Comparative Profile between Cutaneous and Systemic Vasculitis
Farhana Wahab
Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital, Bangladesh.
Lubna Khondker *
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Bangladesh.
Marzia Zaman Sultana
Department of Social Relations, East west University, Bangladesh.
Farhana Afrooz
Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Since initial manifestation of systemic vascuitis commonly present on skin, dermatologists have an important role to investigate whether vasculitis is localized or systemic. Recognition of localized cutaneous versus systemic vasculitis is important in terms of making the correct diagnosis, evaluation of disease activity, prescribing treatment and arranging appropriate clinical follow-up.
Methods and Materials: This was a cross sectional type of observational study which was conducted from July, 2016 to December, 2017. Study population was the individuals diagnosed as primary cutaneous vasculitis or systemic vasculitis. Consecutive sampling method was applied. About 32 patients of primary cutaneous vasculitis and 16 patients of systemic vasculitis were taken as study subjects attending at Department of Dermatology & Venereology and Vasculitis clinic of Rheumatology Department, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) during the time period as per selection criteria.
Results: The mean age of systemic vasculitis group and cutaneous vasculitis group were 36.75±13.67 and 25.16±9.47 months respectively which set significant difference by unpaired t test (p<0.001). Children (≤18 years) were commonly affected by cutaneous vasculitis (34.4%) than systemic vasculitis (12.5%). Males were mostly (68.8%) affected by systemic vasculitis and females (59.4%) were mostly affected by cutaneous vasculitis. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) was the commonest presentation of cutaneous vasculitis (62.5%) and Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) was the commonest presentation of systemic vasculitis (43.8%). Mean RDW, disease duration, WBC, RBC, CRP, Hb% show significant difference between the two groups and most of the patients (87.5%) in systemic vasculitis group had higher disease activity score (more severe).
Conclusion: Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) was the commonest presentation of cutaneous vasculitis and Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) was the commonest presentation of systemic vasculitis and most of the patients in systemic vasculitis group had higher disease activity score (more severe).
Keywords: Cutaneous vasculitis, systemic vasculitis, leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV), polyarteritis nodosa (PAN)