ABSTRACT
A 65 year old female patient with a 2 year history of bronchial asthma disseminated petechial, papulopustular and ulceronecrotic eruption and an isolated episode of intestinal bleeding. Chest X rays showed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and laboratory examination revealed eosinophilia (17%) leucocytosis (22.900) and a severe renal insufficiency. Cutaneous biopsy revealed a necrotizing, leucocytoclastic vasculitis of the small blood vessels in the dermis as well as the hypodermis. The patient died 2 days after diagnosis and corticosteroid therapy had been started. Necropsy showed granulomatous and/or vasculitic lesions of the lungs, spleen, kidneys and skin. The clinical and laboratory aspects are discussed and the relevant literature is reviewed.
