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Allergic vasculitis Causes and Risks:
Vasculitis occurs because of inflammation and damage to blood vessels. The inflammation of allergic vasculitis is the result of an allergic reaction to a drug or other foreign agent.
Prevention:
Avoid exposure to medications to which there are known allergies .
Symptoms:
Signs and Tests:
The diagnosis is primarily based on a history of skin lesions that develop after exposure to medications or a foreign substance ( antigen ) and the clinical presentation (pattern of symptoms).
This disease may also alter the results of a platelet aggregation test .
Treatment:
Treatment is aimed at reducing the inflammation, allowing the natural healing process to occur. If possible, stop exposure to the causative medication (or other antigen ). Aspirin or corticosteroids may be prescribed to reduce inflammation of the blood vessels. (DO NOT give aspirin to children except as advised by the health care provider.)
Prognosis:
Allergic vasculitis usually resolves in time.
Complications:
- permanent damage to the blood vessels or skin with scarring
- vasculitis affecting the internal organs (kidney, bone, and so on)
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms indicate allergic vasculitis may be present.
Vasculitis on the thigh: Abnormalities of the blood vessels in the skin can cause many different types of skin rashes such as the one seen here. Inflammation of deeper vessels can cause gangrene/necrosis (tissue death) of the extremities.
Vasculitis, allergic - close-up: Allergic vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels). Bleeding into the skin occurs when components of the immune system adhere to the walls of vessels. This may be triggered by drugs, infection, or immune disorders. In this case, the reaction was triggered by ibuprofen.
Vasculitis, allergic on the legs: The bleeding into the skin, which is caused by damage to the small vessels, can be felt, as the areas are slightly raised. In children, this condition is referred to as Henoch-Schonlein purpura and usually follows an upper respiratory infection. In adults, it is called allergic vasculitis and may have many different causes.
Papulovesicular Accrolated Syndrome
Inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis) may be caused when antibodies that have attached to antigens in the blood (immune complexes), attach to the blood vessel walls. These purplish spots can be felt in the skin. They do not turn white (blanch) when pressed. As the condition progresses, they may become larger and more bruise-like (ecchymotic), and some may develop central ulceration or necrosis (tissue death).
These spots of blood under the skin (purpura) are caused by vasculitis. The do not turn white with pressure (non-blanchable). In this particular case, the purpura are associated with an underlying disorder affecting the structure of the blood vessel walls (collagen-vascular disorder).
Inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis) may be caused when antibodies that have attached to antigens in the blood (immune complexes), attach to the blood vessel walls. These purplish spots can be felt in the skin. They do not turn white (blanch) when pressed. As the condition progresses, they may become larger and more bruise-like (ecchymotic), and some may develop central ulceration or necrosis (tissue death).
These red (erythematous), hive-like (urticarial) spots (plaques) are caused by inflammation of the blood vessels (urticarial vasculitis) and do not change over a 24-hour period. The may or my not turn white (blanch) with pressure.
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