IN 1907 Jacobi1 designated the symptom complex previously described by Petges and Cléjat2 as poikiloderma atrophicans vasculare. Many cases of this disease have since been described, and in 1930 a complete critical survey of the literature was compiled by Oppenheim.3 Several reports have been published on this continent, including papers by Taussig4 and Oliver,5 both reviewing the more recent literature.
The characteristic features of poikiloderma atrophicans vasculare are atrophy, telangiectasia and pigmentation. The atrophy causes a cigaret-paper-like thinning of the skin, and the telangiectasia and pigmentation form a colorful pattern, resembling at times atrophy of the skin due to roentgen rays. This condition has been observed in combination with myositis and scleroderma.
There has been considerable controversy as to whether poikiloderma atrophicans vasculare is a separate entity or whether it is an early or end stage of other diseases of the skin. Mycosis