosis, Gingival / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology
D003094:Collagen