Spectrum of cutaneous vasculitis in adult patients from the Farwaniya region of Kuwait.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical profile, etiologic factors, disease associations, and the laboratory profile of adult patients with cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LV) presenting to the Dermatology Department at Farwaniya Hospital, Kuwait.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The medical records of 57 adult patients (>18 years) with biopsy-proven cutaneous LV from January 2004 to June 2006 at Farwaniya Hospital were reviewed.

RESULTS

Of the 57 patients studied, 21 (36.8%) were classified as having primary cutaneous small vessel vasculitis. The most common type of skin lesions found was palpable purpura seen in 29 (50.9%) patients. No possible cause for the cutaneous vasculitis could be identified in 21 patients. Extracutaneous involvement was seen in 32 (56.1%) patients of which 29 had joint involvement. The most frequent laboratory abnormality was an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Altered laboratory evaluation in the form of leukocytosis, raised antistreptolysin O titers and urine abnormalities were found in association with systemic vasculitis. IgA deposits were present in 33 patients. Risk factors for chronicity of cutaneous LV were female sex, advanced age, unidentified etiology, absence of fever and presence of joint involvement.

CONCLUSION

The commonest type of LV in Kuwait is primary cutaneous small vessel vasculitis. The most frequent laboratory abnormality associated with LV was increased ESR.