Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis in Association with Linear Epidermal Basement Membrane Zone Immunoglobulin Deposition: Linear Vasculitis

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis has a distinctive clinical and light microscopic presentation; however, the etiologic basis of leukocytoclastic vasculitis is varied. The majority of cases are attributable to immune complex deposition within a vessel wall and represent an Arthus type III immune complex reaction. The prototypic immunoreactant profile is characterized by granular deposits of components of complement activation in concert with immunoglobulin within the cutaneous vasculature. We encountered nine patients with protean skin rashes including those clinically consistent with vesiculobullous eruptions that showed a leukocytoclastic vasculitis however, the immunoreactant profile was characterized by homogeneous linear deposits of immunoglobulin along the dermal epidermal junction in a fashion resembling an autoimmune vesiculobullous disease.
Source: Clinics in Dermatology - Category: Dermatology Authors: Source Type: research