Diabetic dermoangiopathy:A clinico-pathological correlation

Abstract

Skin biopsies from 25 diabetics and an equal number of nondiabetic controls were stained with H and E, PAS, alcian blue and iron hemotoxyline. Thirteen (52 percent) diabetics showed evidence of microangiopathy as compared to 1 (4 percent control). PAS positive thickening of capillary basement membrane and endothelial proliferation each were seen in 44 percent of cases. There was evidence of microangiopathy in 88.8 percent of cases with biopsy from dermopathy lesions as compared to 31.2 percent of other diabetics. Iron deposits were seen in 33.3 percent of cases with dermopathy lesions. No correlations could be established between age and sex of patient, family history, type, severity and duration of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy, skin infection and cutaneous microangiopathy. Higher percentage (69.3 percent) of patients with microangiopathy had poor control of their diabetes as compared to those without it (41.7 percent). All the 3 patients with CVA and hypertension showed microangiopathy.