LEUKOCYTOCLASTIC VASCULITIS INDUCED BY PROLONGED EXERCISE

Many people develop skin symptoms after long-distance walks, but littl e is known about the aetiology of these, In this study we took 11 biop sies from 10 long-distance walkers who walked 80 km. All biopsies orig inated from purpuric lesions on the lower legs, which had appeared dur ing walking, In all 11 specimens, signs of a leucocytoclastic vasculit is were present with leucocytoclasis, exocytosis of erythrocytes and a granulocyte/mononuclear perivascular infiltrate. Immunofluorescence i nvestigations showed deposition of C3c in many specimens and immunoglo bulin M in some. The occurrence of a leucocytoclastic vasculitis after prolonged exercise may be explained by the existence of an exercise a ltered cutaneous microcirculation, complement activation and an altere d immune function.