Subject(s)
Allergens/adverse effects , Anti-Infective Agents/adverse effects , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/diagnosis , Dermatitis, Occupational/diagnosis , Pyridines/adverse effects , Sulfones/adverse effects , Adult , Arm/pathology , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/etiology , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/pathology , Dermatitis, Occupational/etiology , Dermatitis, Occupational/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Male , Patch TestsABSTRACT
Urticaria is characterized by transient wheals. We report here five cases with long-lasting urticarial lesions persisting for more than 24 hours. Each lesion left purpura after fading. There was no systemic involvement. C-reactive protein and serum levels of complement were elevated or normal. Histologically, marked infiltration by eosinophils and neutrophils with karyorrhexis in the perivascular and intercollagenous spaces was observed, but there was no evidence of vasculitis (venulitis). Skin symptoms were resistant to systemic corticosteroids. In contrast, treatment of underlying bacterial infections resulted in marked improvement of skin lesions. E-selectin, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were expressed on endothelial cells. Marked deposition of C3a, C5a, neutrophil elastase and major basic protein in the dermis was observed. These urticarial lesions provoked by bacterial infections seem to lie on the continuum between urticaria and urticarial vasculitis.
Subject(s)
Purpura/diagnosis , Urticaria/complications , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Male , Middle Aged , Purpura/complications , Purpura/pathology , Urticaria/pathologyABSTRACT
We previously reported a mouse model for scleroderma by repeated local injections of bleomycin. In this study, we investigated the level of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in various mice strains, in order to determine whether the expression of TGF-beta1 correlates with the susceptibility to bleomycin-induced scleroderma. Histological examination revealed prominent dermal sclerosis with increased collagen deposition in the bleomycin-treated skin in B10.A and C3H/HeJ strains as compared with BALB/c, C57BL/6J and DBA/2 strains. Collagen contents in the skin were also increased in B10.A and C3H/HeJ strains. Analysis of skin lesions from B10.A and C3H/HeJ exhibited the increased mRNA expression and protein synthesis of TGF-beta1. TGF-beta1 concentrations in culture supernatants of skin fibroblasts and spleen macrophages were significantly increased by bleomycin stimulation in B10.A and C3H/HeJ strains, and TGF-beta1 gene expression in fibroblasts derived from B10.A and C3H/HeJ strains was significantly increased by bleomycin stimulation. Thus we conclude that C3H/HeJ and B10.A mice are susceptible to bleomycin-induced scleroderma, which may be, in part, due to increased TGF-beta1 gene expression and protein production.
