title: Cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis.
abstract: Cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis (CSVV) refers to a group of disorders usually characterized by palpable purpura; it is caused by leukocytoclastic vasculitis of postcapillary venules. CSVV can be idiopathic or can be associated with a drug, infection, or underlying systemic disease. Initially, the pathogenesis of CSVV is immune complex related, but in its later stages different pathogenetic mechanisms may intensify the reaction and lymphocytes may predominate in the infiltrate. Cure requires elimination of the cause (ie, drugs, chemicals, infections, food allergens) when possible, as well as therapy with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, corticosteroids, dapsone, potassium iodide, fibrinolytic agents, aminocaproic acid, immunosuppressive agents (ie, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclosporine) or even monoclonal antibodies, depending on disease severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lotti
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ghersetich
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Comacchi
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jorizzo
mesh_terms: D000614:Aminocaproates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D011193:Potassium Iodide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011693:Purpura / Q000473:pathology; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018366:Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014699:Venules / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000614:Aminocaproates; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011193:Potassium Iodide; D003622:Dapsone