Laboratory Studies
Antinuclear and Anti-Ro (SS-A) antibody levels may be ordered to exclude connective-tissue disease.
Histologic Findings
The epidermis shows moderate thinning of the stratum malpighii, hydropic degeneration of the basal cells, and effacement of the rete ridges. In the upper dermis, a bandlike inflammatory infiltrate primarily is composed of lymphocytes with few histiocytes, in addition to pigment incontinence. In late stages, a thin flattened epidermis, edema in the upper dermis, and dilated blood vessels are demonstrated.
Katoulis et al report that poikiloderma of Civatte has distinct histological and ultrastructural features, stating these features are characteristic but not pathognomonic and that poikiloderma of Civatte should be considered a separate entity.[6]
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