Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans overview
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]
|
Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans Microchapters |
|
Differentiating Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans from other Diseases |
|---|
|
Diagnosis |
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans overview On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans overview |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans overview |
Overview
Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans is a skin rash indicative of the third or late stage of European Lyme borreliosis. It is a dermatological condition that takes a chronically progressive course and finally leads to a widespread atrophy of the skin. Involvement of the peripheral nervous system is often observed, specifically polyneuropathy.
Historical Perspective
First record of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans was made in 1883 in Breslau, Germany, where a physician named Alfred Buchwald first delineated it. Later in 1902 Herxheimer and Hartmann described it as a "tissue paper" like cutaneous atrophy and there were first physicians that came up with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans's name. They described the biphasic manner of this disease by demonstrating both inflammatory and atrophic phases of it. In 1950s the possibility of human to human transmission was discussed.For the first time in 1984, borrelia was discovered as the responsible etiology of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans.
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Treatment of ACA consists of antibiotics including doxycycline and penicillin for up to four weeks in the acute case.