Collagen accumulation by dermal fibroblast cultures of patients with linear localized scleroderma.

Two patients with linear localized scleroderma are reported. Punch biopsies from involved and contralateral site-matched uninvolved dermis of each patient were explained for the purpose of studying connective tissue accumulation in fibroblast monolayer culture. Monolayer cultures from involved tissue accumulated more collagen and glycosaminoglycan than cultures from uninvolved tissue for both patients. Augmented accumulation of collagen persisted for at least 11 subpassages. Involved monolayers acquired a strikingly different macroscopic appearance in confluent cultures.