A case of atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini: analysis of glycosaminoglycan of the lesional skin.

We report a case of atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini. We determined the glycosaminoglycan content in the involved skin. Dermatan sulfate content in the involved skin (1.88 micrograms uronic acid/mg dry skin) was greater than that in the uninvolved skin (1.05 micrograms uronic acid/mg dry skin). No significant differences in hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate or heparan sulfate content between involved and uninvolved skin were observed. These results suggest that abnormal metabolism of dermatan sulfate may be involved in the pathogenesis of atrophoderma; this pattern has been observed in systemic or localized scleroderma.