[Plasmacytic skin infiltration in multiple myeloma].
Authors present a case of a therapy-resistant multiple myeloma who developed plasmacytic skin infiltration in the course of the disease.


OBJECTIVE
To define characteristics of skin infiltrating plasma cells, which differentiate them from those cells residing in the bone marrow in order to contribute to a better understanding of the epidermoinvasion process.


METHODS
Histidine decarboxylase is the only enzyme capable for histamine synthesis having significance in cell proliferation. Histidine decarboxylase was determined in skin samples and bone marrow slides by immunohistochemical procedures and in bone marrow cells using flow cytometry analysis.


RESULTS
The histidine decarboxylase expression of plasma cells participating in skin invasion disappeared, while that of bone marrow plasma cells remained.


CONCLUSIONS
Authors conclude that the histidine decarboxylase loss would serve as an evidence for the dedifferentiation of epidermoinvasive cells as being the result of fundamental changes in histamine metabolism. As extramedullary myeloma cells differ from those residing in the bone marrow, their therapeutical response might also be different.
Molnár
Katalin
K
Semmelweis Egyetem, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar III, Belgyógyászati Klinika Budapest, Kútvölgyi út 4. 1125.
Karádi
István
I
Sugár
István
I
Sápi
Zoltán
Z
Marschalkó
Márta
M
Pálinger
Eva
E
Darvas
Zsuzsanna
Z
Pócza
Péter
P
Falus
András
A
Vereczkei
András
A
Várkonyi
Judit
J
D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D010950:Plasma Cells; D012867:Skin / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase