Abstract
Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis (CLV) is a small-vessel vasculitis localized to the skin. Many possible causes exist for this pathological condition, including drugs, infection, collagen vascular disease, and malignancy. However, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is rarely reported to be associated with CLV. Here, we report a 49-year-old male patient that presented with fever, myalgia, and multiple palpable purpura on both of his legs. The biopsy from the purpura yielded a histologic diagnosis of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The patient had several enlarged lymph nodes on his right neck, and the biopsy revealed tuberculous lymphadenitis. There were no signs of vasculitis present in the internal organs. After anti-tuberculosis treatment, his fever declined and the skin purpura were completely resolved. Although incidence is rare, tuberculosis should be considered as a possible cause of CLV.
References
Ekenstam E, Callen JP (1984) Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Clinical and laboratory features of 82 patients seen in private practice. Arch Dermatol 120:484–489
Charles J, Ronald JF (1997) Small vessel vasculitis. N Engl J Med 20:1512–1523
Lacour JP, Castanet J, Perrin C, Vitetta A, Ortone J-P (1993) Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis and renal cancer: two cases. Am J Med 94:104–108
Sais G, Vidaller A, Jucgla A, Servitje O, Condom E, Peyri J (1998) Prognostic factors in leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Arch Dermatol 134:309–315
Bonnefoy M, Claudy AL (1988) Etude prostpective de facteurs associes aux vascularites leucocytoclasiques. Ann Dermatol Venereol 115:27–32
Mackel SE, Jordon RE (1982) Leukocytoclastic vasculitis. A cutaneous expression of immune complex disease. Arch Dermatol 118:296–301
Sams WM Jr (1985) Human hypersensitivity angiitis, an immune complex disease. J Invest Dermatol 85:114s-148s
Mertz LE, Conn DL (1992) Vasculitis associated with malignancy. Curr Opin Rheumatol 4:39–46
Pacheco A, Mateos P, Medina J, Guisasola L, Garrillo F, Perez-Oteiza J (1987) Pulmonary tuberculosis and Schoenlein-Henoch purpura. Rev Clin Esp 180:515–517
Chan CHS, Chong YW, Sun AJM, Hoheisel GB (1990) Cutaneous vasculitis associated with tuberculosis and its treatment. Tubercle 71:297–300
Visser AJ. Heyl T (1993) Skin tuberculosis as seen at Ga-Rankuwa hospital. Clin Exp Dermatol 18:507–515
Sais G, Vidaller A, Jucgla A, Peyri J (1996) Tuberculous lymphadenitis presenting with cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Clin Exp Dermatol 21:65–66
Lee AY, Jang JH, Lee KH (1998) Two cases of leukocytoclastic vasculitis with tuberculosis. Clin Exp Dermatol 23:225–226
Martinez V, Zeller V, Caumes E, Katlama C, Bricaire F (2000) Cutaneous vascultitis disclosing pulmonary tuberculosis. Ann Med Intern 151:664–666
Minguez P, Pintor E, Buron R, Diaz-Pollan B, Puche JJ, Pontes JC (2000) Pulmonary tuberculosis presenting with cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Infection 28:55–57
Johnson NMcl, McNicol MW, Burton Kee EJ, Mowbray JF (1981) Circulating immune complexes in tuberculosis. Thorax 36:610–617
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, H.M., Park, YB., Maeng, H.Y. et al. Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis with cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis: a case report and literature review . Rheumatol Int 26, 1154–1157 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-006-0152-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-006-0152-1