[The blue spots syndrome].

Chronic relapsing painful ecchymoses occurring in female patients are described as the painful bruising syndrome. Several authors postulate, that the cause of this disease may be due to sensitization to autologous erythrocytes, whereas others suggest an artificial origin. A 24 year-old woman with this disease was tested intracutaneously with autologous and homologous erythrocytes, erythrocyte stroma and phosphatidyl-L-serine. Her reactions were inconsistent. Control persons could produce similar painful ecchymotic reactions to autologous erythrocytes by manipulation of the tested areas. These results provide evidence that the painful bruising syndrome is not due to autosensitization, but is an artificial phenomenon.