The British journal of dermatology
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Tripe palms are thickened, moss-like or velvety textured exaggerations of the normal dermatoglyphics. The disease belongs to the spectrum of papulosquamous paraneoplastic syndromes. Although suspected, the role of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) has not been clearly established. ⋯ The TGF-alpha probe reacted strongly with the mast cells that also reacted with the antitryptase monoclonal antibody. Elevated tryptase, histamine and TGF-alpha levels prior to interferon-alfa administration decreased under treatment. The demonstration of TGF-alpha in infiltrating mast cells, the clinical regression of tripe palms and the lowering of the serum level and the mast cell molecular signal of the cytokine when systemic mastocytosis was controlled by interferon-alfa, suggest a key role for TGF-alpha in this cutaneous paraneoplastic syndrome.