livedoid vasculitis

Introduction

Purpuric lesions & livedo reticularis found in association with painful ulcerations of the lower extremities. The ulcers are slow to heal & form irregularly-shaped white scars (atrophie blanche) when they do.

Etiology

• majority of cases are idiopathic
• systemic lupus erythematosus
• antiphospholipid syndrome
• scleroderma
• cryoglobulinemia
• cryofibrinogenemia

Pathology

• combination of vasculopathy (phlebitis) with thrombosis (thrombophlebitis)

More general terms

• cutaneous ulcer
• vasculitis