Leucocytoclastic vasculitis

To cite: Bhattacharyya A, Yeddula K, Nwankwo N, et al. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2013009408 DESCRIPTION A 75-year-old man, with no relevant medical history, was being evaluated for a 3-day history of gingival bleeding. He also reported generalised fatigue for 2 weeks prior to admission. He denied fever, chills, dyspnoea or weight loss. On examination, pallor of the conjunctival membranes and multiple bilateral lower extremity petechiae were noted with no lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly. Complete blood count revealed white blood cell 4.2 × 10/mm, haemoglobin 6.5 g/dl and platelets 6 × 10/mm. International normalised ratio was 1.3. A bone marrow biopsy with cytogenetics and flow confirmed the presence of hypercellular marrow with infiltrating blasts consistent with M2 type acute myeloid leukaemia. Two days after completion of induction chemotherapy with idarubicin and cytarabine the patient developed a non-pruritic palpable maculopapular eruption starting over the right thigh which spread to all four extremities (figure 1). Skin biopsy revealed perivascular and neutrophilic infiltrates and extravasated blood cells in the upper dermis consistent with leukocytoclastic vasculitis (figure 2). The rash continued to spread and coalesce over the course of 1 week (figure 3) and resolved spontaneously by day 10. Although malignancy represents a relatively rare cause of cutaneous vasculitis, there is a strong association with lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative diseases. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis is the most common form of cutaneous vasculitis associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. The skin lesions may precede, occur concomitantly with or follow the onset malignancy. Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis is a clinicopathological entity characterised by palpable purpura commonly occurring in the lower extremities. Treatment is usually aimed at the underlying cause. Learning points