Dermatological aspects of so called vinyl chloride monomer disease

The pathological findings revealed in 30 subjects with so called vinyl chloride disease has been presented. The most often observed symptoms were: changes in histopathological picture of the skin, history of the symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon, positive results of functional proofs (pletysmography, vibration perception test, cooling test), and scleroderma like skin lesions. Acroosteolysis was found only in 3 cases, thrombocytopenia only in one. The constellation of singns may be related to the high level of exposure of examined persons. The authors point to the significance of dermatological methods of investigation for detection of morbid changes induced by VCM action.