Hormonal receptors in cutaneous vascular malformations: 51 cases

Area of Science:

• Vascular Biology
• Endocrinology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Vascular malformations (VMs) are congenital anomalies with diverse vessel types.
• Potential triggers for VMs include trauma, infections, and hormonal changes.
• Understanding the role of hormonal influences in VM development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression of androgen, estrogen, and progesterone receptors in VM tissue samples.
• To identify self-reported triggering factors, including hormonal changes, in patients with VMs.

Main Methods:

• Immunohistochemistry was used to detect hormonal receptor expression in 51 VM tissue samples.
• Patient data on self-reported triggering factors were collected.
• VM types included cystic lymphatic malformations (CLMs), venous malformations (VeMs), and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).

Main Results:

• Androgen receptor expression was detected in 74.5% of all VM samples.
• Androgen receptor positivity was high across CLMs (84.6%), VeMs (75.0%), and AVMs (72.2%).
• Estrogen and progesterone receptors were not detected in any samples. Hormonal triggers were reported in 6 patients, predominantly with AVMs.

Conclusions:

• VMs frequently express androgen receptors, suggesting a potential role in their pathogenesis.
• Estrogen and progesterone receptors are unlikely to be involved in VM development.
• Hormonal triggers, particularly in AVMs, warrant further investigation.