Ann Dermatol.  2011 Dec;23(Suppl 3):S338-S340. 10.5021/ad.2011.23.S3.S338.

Annular Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis

• Hong JS
• Jin SP
• Choi M
• Lee KL
• Lee JH
• Cho S

• KMID: 2171866
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2011.23.S3.S338

Abstract

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LV) is characterized by neutrophilic invasion and fibrinoid necrosis along with endothelial enlargement in postcapillary venules. Annular appearance of LV (ALV) is rare, but it can be accompanied by several systemic diseases. One of these systemic diseases is ulcerative colitis (UC), a subgroup of inflammatory bowel disease. Only one case was previously reported in which ALV was associated with UC, and herein we present one more case. A 66-year-old woman presented with painful polycyclic erythema on both palms, which had been present for 4 days. She had suffered from UC for 5 years. The patient had no fever or other systemic symptoms, and histological examination demonstrated typical LV. 200 mg of oral dapsone was taken daily to rapidly reduce her symptoms and signs, and after 1 week all lesions resolved completely without any adverse events. ALV is not a distinct condition and it can appear in a broad range of small vessel vasculitides. Although ALV in patients with UC is a very rare combination, clinicians need to be aware of this possible association.

Keyword

Annular leukocytoclastic vasculitis; Leukocytoclastic vasculitis; Ulcerative colitis

MeSH Terms

Aged
Colitis, Ulcerative
Dapsone
Erythema
Female
Fever
Glycosaminoglycans
Humans
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Necrosis
Neutrophils
Ulcer
Vasculitis
Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous
Venules
Dapsone
Glycosaminoglycans
Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Multiple confluent annular purpuric erythema with central clearing on both palms.

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  Fig. 2 Leukocytoclastic vasculitis. There was a heavy infiltrate of neutrophils with leukocytoclasis and fibrinoid necrosis of vessel wall (H&E, original magnification ×400).

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