PIGMENTED PURPURIC ERUPTIONS

Abstract

WE HAVE been impressed with the close similarity between the members of that group of idiopathic pigmented purpuric eruptions which includes Schamberg's progressive pigmentary disorder, angioma serpiginosum of Hutchinson, Majocchi's purpura annularis telangiectodes and pigmented purpuric lichenoid dermatitis of Gougerot and Blum. The similarity is apparent both clinically (figs. 1, 2 and 3) and histologically (figs. 4, 5 and 6). It has been our experience that the presentation of any one of these conditions before a group of dermatologists usually provokes considerable debate, with infrequent agreement on the diagnosis. It is characteristic of each of these disorders that the clotting time, bleeding time, thrombocyte count and other hematologic factors are within normal limits. Acute intoxicating illness, history of drug ingestion and definite allergic manifestations are not frequent features of any one of these diseases. Except for demonstrable increased capillary permeability or fragility the etiologic factors remain obscure. These facts must