NECROTIZING VASCULITIS IN A PATIENT WITH ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

Vasculitis is an inflammatory disease of blood vessels that results in destruction of blood vessel walls and causes vascular occlusion. The disease may arise as a primary disorder of the vasculature or it may occur secondary to other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, allergy, or viral infections. The clinical manifestations and sequelae of the disease are related to the size, site, and number of the affected vessels; and range from palpable purpura of the skin to death.1. In most cases of vasculitis the cause is unknown. The prevailing opinion is that vasculitis is initiated by an immune complex-mediated process. Several viruses also have been implicated in the etiology of the disease. The most common is the hepatitis B virus, as well as the T-cell leukemia virus, parvovirus, herpes zoster virus,2 and, recently, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).3. The most common form of vasculitis is cutaneous.4 Several types affect the oral cavity, including Wegener's granulomatosis and Behçet's syndrome. However, none of the previous reports of oral vasculitis resemble this case. © 1992.