GENERALIZED TELANGIECTASIA

Telangiectasia, formerly designated all visible vascular ectasis, including nevi and varicosities, but more recently has been utilized as descriptive of acquired dilatations of the smaller vessels visible with the naked eye, or the loupe, which are essentially venous terminations of the capillaries and venules (fig. 1). The capillaries are but 0.5 mm. in length, while the dilated vessels observed clinically are often many millimeters long. Generalized telangiectasia is a relative term. There are few adult persons who, in the wear and tear of life, have not suffered a certain degree of peripheral vascular ectasis, which, if sufficiently extensive to attract the attention of the patient or physician, may possibly be designated generalized telangiectasia. It is plausible to believe that the etiologic agent may be the same in all gradations of telangiectasis, the difference in gradation being accounted for by the variable susceptibility of the vascular or vasomotor systems and the