Vasculitis, Mast Cells and the Collagen Diseases

Purpura and necrotizing vasculitis complicate high dose adrenocortical therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Pathological changes in five cases are summarized. Tissue mast cells are concentrated around blood vessels and store heparin, histamine, hyaluronic acid and in some species, serotonin. These pleuri‐potential cells upon „trauma”︁ yield these potent biological substances which may act as prime movers in the inflammatory reaction. Association of these cells with adrenocortical steroids, fibrogenesis and anaphylaxis is further evidence that they play a role in the panangiitic reaction of hypercortisonism. Purpura e vasculitis nectotisante rende complicate le uso de therapia a alte doses de steroides adrenocortical in arthritis rheumatoide. Es summarisate le alterationes pathologic incontrate in cinque casos. Mastocytos del tissu es concentrate circum le vasos de sanguine e effectua un thesaurisation de heparina, histamina, acido hyaluronic, e—in certe species—de serotonina. Quando le mastocytos, que es pluripotential, es „traumatisate”︁, illos libera le mentionate biologicamente potente substantias que alora pote ager como promotores primari del reaction inflammatori. Le association de iste cellulas con steroides adrenocortical, fibrogenese, e anaphylaxe supporta additionalmente le these que illos ha un rolo in le reaction panangiitic de hypercortisonismo.