[Elastolysis of the eyelids. A rare cause of ptosis]

Mid-dermal elastolysis is a rare disorder of elastic tissue which is characterized clinically by wrinkling of the skin and histologically by the selective absence of elastic fibers in the mid dermis. Two patients with severe ptosis and a loss of the lateral tarsal suspension are reported.

A 36-year-old male patient presented with bilateral ptosis, skin atrophy of the eyelids and a loss of lateral tarsal suspension. With normal clinical and routine laboratory investigations, punch biopsy revealed clear signs of mid-dermal elastolysis. Plastic surgery of both eyelids (levator advancement) was performed with good success after a 1-year interval without progression of ptosis. Another 37 year old patient suffered from mild ptosis, skin atrophy of the eyelids and a loss of lateral tarsal suspension. As the patient chose not to have surgical treatment, he was treated with oral corticosteroids. To differentiate between an acute and a chronic type of elastolysis a punch biopsy is required. In addition, we want to highlight the surgical option in chronic and non-progressive cases.

In contrast to formerly reported localized forms of acute acquired cutis laxa with complete loss of elastic fibres in the reticular and papillary dermis, we report a chronic type of elastolysis in these patients. In our experience in cases without any apparent progression of symptoms a surgical repair can provide long-term success.