Atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini: a clinical and histopathological study.
BACKGROUND
Idiopathic atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini (IAPP) usually manifests as one or multiple depressed and hyperpigmented patches, with a predilection to the trunk. No diagnostic changes are usually seen on histology. Elastic stains often reveal no abnormalities.


OBJECTIVE
To review our cases of IAPP, describe their clinical and histological findings and compare them with the literature.


METHODS
Retrospective review of IAPP cases who presented to our institution between 1994 and 2006.


RESULTS
From a total of 16 patients, only 19% displayed hyperpigmented lesions, while 81% had either hypopigmented (9/16) or skin-colored (4/16) lesions. The sites predominantly affected were the lower extremities (62.5%), followed by the upper extremities and trunk. Only in one patient was IAPP co-existent with morphea. Histology revealed no diagnostic abnormalities; however, elastic stains showed a spectrum of changes ranging from normal to severe diminution and fragmentation of elastic fiber network.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows several new aspects of IAPP. Clinically, the lesions were most commonly hypopigmented and involved predominantly the extremities. Histologically, IAPP exhibited a spectrum of alterations in elastic fibers. The most prevalent form of IAPP in our country seems to be unassociated with morphea.
Saleh
Zenus
Z
Department of Dermatology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Abbas
Ossama
O
Dahdah
Maurice J
MJ
Kibbi
Abdul G
AG
Zaynoun
Shukrallah
S
Ghosn
Samer
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology*