Skin biopsy in adult-onset Still's disease: A specific, rapid, and widely available diagnostic test. | ScholarDeck

Paper

Skin biopsy in adult-onset Still's disease: A specific, rapid, and widely available diagnostic test.

New research · Dermatology

Journal of human immunity · 2w

StudyJournal of human immunity· Nov 2026

Skin biopsy in adult-onset Still's disease: A specific, rapid, and widely available diagnostic test.

Derrick H Y Chong, Caroline Spaner, Ibrahim Elsharawi … Luke Y C Chen

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DermatopathologyStudyDiagnosis

Superficial dyskeratotic keratinocytes were found on skin biopsy in most adults with confirmed adult-onset Still's disease

Skin biopsy in adult-onset Still's disease: A specific, rapid, and widely available diagnostic test.

Derrick H Y Chong … Luke Y C Chen

Journal of human immunity · Nov 2026

Background

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a diagnostic challenge, as its features overlap with many inflammatory syndromes and no single finding is diagnostic.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective clinicopathological study of 16 adults with confirmed AOSD and skin biopsies from a Canadian rare diseases program, and developed a differential diagnosis for superficial dyskeratotic keratinocytes using expert consensus and literature review.

n = 16 adults

Results

of 16

Patients with confirmed adult-onset Still's disease whose skin biopsies showed dyskeratotic or necrotic keratinocytes in the upper epidermis.

n = 16 adults

More results

Superficial dyskeratotic keratinocytes have been reported in conditions distinct from AOSD, but not in its major mimics.

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Conclusion

Skin biopsy is low-cost, minimally invasive, and widely available and should be performed early in suspected AOSD; superficial dyskeratotic keratinocytes should be added to future diagnostic and classification criteria.

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