European Journal of Dermatology



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Pronounced and early acne in Apert's syndrome: a case successfully treated with oral isotretinoin
European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 12, Number 5, 496-8, September - October 2002, Cas cliniques
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Author(s) : Anna CAMPANATI, Barbara MARCONI, Luca PENNA, Massimiliano PAOLINELLI, Annamaria OFFIDANI
Summary : An unusual case of widespread acne unresponsive to treatment with early onset in a child with Apert's syndrome is presented. The patient eventually responded to oral isotretinoin therapy. The morphological profile of the sebaceous glands and the expression of proliferative markers and androgen receptors were evaluated in seboblasts and sebocytes using morphological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical techniques. There were no significant differences in staining for proliferative markers and nuclear expression of androgen receptors in the glands from the patient and four healthy controls. Our results support the view that acne in Apert's syndrome is not sustained by abnormalities of the sebaceous glands demonstrable with conventional morphological techniques, and that it does not depend on an increased expression of androgen receptors.
Keywords : acne, acrocephalosyndactyly, androgen receptors, Apert's syndrome, isotretinoin.

Pronounced and early acne in Apert's syndrome: a case successfully treated with oral isotretinoin