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Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis: an electron microscopy study
M Kakepis1,2, S Havaki3, A Katoulis2
1Department of Dermatology, 'Henry Dunant' Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Background:
Few published data, concerning the electron microscopy findings of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis have been published so far.
Objectives:
To reveal the electron microscopic findings of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis and their aetiopathogenetic associations.
Methods:
Punch biopsy specimens from four patients with idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, after being properly processed, were observed under the electron microscope.
Results:
In the epidermis, melanocytes and melanosomes were normal in structure. In some areas, there was a reduced uptake of melanosomes by the keratinocytes. In the dermis, fibroblasts were structurally normal. Also, most elastic and collagen fibres were normal, but there were focal elastotic changes.
Conclusions:
No significant structural abnormality of the melanocytes was observed, but rather a functional defect in the transfer of melanosomes from the melanocytes to the keratinocytes.
