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Characterization and evolution of dermal filaments from patients with Morgellons disease

Marianne J Middelveen1, Peter J Mayne, Douglas G Kahn

  • 1International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, Bethesda, MD, USA;

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology
|January 18, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Morgellons disease involves skin filaments that are actually keratin and collagen, not textile fibers. Spirochetes detected suggest an infectious cause for this emerging skin condition.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Microbiology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Morgellons disease is an emerging skin condition with unexplained dermal filaments and multisystemic symptoms.
  • Some medical professionals hypothesize the filaments are textile fibers, suggesting patients have delusions of infestation.
  • This perspective overlooks potential underlying biological causes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the composition and origin of dermal filaments in Morgellons disease.
  • To determine if an infectious agent is associated with the condition.
  • To challenge the hypothesis of delusional infestation in Morgellons disease.

Main Methods:

  • Histological examination of dermal samples from Morgellons disease patients.
  • Electron microscopic imaging to analyze filament structure.
  • Microbiological analysis to detect microorganisms within the specimens.

Main Results:

  • Dermal filaments were identified as keratin and collagen, originating from epidermal keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
  • Spirochetes were detected in dermatological specimens from study patients.
  • Findings contradict the textile fiber and delusional infestation hypotheses.

Conclusions:

  • Morgellons disease is characterized by biologically derived dermal filaments, not textile fibers.
  • The presence of spirochetes indicates an association with an infectious process.
  • This study provides evidence supporting an infectious etiology for Morgellons disease.
Keywords:
Borrelia burgdorferiLyme diseaseMorgellons diseasecollagendigital dermatitisfibroblastskeratinkeratinocytesspirochetes

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