Malignant atrophic papulosis--Degos' syndrome.

[malignant atrophic papulosis]

A typical case of malignant atrophic papulosis is presented . The patient had had a symptomless , pathognomonic skin rash for 6 months and thereafter also multiple intestinal infarctions which caused perforations , peritonitis , and finally death . All therapeutic attempts , including intestinal resection and acetylsalicylic acid combined with dipyridamole , were in vain . Electron microscopy showed 200 -250 A large virus-like cytoplasmic inclusions in the endothelial cells , without degenerative or regenerative changes , in a quite fresh papule . It was not possible to culture viruses on skin fibroblasts , but further studies of these inclusions are needed .