• Findings on 24 biopsies of the skin that showed endarteritis obliterans as the principal pathologic change were reviewed, and the clinical data of each patient were examined. Substantial peripheral atherosclerosis was present in six cases, and the pathologic change correlated with arteritis in nine. Other primary vasculopathies were cholesterol embolism, livedo reticularis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and aortic vascular tumor. Endarteritis was seen in 20 of 327 cases of erythema nodosum, necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, livedoid vasculitis, stasis dermatitis, pretibial myxedema, scleroderma, and livedo reticularis, but without any constant associations. Diabetes and hypertension were uncommon findings. Isolated endarteritis obliterans is uncommonly found on skin biopsy and usually signifies a primary vascular pathologic condition. In contrast, it is an incidental and, usually, secondary finding in various dermal inflammatory conditions that lead to destructive tissue changes.
(Arch Dermatol 114:1652-1658, 1978)