Pyoderma gangrenosum-an association with Hodgkin's disease

Pili annulati (ringed hair) is a rare hair anomaly characterized by alternating light and dark bands along the hair shaft. The light bands are due to air‐filled cavities which scalier the light. It is inherited as an autusomal‐dominant trait, although sporadic cases have been reported. The authors report the occurrence of three cases of piti annulati in a mother and two children. In both children, a buy and a girl 12 and IS years old, respectively, (he anomaly had been present since the first year of life. In the young girl, alopecia areata was also present from the age of 7; this unusual association seems to be fortuitous. The mother and one of her brothers were also affected less severely. All the patients clinically showed an increased brittleness of the hair that appeared otherwise normal. The nails and teeth were unaffected. Ammo‐acid analysis of the hair was performed and showed low levels of serine and glycine and high levels of glutamic acid. The typical light, polarized and scanning‐electron microscopy changes in the hair shaft are described. The inheritance of the disease is discussed.