132 - Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (cutaneous small vessel vasculitis)

Abstract

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is a histopathological term that denotes vasculitis of small vessels (capillaries and postcapillary venules). LCV is the histological presentation of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, IgA vasculitis, normocomplementemic and hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis, vasculitis that may be associated with systemic disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.), vasculitis associated with a probable etiology (drugs, infections), IgM/IgG vasculitis, nodular vasculitis, erythema elevatum diutinum, hypergammaglobulinemic macular vasculitis, and sometimes with ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) including microscopic polyangiitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Clinically, LCV may present as palpable purpura, urticarial papules or plaques, nodules, hemorrhagic bullae, or superficial ulceration.