Malignant atrophic papulosis--Degos' syndrome

A typical case of malignant atrophic papulosis is presented. The patient had had a symptomless, pathognomonic skin rash for 6 months and thereafter also multiple intestinal infarctions which caused perforations, peritonitis, and finally death. All therapeutic attempts, including intestinal resection and acetylsalicylic acid combined with dipyridamole, were in vain. Electron microscopy showed 200-250 A large virus-like cytoplasmic inclusions in the endothelial cells, without degenerative or regenerative changes, in a quite fresh papule. It was not possible to culture viruses on skin fibroblasts, but further studies of these inclusions are needed.