FRICTION AMYLOIDOSIS: A VARIANT OR AN ETIOLOGIC FACTOR IN AMYLOIDOSIS CUTIS?

BACKGROUND: During a study of cutaneous amyloidosis, it was noticed that a significant number of patients gave a history of friction of some kind or other, which when analyzed could be clearly related to their cutaneous pigmentation. A common feature in all these patients was the relative lack of itching when compared with others who did not give a history of friction. METHODS: We studied the role of friction in 65 patients with amyloidosis cutis and found that in 20 patients, frictional factors could be attributed to their cutaneous condition, and these latter were taken up for further study. RESULTS: Histologic examination of the affected area of skin showed amyloid deposits, which could be detected by light microscopy with hematoxylin and eosin stained sections and confirmed by special stains. CONCLUSIONS: The role of friction in the causation of lesions that resemble amyloidosis cutis morphologically is discussed.