Acquired cutis laxa: a clinical review

Abstract

Acquired cutis laxa (ACL) is a rare, nonhereditary cutaneous disorder characterized by saggy inelastic skin. It has been associated with various inflammatory, autoimmune, and neoplastic diseases, in addition to certain infections and medication. This article reviews ACL the demographical, clinical, and histological features of ACL, focusing on all associated disorders. Additionally, this review article provides an in-depth discussion of all the mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of ACL and all therapeutic options available; we also present an algorithm for the workup of patients with ACL. A systematic literature review was performed on PubMed/Medline and EMBASE databases, searching for all available articles on ACL with no limits on participant age, race, sex, nationality, or publication date. Ninety-eight articles were included. The total number of included patients was 110, with a mean age of 36.4 years at presentation (range 0.25-78) and a M:F sex ratio of 1.24. ACL was most commonly associated with inflammatory disorders (43%) followed by neoplastic disorders (27%). In 73% of the neoplastic-associated cases, ACL occurred on average 2.4 years before malignancy onset. ACL occurs months to years after an underlying inflammatory disorder. In 10% of the cases, ACL was associated with a particular drug, and in 2%, it was associated with specific infections. Data were derived from case reports, case series, letters to editors, observational studies, and abstracts. Limitations include the accuracy of published data, potential patient selection, and reporting bias. Dermatologists should be alert to these associations to provide adequate screening and management of patients with ACL.