Painful Subcutaneous Hemorrhages of the Extremities with Unusual Reaction to Injected Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Studies are reported on a patient who demonstrated a localized hypersensitivity to DNA. Two previous reported cases are referred to. The clinical picture is characterized by painful, tender, ecchymoses of the extremities unrelated to trauma. All the cases have been female. Lesions, identical both clinically and histologically with the spontaneous lesions, were produced by the intradermal injection of calf thymus DNA and autologous lysed leucocytes. In vitro incubation of either substance with DNA-ase, chloroquine, or primaquine blocked the reaction. Treatment with chloroquine, primaquine and hydroxychloroquine caused a dramatic clinical response with rapid relief of pain and tenderness and with no further progression of the hemorrhages. Cessation of the drug allowed a return of sympcoms and signs. Transplantation of skin from extremity to trunk and vice-versa reversed the reaction of the skin to injected DNA or autologous lysed leucocytes.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: