A clinicopathological study of primary cutaneous amyloidosis in tertiary care center, Hubballi

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous amyloidosis has a varied clinical presentations. Clinically, it is difficult to distinguish different subtypes of PCA. Objectives: This study was been taken up to correlate clinicohistological profile of all three forms of primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA) and to study various factors affecting the disease. Materials and Methods: A total number of 85 patients of PCA attending Skin and STD in tertiary care center in Hubballi were included in the study. A detailed history was taken, complete general physical, systemic, and cutaneous examination was done, and details of skin lesions were noted. Patient was subjected to skin biopsy from the affected area. Clinicohistological findings so obtained were analyzed, and results were correlated. Results: Out of 85 cases, 36 (42.35%) were macular amyloidosis (MA), 43 (50.58%) lichen amyloidosis (LA), and 6 (7.05%) were biphasic amyloidosis (BA). Majority of the patients were in the age group of 21–50, with a male: female ratio of 1:1.3. History of scrubbing while taking bath was given by 90.58%. Housewives were the most frequently involved group (38.82%). In MA, most frequently involved sites were upper back (58.33%) and extensor aspect of arm (55.55%). In LA, majority had involvement of the pretibial area (86.04%). The dermal changes seen in MA and LA were almost the same, while the epidermal changes were less frequent in MA. Conclusions: In the present study, most of the patients of macular and LA had clinical and histopathological correlation. There is not much difference in the demographic profile and histopathological characteristics between LA and MA. The findings confirm that the two forms of primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis are closely related variants of one disease. Histological examination will help in confirming the diagnosis.

Keywords

• amyloidosis
• lichen amyloidosis
• macular amyloidosis