Update on vasculitis: an overview and dermatological clues for clinical and histopathological diagnosis - part I

Abstract The term vasculitis refers to the inflammation of vessel walls. It may range in severity from a self-limited disorder in one single organ to a life-threatening disease due to multiple organ failure. It has many causes, although they result in only a few histological patterns of vascular inflammation. Vessels of any type and in any organ can be affected, a fact that results in a broad variety of signs and symptoms. Different vasculitides with indistinguishable clinical presentations have quite different prognosis and treatments. This condition presents many challenges to physicians in terms of classification, diagnosis, appropriate laboratory workup, and treatment. Moreover, it compels a careful follow-up. This article reviews the Chapel-Hill 2012 classification, etiology, recent insights in pathophysiology, some important dermatological clues for the diagnosis and summarizes treatment of some of these complex vasculitis syndromes.

Efectividad del propranolol en el tratamiento de malformaciones vasculares cutáneas / Effectiveness of propranolol in treatment of cutaneous vascular malformations

Se realizó un estudio cuasi-experimental de series temporales para evaluar la efectividad del propranolol en el tratamiento de malformaciones vasculares cutáneas en 48 pacientes que asistieron a la consulta del Servicio de Dermatología del Hospital Central Universitario Dr. Antonio María Pineda durante el período febrero-julio 2018. Los resultados muestran que existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p <0.05; p0,0001) antes y después del primer mes de tratamiento con propranolol, las cuales se mantiene hasta los seis meses, con respecto al tamaño, color, consistencia y temperatura. Se espera que los resultados sirvan para proponer el uso de propranolol como una opción terapéutica no invasiva en el tratamiento de las malformaciones vasculares cutáneas(AU)

A quasi-experimental study of time series was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of propranolol in the treatment of cutaneous vascular malformations in 48 patients attending the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Central Universitario Dr. Antonio Maria Pineda during the period February - July 2018. The results show that there are statistically significant differences (p <0.05; p0,0001) before and after treatment with propranolol starting one month post-treatment which are kept until six months, related to size, color, consistency and temperature of lesions. We hope that these results will encourage the use of propranolol as a non-invasive therapeutic option in the treatment of cutaneous vascular malformations(AU)

Vasculopatia livedoide tratada com rivaroxabana / Livedoid vasculopathy treated with rivaroxaban

A vasculopatia livedoide é uma doença rara caracterizada pela oclusão da microvasculatura da derme, originando lesões maculosas que, posteriormente, podem evoluir para úlceras e cicatrizes atróficas. Como um fenômeno vaso-oclusivo, o tratamento geralmente é realizado com antiplaquetários e fibrinolíticos. O presente relato descreve o caso de uma paciente refratária à terapia convencional, que obteve regressão da doença utilizando a rivaroxabana, um fármaco inibidor seletivo do fator Xa. (AU)

Livedoid vasculopathy is a rare disease characterized by occlusion of the dermis microvasculature, leading to spotted lesions that can later develop into ulcers and atrophic scars. As a vaso- occlusive phenomenon, treatment is usually performed with antiplatelet and fibrinolytic agents. The present report describes the case of a female patient refractory to conventional therapy who presented disease remission using rivaroxaban, a selective factor Xa inhibitor drug. (AU)

Reporte de caso de granuloma facial, una vasculitis cutánea infrecuente / A case report of granuloma faciale, an uncommon cutaneous vasculitis

El granuloma facial es una dermatosis benigna poco frecuente de etiología desconocida, generalmente asintomática, caracterizada por inflamación crónica y localizada habitualmente en zonas fotoexpuestas de la cara, con un patrón histológico característico. Si bien la respuesta al tratamiento es variable, existen múltiples opciones terapéuticas que han reportado ser efectivas en algunos pacientes. Entre estas alternativas se incluyen tratamientos sistémicos con corticoides y dapsona o tratamientos intralesionales con corticoides, crioterapia e inhibidores de calcineurina tópicos. Describimos el caso de un paciente adulto con una placa eritemato violácea asintomática en mejilla derecha, de crecimiento lentamente progresivo de dos años de evolución, clínica e histopatológicamente compatible con granuloma facial y respuesta favorable a corticoides intralesionales.

