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Features of an autoimmune process in mid-dermal elastolysis.
1Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33136.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|November 1, 1992
Summary
Mid-dermal elastolysis, a rare skin disorder causing wrinkling, was observed in a patient post-silicone mammoplasty. This case suggests potential autoimmune links and association with augmentation procedures.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pathology
- Immunology
Background:
- Mid-dermal elastolysis is a rare connective tissue disorder characterized by mid-dermal elastic fiber loss and skin wrinkling.
- Augmentation mammoplasty with silicone implants has been anecdotally linked to various connective tissue diseases.
Observation:
- A young woman developed abnormal skin wrinkling following silicone implant augmentation mammoplasty.
- Histological examination confirmed mid-dermal elastolysis.
- The patient also presented with a positive antinuclear antibody titer and a false-positive Lyme disease titer.
Findings:
- This case report establishes a link between mid-dermal elastolysis and augmentation mammoplasty.
- The co-occurrence of autoantibodies (antinuclear antibody) and a false-positive Lyme titer suggests potential autoimmune involvement in the pathogenesis of mid-dermal elastolysis.
- A previously reported case also showed an unusual false-positive Lyme disease pattern in conjunction with mid-dermal elastolysis.
Implications:
- Mid-dermal elastolysis should be considered in patients presenting with wrinkling after silicone-based cosmetic procedures.
- The findings support the hypothesis that autoimmune mechanisms may play a role in the development of mid-dermal elastolysis.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise relationship between silicone implants, autoimmune responses, and mid-dermal elastolysis.