CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CUTANEOUS VASCULITIS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (178) , 255-276
Abstract
Of 35 cutaneous vasculitis patients, 16 had raised serum levels of cryoglobulins. In all but 1, the cryoglobulin was an immune complex. Eleven patients had anticomplementary sera and 5 had a low serum [immunoglobulin M]. Clinically, the cryoglobulinemic patients were not readily distinguishable from the non-cryoglobulinemic, in that cold sensitivity occurred in only 6 of 16 patients with cryoglobulins. Peripheral neuropathy and lesions in the upper respiratory tract were confined to those with cryoglobulinemia. An immunopathological classification for the purpuric vasculitides is suggested.