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A Comparison of Skin Changes caused by Onchocerciasis and Aging
R. Hoeppli
R. Hoeppli
The Liberian Institute of the American Foundation for Tropical Medicine, Inc., Harbel,Liberia, West Africa
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A. E. Gunders
A. E. Gunders
The Liberian Institute of the American Foundation for Tropical Medicine, Inc., Harbel,Liberia, West Africa
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Summary
Forty-five Africans with Onchocerca volvulus infection and ten non-infected controls were examined for histological changes in the skin. Both series included young people and persons of advanced age. The following was found: In noninfected subjects, advanced age is associated with damage and a reduction of the fine elastic fibers of the papillary layer, and with a shortening and thickening of the fibers of the reticular layer which are, however, less marked. The degree of the reduction increases with age.
A similar reduction of the fine elastic fibers is caused by O. volvulus infections already in young people. It increases with the intensity and the duration of the infection.
A small number of young non-infected and apparently healthy people likewise showed damage and a reduction of the elastic fibers without any obvious cause.
One may therefore assume that different causes, among them advanced age and infection with O. volvulus, produce in varying degree a destruction and reduction of the fine elastic fibers in the papillary layer of the skin.
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| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 351 | 125 | 22 |
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| PDF Downloads | 2 | 2 | 0 |