ABSTRACT
Background: The skin is a common target of small vessel vasculitis, with a wide assortment of pathological changes. This condition is usually associated to systemic diseases. Aim: To report the clinical and pathological features of patients with cutaneous small vessel vasculitis. Material and methods: A retrospective review of 32 patients with a pathological diagnosis of cutaneous vasculitis. Results: Seventy two percent of patients were women. Cutaneous lesions were mainly located in the lower limbs (94 percent). The most common lesion was palpable purpura (62percent). Connective tissue diseases and systemic vasculitis were the most commonly associated systemic diseases. Conclusions: Palpable purpura is the most common manifestation of cutaneous small vessel vasculitis, that is usually associated to connective tissue diseases or systemic vasculitis.