[Ultrastructural investigations of the palmarfascia in M. Dupuytren (author's transl)].

The palmarfascia of 30 patients with Dupuytrens disease was investigated light- and electron microscopically. As typical changes there exist an increase in cells which form noduli. Many cells contain contractile filaments in their cytoplasma are therefore described as myofibroblasts. Beside these cells active fibroblasts could be observed. Close to their cell membranes there occur filaments with a diameter of 100--300 A. In a greater distance fibrils and fibers with a diameter of 400--600 A were observed. The regular order of the connective tissue is disturbed, one often can observe "vortex" like structures. The lumina of many capillaries are collapsed. The pericytes are increased. The nerve fibers are morphologically unchanged - they are often closely surrounded by collagen fibers. Respecting the morphological findings the pathogenesis of Dupuytrens disease is discussed.