Leukocytoclastic vasculitis associated with cutaneous infection by herpesvirus

Two patients with leukocytoclastic vasculitis of dermal vessels and evidence of infection by herpesvirus in the overlying epidermis showed, by conventional microscopy, viral inclusions in endothelial cells and in dermal fibroblasts adjacent to them and, by electron microscopy, viral inclusions in endothelial cells and pericytes of involved vessels. It is speculative whether viral involvement of the latter structures was the result of direct spread of the virus along dermal nerves, from the overlying intraepidermal viral vesicles, or from hematogenous dissemination of the virus.