Eosinophilic cellulitis associated with urticaria. A report of two cases

Two patients with the clinical and histopathologic findings of eosinophilic cellulitis are presented. In one patient there was a definite relationship between upper respiratory tract infection and flare-ups of eosinophilic cellulitis. This patient's condition was superimposed on a long history of chronic urticaria. In the other patient a relationship to recurrent sinusitis was possible but not definite. There were no other contributory underlying skin diseases in either patient. Eosinophilic cellulitis is not likely a disease entity as such but, instead, represents a severe urticarial hypersensitivity reaction to various stimuli. Collagen alteration by eosinophil granules results in flame figure formation and a granulomatous response, which may explain the prolonged persistence of the lesions.