Demographic and clinicopathological features of cutaneous vasculitis

Cutaneous vasculitis has different clinical manifestations. It may be idiopathic or associated with infections, medications, etc.Skin is involved in both small vessel vasculitis (SVV) and medium vascular vasculitis.We aimed to evaluate clinical signs, laboratory and pathological changes of cutaneous vasculitis among Iranian people.

This study was a descriptive study performed on 74 patients with cutaneous vasculitis from March 2011 to February 2019. Information includes histopathological data, as well as clinical variables including the age of onset, sex, area of involvement, type of lesion, symptoms, and diagnosis. Pathological and laboratory changes were collected and recorded as well.

Of the 74 patients studied, hypersensitivity vasculitis 52(70%) was the most common form.Most of the patients had lower extremities involvement. The most common clinical features and symptoms were petechiae or purpura and itching. Fever, limb edema, and arthralgia were the most common symptoms, occurring in 26%, 20%, and 18% of patients, respectively. Among patients, 18 (24%) had taken medication before the lesions, 10 (13%) had vasculitis due to infection, and 44 (59%) were diagnosed as idiopathic form. The most common treatment was prednisolone in 69 patients (93%) with a mean dose of 15.6 ± 35 mg.

The study would be useful in understanding the various specific and non specific features of cutaneous vasculitis, helping the clinician to manage the condition.