ISSN:
1432-069X
Keywords:
Key words Palmoplantar pustulosis
;
Sensory nerve
;
fibres
;
Neuropeptides
;
Mast cells
;
Sweat glands
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Patients with palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) frequently report that stress worsens their condition. A study was therefore made of the distribution and number of nerve fibres positive for protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 (a general nerve marker) and nerve fibres with substance P- and calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity in involved skin from patients with PPP and in skin from healthy controls. The number of mast cells in the papillary dermis was larger (P = 0.0003) in lesional palmar PPP skin than in control skin, and the number of contacts between mast cells and nerve fibres was significantly larger (P = 0.02) in PPP skin than in control skin. Image analysis of the nerve fibres around the sweat glands showed that the positively stained area as a percentage of the total area of the sweat gland (coil + surrounding nerves) was significantly lower in PPP skin (P = 0.0006). Furthermore, the nerves seemed to be fragmented. Neutrophils within and below the pustules and in the papillary dermis showed positive substance P staining. The increased number of contacts between nerves and mast cells in PPP skin and the intense substance P-like immunoreactivity of the neutrophils indicate that neuromediation may influence the inflammation in PPP, whereas the destruction of the nerve fibres around the sweat glands might be a result of the inflammation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004030000132
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