title: Livedoid vasculopathy: clinical features and treatment in 24 Chinese patients.
abstract: Livedo vasculopathy (LV) is a chronic cutaneous disorder characterised by recurrent, painful ulceration ending in stellate scars. We have conducted a retrospective study of clinical features and treatment response of LV in 24 Chinese patients. LV occurred more frequently in women (male:female ratio  1:3). The peak age at onset of disease ranged from 14 to 20 years, younger than previously published data. 87.5% of the patients (21/24) showed significant summer exacerbation with ulcer formation. Out of 24 patients tested, 14 (58.3%) had positive antiphospholipid antibodies. Ten out of 14 patients (71.4%) were tested to be hypersensitive to multivalent insect antigens. Combinative anti-inflammatory therapy with steroids, tetracycline and Tripterygium glycosides plus antiplatelet/profibrinolytic drugs promoted quick healing of ulcer and reduce recurrence. The younger age of disease presentation and significant summer exacerbation are 2 novel clinical features observed in this study. These findings suggest that apart from procoagulation other risk factors may contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of LV. Although antiplatelet/profibrinolytic drugs are deemed as a first line therapy for LV, anti-inflammatory medications such as steroids, tetracycline and Tripterygium glycosides, from our experiences, are indispensable, especially for acute, ulcerative stage of disease.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 210042 Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Suiying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Peiying
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Changgeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood; D044466:Asian People; D001706:Biopsy; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000276:immunology; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D054068:Livedo Reticularis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029757:Tripterygium; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D013752:Tetracycline; D011241:Prednisone