[Dermatological symptoms in rheumatology].

The connective tissue of the skin, joints and musculoskeletal system is often involved concomittantly in rheumatic diseases. Specific skin lesions can be the hallmark of certain collagen vascular diseases, but unspecific dermatoses like purpura, neutrophilic dermatoses or ulcers are also common. Recent investigations suggest that the different histopathologic reaction patterns are derived from cytokine- and chemokine-mediated processes. Thus neutrophilic dermatoses are observed in rheumatic, hematologic and gastric diseases, or in patients without apparent disease. The mediators causing interphase dermatitis seen in LE, dermatomyositis, lichen planus or lichen sclerosus have recently be described. The knowledge gained from these findings opens an avenue for the development of new therapeutic agents.