Biophysical and biochemical studies of skin biopsies from patients with otosclerosis
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 June 2007
It has been suggested that otosclerosis might be caused by a generalized disorder in the connective tissue.
The biophysical and biochemical properties of skin biopsies from twelve patients with otosclerosis and twelve age- and sex-matched controls were investigated. No differences were found in skin strength and extensibility, skin thickness, collagen content, the relationship between collagen type I and type III, reducible collagen cross-links and molecular stability of collagen type I of samples from patients with otosclerosis as compared with those from the controls. The present study does not support the suggestion that otosclerosis might be a generalized connective tissue disorder.