Scanning electron microscopic and X ray microanalysis study of the mineral deposits in pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

A skin biopsy of a 37 year old man with typical lesions of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (P.E.) associated with angioid streaks (Groenbald-Strandberg Syndrom) was examined with a scanning E.M. (SEM) and a SEM provided with a X ray micro-analyser. The SEM provided with X ray microanalyser enabled us to see the correspondence between the crystalline deposits and a calcium salt. The potassium, sodium and magnesium analysis of the specimen permits us to verify that the P.E. dermis is rich in K and poor in Mg.