Granuloma faciale is an uncommon benign dermatosis, with unknown etiology, usually asymptomatic, characterized by chronic inflammation localized in sun-exposed areas of the face with a characteristic histological pattern. Although response to treatment is variable, there are multiple therapeutic alternatives that have been reported to be effective in some patients, including systemic treatments with steroids and dapsone or also topical treatments like intralesional corticosteroid, cryotherapy and calcineurin inhibitors, such as tacrolimus. We present the case of an adult patient with an asymptomatic erythematous-violet plaque on the right cheek, with progressive slow growth over two years, clinically and histologically and pathologically compatible with a facial granuloma. The patient responded well to intralesional corticosteroids.

Pigmented purpura and cutaneous vascular occlusion syndromes

Abstract: Purpura is defined as a visible hemorrhage in the skin or mucosa, which is not evanescent upon pressure. Proper classification allows a better patient approach due to its multiple diagnoses. Purpuras can be categorized by size, morphology, and other characteristics. The course varies according to the etiology, as do the diagnostic approach and treatment. This review discusses pigmented purpuras and some cutaneous vascular occlusion syndromes.

Piel marmórea telangiectasica congenita y sindactilia en un recién nacido prematuro: A proposito de un caso / Congenital cutis marmorata telangiectatica and syndactyly in a preterm: Case report

La piel marmórea telangiectásica congenita (cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita, CMTC) es una anomalía vascular congenita rara, a menudo benigna, localizada o generalizada, de etiología desconocida. Se caracteriza por piel marmórea persistente, telangiectasia y flebectasia. Podrían presentarse manifestaciones extracutáneas asociadas con la CMTC en el 18,8-70% de los casos. El diagnóstico de este trastorno se basa en los hallazgos clínicos. El pronóstico es bueno y suele mejorar dentro de los dos años de vida. En este artículo presentamos el caso de un varón recien nacido con CMTC en la piel de todas las extremidades, el tronco y el rostro, y una anomalía asociada, que incluía sindactilia. Presentamos este caso debido a su rareza.

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) is a rare, commonly benign, congenital, localized or generalized vascular anomaly of unknown aetiology. It is characterized by persistent cutis marmorata, telangiectasia and phlebectasia. Extracutaneous findings may be associated with CMTC in 18.8-70% of the cases. Diagnosis of the disorder is based on the clinical findings. The prognosis is good and improvement is observed within 2 years after birth. Herein, we report a case of a male neonate with CMTC presented on the skin of all his limbs, trunk and face, and an associated anomaly including syndactyly. We present this case because of its rarity.

Arteriolopatía calcificante urémica / Uremic calcifying arteriopathy

La arteriolopatía calcificante urémica es una complicación poco frecuente de la enfermedad renal crónica y se asocia con elevada tasa de mortalidad. A propósito se describió el caso clínico de un hombre de 59 años de edad, con insuficiencia renal crónica terminal que se hallaba en programa de hemodiálisis convencional, en régimen de 3 veces/semana, desde el año 2007. Se le diagnosticó arteriolopatía calcificante urémica grave tras sospecha clínica y biopsia de lesiones cutáneas, con un desenlace fatal. Reconocemos que se requiere un alto índice de sospecha clínica para su diagnóstico precoz y no siempre se asocia a hiperparatiroidismo secundario grave, en su patogenia se imbrican múltiples factores

The calcifying arteriolopathy is an uncommon complication of chronic renal disease and it is associated with a high rate of mortality. Authors present the clinical case of a man aged 59 presenting with terminal chronic renal failure under a three times/week conventional hemodialysis program from 2007. He was diagnosed with a severe uremic calcifying arteriolopathy after a clinical suspicion and biopsy of cutaneous lesions with a fatal outcome. It is recognized that it is necessary a high rate of clinical suspicion for its early diagnosis and not always it is associated with a severe secondary hyperparathyroidism where multiple factors are involved in its pathogenesis

