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A Microscopic Study

John H. Epstein, MD; Denny L. Tuffanelli, MD; William L. Epstein, MD

Arch Dermatol. 1973;107(5):689-698.

Abstract
The microscopic anatomy of the cutaneous changes in patients with active porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) (22), inactive (postphlebotomy) PCT (ten), erythropoietic protoporphyria (five), variegate porphyria (two), and coproporphyria (one) were examined with light microscopic, fluorescent microscopic, and electron microscopic (EM) techniques. Characteristic changes common to the porphyrias studied included deposition of PAS-positive diastase-resistant mucopolysaccharides and immunoglobulins in and around the superficial dermal blood vessels. Reduplication of the vascular basal lamina and the extensive perivascular deposition of a fine fibrillar material were the most prominent EM features. These results indicated that the vascular abnormality was due to structural alterations as well as deposition of materials from the circulation. Distribution of the changes emphasizes the importance of the prophyrins and sunlight in development of the cutaneous damage noted in these porphyric states.

Author Affiliations
San Francisco

From the Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco. Read before the 92nd annual meeting of the American Dermatological Association, Dorado Beach, PR, April 18, 1972.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Oct 26, 1972.

Reprint requests to University of California, Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco 94122 (Dr. J. Epstein).

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