[Clinico-pathogenetic observations on the subject of "superficial vasculitis"]

A clinical, histopathologic, laboratory and therapeutic study in 44 subjects with "superficial vasculitis", consecutively observed during the last two years, has been carried out. The findings showed that 1. the anamnesis was sometimes not relevant; 2. the clinical pictures were not in a regular manner correlated with histologic reports (a polymorphonuclear infiltrate with leukocytoclasis or a lymphomononuclear + one); and 3. a non-correlation between clinical, histologic and etiologic data. Infectious agents were responsible, mostly pyogenic bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and hepatitis B virus; Chlamydiae were rarely responsible, whereas the etiologic role of Toxoplasma was uncertain. In this respect, drugs were not relevant. All these agents seem to act on the immunological response of the patient with previous microvascular changes (diabetes, chronic venous insufficiency). The latter condition seems to play a predominant role: the recovery of the lesions and/or their relapse shows the same behaviour both in case of etiological and symptomatic therapy.