Panarteritis nudosa cutánea en la infancia / Childhood cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa

La panarteritis nudosa cutánea es una forma poco frecuente de vasculitis necrosante de arterias de pequeño y mediano calibre, de curso crónico y recurrente, que puede acompañarse defiebre, artralgias, mialgias y neuropatía, pero sin compromiso sistémico. Se presenta un caso de panarteritis nudosa cutánea.

Cutis marmorata telangiectático congénito: a propósito de cuatro casos / Congenital cutis marmorata telangiectasia: four case review

Congenital Cutis Marmorata Telangiectasia (CCMT) is a skin vascular malformation of low flow compromi-sing venous and capillary vessels. Of unknown origin, it shows in an estimated 1/3 000 births. In over 90 percent of cases it can be seen since birth, although it can appear on the first few days after. Clinical manisfestation includes poorly defined reticular erythematopurpureal maculae, frequently associated to ßreas of segmental, asymetric skin atrophy, most often seen in the lower extremitie. The diagnosis is mostly clinical, important to make as it is associated in 30 percent) of cases to other congenital abnormalities. No specific treatment is required, with spontaneous resolution. Prognosis is good, depending on the associated malformations. Four patients are described in this paper, as a reminder of the clinical entity.

El Cutis Marmorata Telangiectático Congénito (CMTC) es un tipo de malformación vascular cutánea de bajo flujo que compromete vasos capilares y venosos. Su causa es desconocida y tiene una incidencia estimada de 1/3 000 recién nacidos. En más del 90 por ciento> de los casos se presenta desde el nacimiento. Sin embargo, también puede aparecer en los primeros días de vida. Clínicamente se observan máculas eritematovioláceas, de aspecto reticulado, de bordes mal definidos, asociado frecuentemente a zonas de atrofia cutánea, de distribución segmentaria, asimétricas. Se ubican de preferencia en las extremidades, siendo las inferiores las más afectadas. El diagnóstico es fundamentalmente clínico y su importancia radica en que aproximadamente el 30 por ciento> de los casos se asocia a otras anomalías congénitas, la mayoría de carácter leve. No tiene un tratamiento específico, ya que evoluciona en poco tiempo a la resolución en forma espontánea. El pronóstico es generalmente bueno, aunque depende de las anomalías asociadas. En este artículo se presentan cuatro pacientes cuya historia clínica es compatible con este diagnóstico, para dar a conocer esta entidad clínica a los pediatras.

Vasculopatía livedoide: reporte de dos casos / Livedoid vasculopathy: a two case report

Vasculopatía livedoide es una enfermedad poco frecuente que se presenta principalmente en mujeres de edad media de la vida, antes de los cuarenta años. Es llamado también atrofia blanca, livedo reticular con ulceración de verano, vasculitis hialinizante segmentaria, o PURPLE (úlceras purpúricas dolorosas con patrón reticular de extremidades inferiores). Generalmente afecta los tobillos y se exacerba en primavera y verano. Su etiología es aún desconocida, pero se puede clasificar en formas primarias (sin ninguna patología asociada) y secundarias, ambos con un componente trombótico. A continuación se describen dos casos de vasculopatía livedoide: una mujer de 22 años con úlcera en pierna izquierda y púrpura retiforme en ambas extremidades. El estudio demostró que el cuadro estaba asociado o síndrome antifosfolípidos. El segundo caso es de una mujer de 47 años con uno vasculopatía livedoide secundaria o lupus eritematoso sistémico.

