Absence of antiphospholipid and anti-endothelial cell antibodies in malignant atrophic papulosis: A study of 15 cases

Is Degos' disease a clinical and histological end point rather than a specific disease?

“…Early cases of Degos' disease may simply represent poorly characterized connective tissue disease, particularly that of lupus erythematosus. Nevertheless, Assier et al 25 reported the absence of antiphospholipid antibodies in a study of 15 patients with Degos' disease, indicating that further study is necessary. In the cases outlined herein, ANA positivity and antiphospholipid antibodies represent clear points of differentiation despite strong similarity in clinical and histological findings.…”

Possible involvement of SDF-1/CXCL12 in the pathogenesis of Degos disease

“…The origin of Degos disease remains unknown. Among the major theories regarding the pathogenesis of the disease, which have attributed it to a viral, 8 autoimmune, 9,10 or coagulative dysfunction, 11 involvement of a vaso-occlusive process has been supported by some evidence, but remains controversial.…”

Malignant atrophic papulosis (Degos’ disease): clinicopathological correlations

“…Individual patients can exhibit a variety of coagulation abnormalities, although these findings are inconsistent. In one published series of 15 cases, four patients had raised serum fibrinogen levels, three had a prolonged euglobulin lysis time and one had increased platelet adhesiveness 10 . Other documented abnormalities include cryoglobulinaemia and anticardiolipin antibodies.…”