Idiopathic Acquired Generalized Anhidrosis: Electron-Microscopic and Immunohistochemical Studies and Analysis of Lectin-Binding Pattern of the Cell Membrane

Abstract

Idiopathic acquired generalized anhidrosis with sudden onset is rare and its pathogenesis is not known. We report a patient with this condition, and the results of electron-microscopic and immunohistochemical studies as well as an analysis of the lectin-binding pattern of the cell membrane. Electron-microscopically, the cells of the eccrine sweat gland showed vacuolar changes. Besides their cytoplasmic changes, the results of a deficient lectin-binding pattern of the glandular cells suggest that there are disturbances in the formation of glycoproteins on their membrane.