[Morphofunctional changes in the skin in foot mycosis]

Sixteen specimens of cadaveric intertoe folds of patients who had suffered from intertrichinous mycoses of the soles (miners who died in accidents or because of traumas) were examined by histologic and histochemical methods. For control intertoe fold specimens from 10 suddenly dead workers without mycoses were examined. Examinations of skin specimens from mycosis foci have revealed fungus mycelium in the epidermis and superficial layers of the derma, focal perivascular infiltrates consisting mainly of T-lymphocytes (a positive reaction to alpha-naphthylacetate esterase), macrophages, sensitized lymphocytes (high acid phosphatase activity); this necessitates administration, along with mycocidal agents, of angioprotectors, proteolysis inhibitors, immunostimulants. Histoenzymologic studies have revealed impairments of the principal components of metabolism and activation of glycolysis processes. Less manifest changes were revealed in apparently intact skin, this being an evidence of a systemic involvement of the skin in a prolonged mycotic process.