Clinical Features:

• Leukocytoclastic vasculitis can sometimes present with features resembling those of a primary blistering disorder.
• One sees tense blisters on an erythematous base, most commonly on the lower extremities.
• More typical lesions of leukocytoclastic vasculitis are usually also present (pruritic, ulcerating lesions).

Histologic Features:

• The typical features of leukocytoclastic vasculitis are present:
  • Perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate with transmural vasculitis and nuclear debris
  • Intravascular fibrin deposition
  • Endothelial cell swelling and destruction
  • Extravasated erythrocytes
• In addition, in bullous forms of the disease, one sees:
  • Marked papillary dermal edema with the resultant formation of a subepidermal blister
  • Sometimes epidermal necrosis, if ischemia has taken place secondary to vascular occlusion

Cases associated with this book:

Bullous acute vasculitis
Author: Stephen Lyle, M.D., Ph.D.

Conference: Dermpedia Teaching Collection