Livedoid vasculitis is a rare disease that occurs mainly in women under 40 years of age. It has also be ennamed atrofia blanche, hyaline segmentary vasculitis or PURPLE (purpuric ulcers with reticular pattem in low legs). It usually affects ankles and has an exacerbation during Spring and Summer seasons. It has an unknown etiology, and it has been classified as primary (or idiopathic) or secondary (associated to another disease). We describe two cases of livedoid vasculopathy: the first case is o 22-year-old women with ulcers and retiform purpura associated to antiphospholipid syndrome. The second case is o 47-year-old women with livedoid vasculopathy associated to systemic lupus erythematosus.

Diferentes espectros en las malformaciones vasculares congénitas / Different spectra in congenital vascular malformations

Las malformaciones vasculares son anomalías de los vasos debidas a una alteración del desarrollo embriológico. A diferencia de los hemangiomas, están siempre presentes en el nacimiento y aumentan de tamaño proporcionalmente al crecimiento del niño. No involucionan y, por lo tanto, siempre van a estar presentes a lo largo de la vida del paciente. Desde la clasificación de la ISSVA (International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies), las malformaciones vasculares se dividen en función del vaso afectado en capilares, venosas arteriovenosas, linfáticas y complejas o combinadas. Presentamos tres casos clínicos caracterizados los dos primeros por predominar el componente vascular, venoso y linfático y el tercero de tipo venolinfático y glómico.

Arteritis Cannabis / Cannabis arteritis

Two patients who practice aspiration of recreational or illicit drugs (marijuana and cocaine respectively) were reported. Both patients recognized habit and described improvement in lesions when they interrupted the aspiration, coming back when they returned to the use of these drugs...

Atypical Angioma Serpiginosum

Angioma serpiginosum is an uncommon, acquired vascular nevoid disorder with capillary dilation and proliferation in the papillary dermis. The eruptions are asymptomatic and characterized by grouped, erythematous to violaceous, serpiginous and punctate macules. The condition usually appears in females during adolescence on unilateral lower extremities and the buttocks. We report a rare case with a late onset and atypical distribution of lesions in a 48-year-old female patient who had groups of punctate lesions on her left foot for four to five years. Histopathological examination showed hyperkeratosis and multiple dilated and proliferated capillaries in the papillary dermis. Inflammation and extravasation of red blood cells were not found. According to the clinical and pathological findings, we established a diagnosis of angioma serpiginosum. She was treated with a pulsed dye laser, and the angiomatous lesions subsequently improved.

Large pyogenic granuloma: a case report.

Though pyoginic granuloma is a common occurrence in the oral cavity, it has got particular significance because of its unexpected clinical course. Here a case of large pyogenic granoloma is presented in a 30-year-old female reported at the dental OPD of VSS Medical College and Hospital, Burla with the complaint of a growth in the mouth from the right upper last tooth since one and half years associated with difficulty in swallowing and breathing. The lesion was excised under local anaesthesia along with extraction of upper right second molar. The patient recovered without any complication and there was no recurrence even after one year.

Cutaneous vasculitis--a dynamic process posing diagnostic challenge.

AIM: To characterize the clinicopathologic features and to assess the therapeutic outcome in cutaneous vasculitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty biopsy proven cases of cutaneous vasculitis seen between January 1998 and July 1999 were studied. RESULTS: The commonest presentation was palpable purpura. The site most commonly affected was the extremity, irrespective of the age (adults - 40 and children - 10) and sex. The histopathologic picture ranged from an acute to chronic process, which besides the classic picture included bullous presentation, granulomatous histology and nonspecific features. Clinical correlation and investigations including direct immunofluorescence (DIF) were required to differentiate primary from secondary vasculitis (SLE-4, dermatomyositis-2, rheumatoid artritis-1, HIV-1, septicaemia-1 and drug reaction 2). DIF was diagnostic in 13 out of 21 cases providing evidence of an immune-mediated pathogenesis. Drugs used in the treatment included dapsone, colchicine, pentoxyphiline and steroids. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical picture and outcome of primary cutaneous vasculitis were benign while the prognosis of secondary vasculitis depended on the primary disease, irrespective of the histopathological picture.