Chapter 19 Flashcards
What are the layers of the epidermis (composed of keratinocytes)?
- Basalis- the regenerative stem cell layer
- Spinosum- with desmosomes between keratinocytes
- Granulosum- with granules in keratinocytes
- Corneum

What are the main components of the dermis?
CT, nerve endings, blood and lympatic vessels, and adnexal structures (e.g. hair shafts, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands)
Describe atopic (eczematous) dermatitis

PRURITIC, erythematous oozing rash with vesicles and edema often involving the face and flexor surfaces

What mediates atopic (eczematous) dermatitis?
type I rxn (associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis)
Describe contact dermatitis

PRURITIC erythamatous oozing rash with vesicles and edema arising upon exposure to allergens such as poison ivy and nickel (type IV rxn), chemicals, and drugs
Tx: steroids

What is acne vulgaris

Comedones (white and blackheads), pustules (pimples), and nodules due to chronic inflammation of HAIR FOLLICLES and associated sebaceous glands followed by a hormone-associated increase in sebum production (sebaceous glands have androgen receptors) and excess keratin

What is the main source of the pustules and nodules associated with acne?
Propionibacterium acnes infection produces lipases that rbeask down sebum, releasing proinflammatory fatty acids
What is psoriasis?

The formation of well-circumscribed, SALMON-COLORED plaques with a silvery scale, usually on the extensor surfaces and the scalp due to excessive keratinocyte prolfieration

What are some suggested etiologies of psoriasis?
Possibly autoimmune (associated with HLA-C) or environmental (lesions often arise near trauma sites)
Describe the histo of psoriasis?

Shows acenthsosis (epidermal hyperplasia)
Parakeratosis (hyperkeratosis with retention of keratinocyte nuclei in the stratum corneum)
Collections of neutrophils in the Stratum corneum (Munro microabscesses)
Epidermal thinning above elongated dermal papillae resulting in bleeding when scales are picked off (Auspitz sign)

How is psoriasis tx?
steroids, UV light with psoralen, or immuno-modulation
Describe lichen planus

A pruritic, formation of purple papules often with reticular white lines on their surface (Wickham striae)
commonly seen on the wrist, elbows, and oral mucosa

What does the histo of lichen planus look like?
Inflammation of the dermal-epidermal junction with a ‘saw-tooth’ appearance

What causes lichen planus?
Unknown but associated with HCV
What causes pemphigus vulgaris?

Autoimmune destruction of DESMOSOMES between keratinocytes (IgG against desmoglein- type II rxn)

Describe the histo of pemphigus vulgaris

Acantholysis (seperation) of the stratum spinosum keratinocytes resulting in suprabasal blisters
Basal layer cells remain attached to BM via hemidesmosomes (‘tombstone’ appearance)
Thin-walled bullae rupture (Nikolsky sign), leading to shallow erosions with dried crust

Immunofluorescence of pemphigus vulgaris
Highlights IgG surrounding keratinocytes in a fish net pattern

What is bullous pemphigoid?

Autoimmune destruction of the hemidesmosomes between basal cells and the underlying basement membrane due to IgG Ab against hemidesmosome components (BP180)
oral mucosa is commonly spared

Describe the histo of bullous pemphigoid

Baslal cell layer detaches from the BM
Note that tense bullae do not rupture easily (clinically milder than pemphigus vulgaris)

Describe the immunoflourescence of bullous pemphigoid?
linear pattern of IgG along BM

What is dermatitis herptiformis?
Autoimmune deposition of IgA at the TIPS OF DERMAL PAPILLAE
presents as pruritic vesicles and bullae that are grouped (strong association with celiac disease)

Describe erythema multiforme (EM)
A hypersensitivity rxn marked by targetoid rash (due to central epidermal necrosis by erythema) and bullae

What are the major associations of erythema multiforme (EM)?
Most commonly HSV infection
also with Mycoplasma, drugs like penicillin/sulfonamides, autoimmune disease like SLE and malignancy
Seborrheic keratosis
benign squamous proliferation (common in elderly) presenting as raised, plaques (Sign of Leser-Trelat= GI malignancy)



















