Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: histologic, histochemical, and ultrastructural abnormalities of skin
Ono, S.; Toyokura, Y.; Mannen, T.; Ishibashi, Y.
Neurology 36(7): 948-956
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-3878 PMID: 3714056 Document Number: 283596
We studied the reticular dermis in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and controls with or without neurologic diseases. By light microscopy, collagen bundles in ALS dermis were reduced in amount and more loosely woven than in controls. Electron microscopy revealed a significant negative correlation between duration of illness and the diameter of collagen fibrils in patients with ALS. There was also a marked increase of amorphous material positive for ruthenium red in the ground substance. These findings were not observed in controls.