Cutaneous leucocytoclastic vasculitis: a clinical and aetiological study.

Cutaneous vasculitis may be the presenting sign in many different clinical disorders. The aetiology and clinical and laboratory findings were recorded in 69 consecutive patients with cutaneous leucocytoclastic vasculitis. Underlying connective tissue disease or malignancy was found in 19 patients. Evidence of recent streptococcal infection was detected in 24 patients. Application of the classification criteria proposed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) identified 35 patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) and 42 with hypersensitivity vasculitis (HSV). Thirty-three subjects fulfilled criteria for both HSP and HSV.