[Association of disseminated intravascular coagulation and cutaneous crystal cholesterol emboli (author's transl)].

The case of a 72-year-old man with cutaneous cholesterol emboli in association with disseminated intravascular coagulation (D.I.C.) is described. Favouring the crystal cholesterol emboli hypothesis are the livedo reticularis and purpura in the lower extremities, palpable pulses, arterioles containing cholesterol clefts. Favouring the hypothesis of D.I.C. are the purpuric lesions on the ears and nose, acral cyanosis and haemorrhagic bullae on the hands, intravascular fibrinous thrombi, hemostatic abnormalities and the efficacy of heparin. Two pathogenic hypotheses are discussed: 1) "spontaneous" crystal cholesterol emboli have started a D.I.C. following the release of thromboplastic substances; 2) a D.I.C. with its secondary fibrinolysis has provoked a dissolution of the thrombosis which covered the atheromatous plaques and started cholesterol crystal emboli.