[Immunopathological study of Gougerot-Ruiter's vasculitis (author's transl)]

The authors report 10 cases of selected Gougerot-Ruiter's disease and 13 cases of various vasculitis. Direct immunofluorescence studies were performed on the skin lesions and the results were correlated to various biological parameters such as dosage of serum IgA, IgG and IgM, antinuclear antibodies, Australia antigen. Complement (beta-1-C/beta-1-A) deposition was found in 9 out of 10 cases of Gougerot-Ruiter's disease as opposed to immunoglobulin deposition found only in 4 out of 10 cases. Both C3 and immunoglobin were regularly found in the vessel walls of 2 cases of cryoglobulinemia and 1 case of SLE. In the cases of thrombopenic purpura, simplex purpura. Schoenlein Henoch purpura and drug induced purpura, complement (beta-1-C/beta-1-A) and immunoglobulin were absent in the lesions. The authors discuss the different physiopathological mechanisms which may be involved in the development of Gougerot-Ruiter's vasculitis.