[Oculo-cutaneous tyrosinase-positive albinism]

Abstract

In the present work, the authors discuss the participation of prostaglandins in inflammatory reaction due to U. V. light and the consequences of prostaglandins deficiency. A patient of algerian origin was observed: this 60 year old woman, exhibited an albinism thyrosinase positive and tolerated fairly well an exposure to the U. V. light despite her disease. For ten years she has presented face, neck and arms hyperkeratosis, for five years, arm actinic porokeratosis, and for two years back and face carcinomas. M. E. D. is higher than the standard value. The discussion is open on the fact that this M. E. D. rise might result from prostaglandins deficiency (PE E2 F2). Moreover prostaglandins deficiency increases epidermal multiplication and could account for hyperkeratosis and malignant change, especially so as the patient suffers from albinism and lives in a sunny country. The authors, besides, attempts to relate the other symptoms of this patient to the hypothetical deficiency of prostaglandins; absence of the melanosome maturation, delays in cicatrisation and perhaps immunity perturbations.