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Vascular diseases of the skin

patrycja Nowak, M.D.

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Vascular diseases of the skin

PantherMedia

Facial wrinkles

Vascular diseases comprise several disease entities, associated with vasculitis of small or large calibre. Lesions in the form of petechial necrotic lesions can affect not only the skin but also organs.

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There are several disease entities associated with vascular pathology of a smaller or larger calibre.

The disorder known as Wegener's disease affects small arterial and venous vessels, specifically the vessel walls where necrotic lesions develop. Most commonly, the lesions are located in the respiratory tract, kidney and skin. The cause is most likely to be autoimmune, characterised by the presence of antibodies - ANCAs.

The disease is characterised by vascular, necrotic lesions in the nasopharyngeal cavity, lungs, kidneys and skin. Ulcerations may develop in the oral cavity.

Treatment includes administration of cyclophosphamide or immunoglobulin G preparations.

Another syndrome associated with small vessel pathology is Churg-Strauss syndrome. In this syndrome, vasculitis-type lesions are typical, with additional allergic symptoms in the form of asthma, hay fever and lung lesions associated with eosinophilic infiltrates. Lesions that appear in the skin take the form of petechiae, erythema and subcutaneous nodules. In some cases, there is an elevated titre of ANCAs antibodies. Treatment includes the administration of corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide.

Kawasaki disease is another disease entity associated with vasculitis, mainly of the large vessels, including the aorta and the arteries diverging from the aortic arch, and is also characterised by skin lesions of the erythematous, osmotic type. Swelling and erythema also appear on the feet and hands. The lymph nodes are enlarged, usually the cervical ones. However, the most important and serious symptoms concern the cardiovascular system. There is an increased risk of developing aneurysms. The disease has an acute course with high fever. Treatment involves the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin preparations and salicylates.