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Macular amyloidosis is a skin condition characterized by flat patches of discolored skin that are itchy and brown or gray in color. It is caused by the deposition of amyloid proteins in the skin and is more common in women and certain ethnic groups. Treatment methods include antihistamines, anti-inflammatory agents, UV-B light, and surgical excision, but there is no known cure.
Macular amyloidosis is a skin, or cutaneous, condition characterized by flat patches of discolored skin called macules. It falls into the category of disorders called amyloidosis, which involves the deposition of amyloid proteins in organs or tissues in the body. This type of buildup usually causes damage to the affected areas preventing normal functioning.
The macules that characterize the condition are itchy, meaning they produce a strong itchy sensation. Brown or gray are the usual manifestations of pigmentation, with the usual site of occurrence being the upper back. In some cases, the rashes appear on the arms.
Macular amyloidosis is one of three conditions in the primary cutaneous amyloidosis category, and the most common. The other two are lichen amyloidosis, which is characterized by itchy, firm lichenoid skin elevations; and nodular amyloidosis, so named for its small, rounded lumps. Each condition is associated with the receptor protein known as the specific oncostatin-M receptor beta subunit or oncostatin-M receptor. Some medical researchers believe that mutations of this substance can lead to the appearance of such diseases.
While the exact cause is still unknown, the medical community has proposed two main possibilities. The first hypothesis is called the fibrillar body theory, which suggests that two groups of cells: fibroblasts, which function as connective tissue cells; and macrophages, white blood cells that eat substances that pose a risk of infection, transform prematurely dead cells in the epidermis, or outer layer of skin, into amyloids. The other explanation, the secretory theory, suggests that it is the basal cells, found in the innermost epidermal layer, that form the amyloid as they disintegrate.
Macular amyloidosis is a condition that only affects adults. Studies have shown that the disease is more prevalent in women than in men. It also tends to occur more frequently among South Americans, Asians, and Middle Easterners.
There are different types of treatment methods for macular amyloidosis. Antihistamines, or histamine antagonists, such as chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine, are used to inhibit the organic compound histamine, thereby reducing allergies; and agents such as dimethyl sulfoxide are applied to reduce inflammation. Other treatment methods include the application of ultraviolet B (UV-B) light and surgical excision of the macules. A fully effective or successful cure for macular amyloidosis, however, has yet to be devised or discovered, and the disease remains long-lived and extremely difficult to eradicate.
