SCLEREMA NEONATORUM

[摘要] A case of sclerema neonatorum is reported and the nomenclature discussed. The crystals present in involved subcutaneous fat in this disease have been shown to consist of triglycerides using an X-ray diffraction technic. We have confirmed earlier work that showed an increased ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in the subcutaneous fat, and have also shown that this abnormality is present in the combined epidermis and dermis. We suggest that the disease may be due to a generalized abnormality of fatty acid metabolism which is often manifest only locally.