WIDESPREAD IDIOPATHIC TELANGIECTASIA WITH CONJUNCTIVAL INVOLVEMENT

Background Widespread idiopathic telangiectasia (generalized essential telangiectasia) is a rare skin disorder characterized by the developm ent and gradual spreading of telangiectases. The condition tends to af fect women in their midthirties. For no apparent reason telangiectases start to appear on the lower extremities and progress steadily to inv olve the skin of the trunk, the arms, and the face. General health is not affected by the condition and standard laboratory tests consistent ly yield normal results. Case report In February 1997 a 78-year-old la dy was admitted for treatment of cataracta corticonuclearis of her lef t eye. Complete ophthalmological and dermatological examinations were performed. She presented marked conjunctival telangiectases of both ey es and widespread cutaneous telangiectases involving her face, trunk, arms, and legs. Complete blanching of lesional skin was observed on di ascopy. The Rumpel-Leede-test was normal. Cutaneous and conjunctival c hanges appeared not to be associated with internal disease or bleeding abnormalities. Discussion The patient presented here shows widespread idiopathic telangiectasia with marked conjunctival involvement. Ocula r changes rarely have been reported in patients with generalized essen tial telangiectasia to date. Concomittant conjunctival and cutaneous t elangiectases may be seen in other conditions such as hereditary hemor rhagic telangiectasia (Rendu-Osler-Weber disease) and ataxia telangiec tasia (Louis-Bar syndrome). The former shows an associated bleeding ab normality and is transmitted autosomal dominantly. The latter presents associated neurological signs such as cerebellar ataxia, strabism, ny stagmus, apraxia, and mental retardation.