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Patch test reactions in a patient with purpuric contact dermatitis to 5% benzoyl peroxide are described. Alterations of the capillary endothelium included obliteration of the lumina with perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrates. There were no epidermal alterations. These observations are discussed with reference to the data in the literature on vascular damage in "dermal" contact dermatitis.

We report the case of a 30-year-old female patient with non-von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis. In our opinion it does not fit within a system of classification recently described. Clinically, the abnormality resembled a giant pigmented nevus; however, light- and electron microscopy findings were consistent with those of a neurofibroma. No other symptoms of classic neurofibromatosis or other diseases were present. The family history showed no evidence of neurofibromatosis. To the best of our knowledge this manifestation of non-von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis has not been previously described. The cause and the inheritance pattern of this variant are not clear.

The expression of human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) and beta 2-microglobulin on the tumor cells and their correlation (if any) to the degree and the composition of the peritumoral mononuclear infiltrate were studied in 37 basal cell carcinomas from 32 patients with an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. In 36 of 37 basal cell carcinomas (97%) there was no expression of HLA-DR on tumor cells of basal cell carcinoma. In 13 of 37 basal cell carcinomas (35%) beta 2-microglobulin was expressed on the tumor cells. Both a diffuse cytoplasmic and a membrane staining were observed in only six of these 13 basal a diffuse cytoplasmic and a membrane staining were observed in only six of these 13 basal cell carcinomas; in the other seven basal cell carcinomas only a diffuse cytoplasmic staining was observed. In all 37 basal cell carcinomas there was membrane staining for beta 2-microglobulin in the normal epidermis. The intensity of staining in the normal epidermis was always stronger than that in the tumor nests. There was a varying degree of peritumoral immune infiltrate in all basal cell carcinomas. It comprised mainly T cells (mean percentage 57 +/- 15). In the group of patients with basal cell carcinoma with moderate to heavy infiltrate the mean percentage of T cells was 63 +/- 13, which was significantly higher than the mean percentage of T cells (46% +/- 14%) in the group of patients with basal cell carcinoma with a mild infiltrate. This difference was mainly the result of an increase in T helper cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Idiopathic erythermalgia during early childhood and adolescence is characterized by red, congested, burning pain of the lower extremities provoked by exercise or exposure to warmth. The clinical symptoms of idiopathic erythermalgia in a young woman and her mother are described. Histopathologic and immunofluorescence findings in biopsy specimens of affected areas of skin were consistent with a nonspecific inflammatory process. The condition was completely refractory to any treatment. Even the long-lasting relief of pain with one low dose of aspirin, which is a prerequisite for the diagnosis of thrombocytemic erythromelalgia, was lacking. Idiopathic erythermalgia appears to be a separate clinical entity and congenital disorder.

There are only a few reports of the association of immune-complex glomerulonephritis with bullous pemphigoid. The occurrence of immune-complex nephritis with linear IgA bullous disease has not been previously reported. We report two cases, one a case of bullous pemphigoid and the other a case of linear IgA bullous disease, both of which were associated with immune-complex glomerulonephritis. The clinical and immunomorphologic data are briefly discussed.