BACKGROUND: Little is known of the course and prognosis of hypersensitivity vasculitis (HV). METHODS: Sixty-one cases of idiopathic HV were biopsied and followed-up for 5 years. RESULTS: There were two predominant patterns of presentation: palpable purpura (PP) and vasculitic ulcers (VU). The former was self-limiting, whereas the prognosis of the latter was poor. Findings on histopathology correlate well in PP patients having acute episodes, whereas in patients with VU there is correlation with duration and recurrence. CONCLUSION: A biopsy of a fresh lesion is recommended to help in determining the outcome.
BACKGROUND: Little is known of the course and prognosis of hypersensitivity vasculitis (HV). METHODS: Sixty-one cases of idiopathic HV were biopsied and followed-up for 5 years. RESULTS: There were two predominant patterns of presentation: palpable purpura (PP) and vasculitic ulcers (VU). The former was self-limiting, whereas the prognosis of the latter was poor. Findings on histopathology correlate well in PP patients having acute episodes, whereas in patients with VU there is correlation with duration and recurrence. CONCLUSION: A biopsy of a fresh lesion is recommended to help in determining the outcome.