[The etiopathogenetic aspects in ligneous conjunctivitis]

In a 55-year-old patient with Lyell syndrome, a ligneous conjunctivitis is present at the right eye. The histological examination of the hyperplasic conjunctiva shows a pluri-stratified epithelium made up of several rows of cells with a marked intra- and intercellular oedema. The connective subepithelial tissue shows an important inflammatory infiltration with numerous hyaline plates characteristic of the disease. The vessels are dilated, with thin walls, permitting the passage of fibrin to the surface. The ligneous conjunctivitis is interpreted as a post-membranous granuloma of the palpebral conjunctivae [correction of conjunctivita]. Its presence in a patient with Lyell syndrome shows its immunoallergic nature.