title: A clinicopathologic study of thirty cases of acquired perforating dermatosis in Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acquired perforating dermatosis (APD) is histopathologically characterized by transepidermal elimination of materials from the upper dermis. APD can be divided into four diseases: Kyrle's disease, perforating folliculitis, elastosis perforans serpiginosa, and reactive perforating collagenosis. APD is usually associated with systemic diseases, especially diabetes mellitus or chronic renal failure. So far, there have only been a few Korean studies of APD, which have a limited number of patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of 30 cases of APD and to examine the association with systemic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and biopsy specimens of 30 patients who were diagnosed with APD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 55.5 years, and the average duration of the lesion was 7.8 months. The lower extremities (73.3%) were the most frequently occurring sites of the lesion. Twenty-five patients (83.3%) had pruritus, and Koebner's phenomenon was present in 11 patients. Patients of 63.3% had at least one systemic disease. Diabetes mellitus (n=17, 56.7%) and chronic renal failure (n=10, 33.3%) were the most commonly associated conditions. Most patients received topical steroids (93.3%) and antihistamines (80.0%). The most common histopathologic type was reactive perforating collagenosis (n=23, 73.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, most patients had a systemic association to the diseases. Therefore, we suggest that further evaluation is necessary for patients who present with APD. This includes reviewing patient's comprehensive past medical history, clinical exam, and additional diagnostic testing to check for the possibility of associated systemic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seo Wan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: June Hyunkyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sook-Ja
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kui Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kapsok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Young
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Han
keywords: Acquired perforating dermatosis; Elastosis perforans serpiginosa; Kyrle's disease; Perforating folliculitis; Reactive perforating collagenosis