Studies on the immunologic aspects of keloids and hypertrophic scars.

A significant difference between keloids and hypertrophic scars could be demonstrated by means of acid elution of lymphoid blood cells and immunofluorescence studies. A total of 20 patients (13 patients with keloids and seven with hypertrophic scars) were investigated. All the 13 patients with keloids revealed in the eluates antinuclear antibodies belonging to one or more of the five main classes and directed mainly against fibroblasts. On the other hand, there were no antinuclear antibodies detectable in the eluates of the seven patients with hypertrophic scars and in over 40 healthy controls.