LAUSR

Septic vasculitis or septic vasculopathy is defined as vascular changes occurring in patients with sepsis (1). Although the process whereby the cutaneous changes develop has yet to be fully clarified, several complex pathogenic mechanisms of septic vasculitis are assumed, such as disseminated intravascular coagulation, direct vessel wall invasion by the microorganism, immune-mediated vasculitis and septic embolism (2). Although these have been observed histopathologically, there have been no investigations of whether the toxins directly affect skin vessels (1). We present here a case of septic vasculitis that preceded thoracic empyema, in which deposition of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SE) on the vessel walls was a factor in the severe cutaneous manifestations. This case suggests that SE plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of septic vasculitis.