[Skin pigmentation after amiodarone administration. Histogenetic problems].

Abstract

The authors present a pathological study of the skin in a 62 year-old man with facial pigmentation due to amiodarone. They found under the light microscope, cells resembling histiocytes filled with pigment. They were less numerous than usually reported, but were found associated with a pericapillary and periglandular lymphocytic infiltration, which raises the problem of iatrogenic lupus or Jessner-Kanoff's disease. Examination under the electron microscope, permitted identification of 5 groups of granulations, three of which had already been observed by Mrs. Fagola. These pigments correspond to lipofuscins, melanin, but also yet unidentified substances, may be metabolites of amiodarone.