Prurigo nodularis ultrastructural study of the epidermal changes

ABSTRACT

Two female patients with prurigo nodularis [PN] and one healthy control were studied ultrastructurally to see the epidermal changes. These changes included marked thickening of hemidesmosome, desmosomes and tonofilaments. The cytoplasmic membranes of keratinocytes were degenerated and the intercellular spaces were widened. The enhanced basal cell metabolism induced by the neuropeptides was the possible explanation for these changes