title: Necrotizing myopathy with pipestem capillaries, microvascular deposition of the complement membrane attack complex (MAC), and minimal cellular infiltration.
abstract: Three adult patients, two with undifferentiated connective tissue disease and one with carcinoma, had a distinctive pathologic reaction pattern consisting of necrotizing myopathy, minimal cellular infiltration, and a microangiopathy with thick "pipestem" vessels and microvascular deposits of complement membrane attack complex. Quantitative analysis revealed focal capillary depletion. This pattern represents an immune-mediated microangiopathy and is distinct from that observed in other inflammatory myopathies.
authors.affiliation: Muscle Research Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Emslie-Smith
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Engel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D009336:Necrosis; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex