ALLERGIC VASCULITIS IN A CASE OF BRUCELLO SIS

Brucellosis is an anthropozoonosis caused by a Gram negative bacillus of the Brucella gender. Skin manifestations have been reported in 1.5 to 11 p. 100 of the cases. Allergic vasculitis is rare. Recently a 24- year-old man was hospitalized for signs of infection. He had been trea ted with tetracycline. The clinical picture was suggestive of brucello sis and the Wright test was positive at 1/1,280. There were violet and purpuric papulae on the limbs, arthritis of the knee and ankle joints and renal involvement (haematuria, proteinuria). Histology revealed f ibrinoid and leukocytoclastic vasculitis of the small veinules of the subpapillary plexus. Outcome was favourable with rifampicin, doxycycli ne and adjuvant dapsone, together with bed rest. Several types of skin manifestations have been reported in brucellosis although cases of al lergic vasculitis are rare.