Stereological studies of desmosomes in ichthyosis vulgaris

Abstract

Standardized stereological methods were performed on biopsies from three subjects with normal skin and from three patients with autosomal dominant and three with autosomal recessive sex‐linked ichthyosis to determined the relative numbers and dimensions of desmosomes. The results showed an increase in the persistence of desmonsomes in the stratum corneum in both ichthyotic groups. This suggests a pathogenetic role for desmosomes in the abnormal desquamation of the two types of ichthyosis vulgaris.