Kuniaki Oohara

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita has been recognized as a rare autoimmune mechanobullous disorder since the detection of immunoglobulin and complement deposits along the basement membrane zone. A circulating anti-basement membrane zone antibody has also been detected in some cases. We are reporting a case of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita in which clinical symptoms were well correlated with the circulating anti-basement membrane zone antibody titers. Although the patient initially ...

Blue-brown macules of the face occurring on both sides of the forehead, temple, eyelids, malar area, alae of the nose, and root of the nose are often observed in middle-aged Japanese women. These lesions histologically are a form of dermal melanocytosis as shown by electron microscopic examination. They differ clinically from nevus of Ota. The differential diagnosis includes nevus of Ota, Riehl's melanosis (female facial melanosis), and melasma. The differences between them are discussed.

Frequency of malignant transformation arising in giant congenital nevi is considered to be 4%–5%. More than a half of the patients in which malignant melanoma developed in giant congenital nevi were under the age of 10. It may be hypothesized that dermabrasion of giant congenital nevus may provoke malignant transformation. Some of the cell groups in giant congenital nevus are potentially malignant. Some groups of nevus cells were larger in size than those of other portions of nevus. ...

Frequency of malignant transformation arising in giant congenital nevi is considered to be 4%-5%. More than a half of the patients in which malignant melanoma developed in giant congenital nevi were under the age of 10. It may be hypothesized that dermabrasion of giant congenital nevus may provoke malignant transformation. Some of the cell groups in giant congenital nevus are potentially malignant. Some groups of nevus cells were larger in size than those of other portions of nevus. ...

A patient with pretibial epidermolysis bullosa was successfully treated with a skin graft. Ultrastructural examination revealed a decreased number of and rudimentary anchoring fibrils (AFs) in the pretibial area in contrast to normal AFs in the grafted skin obtained from a nonpredilection site. Our results indicate the importance of AFs in the pathogenesis of pretibial epidermolysis bullosa.(Arch Dermatol 1986;122:310-313)