Postinflammatory Elastolysis and Cutis Laxa: Report of a Case with Aortitis

Abstract

A 17-month-old black female manifested an acute febrile dermatosis followed by the development of cutis laxa and aortitis. The neutrophilic, acute inflammatory nature of the disease is emphasized. Pathologically, both the skin and the aorta were affected by a lesional process that shared common morphologic attributes and resulted in extensive elastolysis. However, the disease appears to differ from other entities characterized by generalized degradation of elastic fibers.

Key Words:

• elastin
• cutis laxa
• elastolysis
• Sweet's syndrome