Nevus anemicus. Donor-dominant defect

Abstract

Histologic, pharmacologic, and exchange transplant studies were performed on a patient with nevus anemicus. Histologic examination disclosed no abnormalities. The only pharmacologic stimulus that produced erythema within the nevus was the alpha-blocking agent, phentolamine mesylate. Results of the transplant studies demonstrated donor dominance. This suggests that the defect in the nevus anemicus is attributable to increased sensitivity of the blood vessels to catecholamines rather than to increased alpha-adrenergic stimulation.

Nevus anemicus

“…Sympathetic vasoconstriction was considered likely responsible for the clinical characteristic of NA, its pallor. Donor dominance was demonstrated by grafting lesional skin from NA to normal skin, which retained its pale appearance, emphasizing that NA is attributable to blood vessel hypersensitivity to catecholamines rather than increased sympathetic stimulation [1]. …”

“…1). The shape is typically corymbiform, with a pale patch surrounded by smaller satellite macules [1, 3, 8]. They may be linear in configuration or grouped ‘like the fronds of maiden-hair fern’ [14].…”

“…NA tends to appear at birth or in early childhood and is more common in women [1, 2, 3, 4]. One can establish the diagnosis by demonstrating enhancement of its pale area upon stroking the involved and adjacent skin, the latter becoming erythematous.…”

Multiple Anemic Macules on the Arms: A Variant Form of Nevus Anemicus?

“…The lesion is a pharmacological and functional anomaly rather than an anatomical one. Based upon pharmacological, histological and electron-microscopic studies, it is now considered to reflect locally increased vascular reactivity to catecholamines rather than increased sympathetic stimulation [2, 3, 4, 5]. We report 4 Japanese patients with multiple anemic spots on the arms which are considered to have some similarities to but also several differences from nevus anemicus.…”

Nævus anémique généralisé acquis

“…Notre observation ne correspond ni à des angiomes plans généra lisés ni à un naevus achromique généralisé. De telles juxtapositions de taches anémiques et de nappes congestives nous fait porter obligatoirement le diag nostic de naevus anémique; de plus, dans notre observation, le résultat des épreuves pharmacologiques est superposable à ceux décrits dans le naevus anémique par Daniel et Hubler [3], Pour ces auteurs, le naevus anémique est un naevus fonctionnel caractérisé par l'absence de réponse à tous les agents vasodilatateurs; il s'agit pour eux d'une hyperréactivité des récepteurs aux vasoconstricteurs. Seule la phenlolamine, agent a bloquant puissant, apparaît capable de lever la vasoconstriction permanente exercée sur les vaisseaux de la zone anémique.…”