title: Skin erythrodiapedesis during chronic venous disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extravasation of erythrocytes (erythrodiapedesis [ED]) is currently included among causes of skin damage in legs with chronic venous disorders (CVD) and ascribed to venular hypertension. ED is followed by erythrocyte disruption, degradation of hemoglobin, and storing of ferric iron into hemosiderin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of ED in the skin of legs with different clinical stages of CVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighteen skin biopsies from legs with CVD underwent histologic evaluation for ED and hemosiderin deposition (HD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  ED was found in only 21/118 specimens. In particular, it was found in ulcer samples, in tissues surrounding varicophlebitis and, finally, in acute eczematous skin. ED was found in only 15/30 samples showing HD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings confirm the occurrence of ED during CVD. However, it was found only in concomitance of severe dermal inflammation. Hemosiderin deposition in the absence of actual ED could be explained with previous healed episodes of skin inflammation. However, ED is not likely the only cause of skin iron overload, which could also occur by a molecular mechanism. Further studies are needed to define the mechanism of iron deposition in the skin of legs afflicted with CVD.
authors: Department of Anatomy, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. alberto.caggiati@uniroma1.it
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Caggiati
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Franceschini
authors: Rosemarie
authors: R
authors: Heyn
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Rosi