Idiopathic chronic pigmentary purpura. Findings in 22 cases and proposal of a new classification.

22 cases of Idiopathic Chronic Pigmentary Purpura are described in 9 males and 13 females with an age range from 14 to 66. Clinical picture, morphology and distribution of the lesions varied. Laboratory and instrumental investigations excluded the presence of systemic diseases or toxic/pharmacological factors responsible for the purpuric eruption. On the basis of the clinical aspects and the histopathological results, an exclusively morphological classification of idiopathic purpuras in macular, papular and eczematic forms is proposed, maintaining that the old nosography is not justified and also taking into account the pathogenetic overlapping confirmed by recent immuno-histochemical and ultramicroscopical studies.