title: Measurement of transepidermal water loss in localized scleroderma.
abstract: Localized scleroderma (LS) is a disease characterized by fibrotic changes in the dermis. Connective tissue growth factor and transforming growth factor β2 are the main mediators of fibrogenesis; this, along with excessive connective tissue production, affects epidermal keratinocytes, and thereby contributes to the changed quality of skin barrier. The objective of this article was to study the objective measurement of the skin barrier quality in LS with transepidermal water loss (TEWL) meter. The measurements of TEWL were performed on LS plaques in all three stages of various body locations. Control measurements were made on the contralateral side of healthy skin. The difference between TEWL in LS area and the contralateral side of the healthy skin was evaluated. A higher average TEWL 7.86 g/m(2) /h (SD 5.29) was observed on LS plaques compared with the control measurements on healthy skin 6.39 g/m(2) /h (SD 2.77). TEWL average values decreased from the inflammatory stage, through the sclerotic and to the atrophic stage. The mean difference 1.301 g/m(2) /h (SD 5.16) was found between TEWL on LS plaques and on the contralateral healthy skin in 82 measurements, i.e., a higher TEWL was observed in LS. The difference was statistically significant with p = 0.0250. Although fibrogenesis in scleroderma is localized in dermis, the skin barrier changes can be detected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatovenereology, St. Anna University Hospital, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ďurčanská
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatovenereology, St. Anna University Hospital, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jedličková
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatovenereology, St. Anna University Hospital, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vašků
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010539:Permeability; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: TEWL; localized scleroderma; skin barrier