Bullae and Sweat Gland Necrosis: Clinicopathologic Observations

ABSTRACT

Bullae and sweat gland necrosis have been often described in patients with mental ges, whieh commonly alanifested as erythematous or vesicobullaus lesions on pressure sites. Histopathologically, the aecrosis of sweat glands is a characteristic 6nding. Generalized and/or loca1 tlssue bypoxia due to prolonged ieamobihxation may have resulted in these clinical and histopakological manifestations. To date, we have experielwed 15 cases with bulla and sweat gland necrosis. On admission, about half the patients had carbon monoxide poisoning, and the remainders had alcohol overdosage, drug inioxication, and others. A11 our patients had menfal changes caused by carbon wonoxide poisening, aleohol intoxication, and others. Abrupt erythematous swelling and/or vesicobullous lesione affected pressure sites in all patients. Three patietns had erythematoias lesiqms on non-pressure sites simuhtaneously. Histopathologic examinatians of 12 biopsy specimes showed the necrosis of the epidermis, intra- or sub-epidermal bulla, and/or sweat gland necrosis.