title: Efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulins in livedoid vasculopathy: long-term follow-up of 11 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence for the efficacy of various therapies of livedoid vasculopathy (LV) is limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine efficacy and tolerability of 2 g/kg of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) every 4 weeks in patients with LV.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a long-term follow-up study of 11 patients with LV treated with 2 g/kg of IVIG assessing the clinical characteristics, disease course, and quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment regimen led to complete remission of ulcerations and pain in 17 of 29 disease episodes (59%) after 3 cycles and in 25 of 29 episodes (86%) after 6 cycles. Two disease episodes showed remission after 7 and 8 cycles, resulting in a total number of remissions of 27 (93%). Subscore analysis showed resolution of pain in 80% after 2 IVIG cycles. Disease severity and quality of life were significantly improved after 6 cycles. Median duration of remissions was 26.7 months after initial and 7.5 months after subsequent disease episodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was a retrospective study that did not include the comparison of IVIG efficacy and its impact on quality of life with treatment options.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our patients with LV, high-dose IVIG led to fast and complete resolution of pain and ulcerations and to substantial improvement in quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: babak.monshi@wienkav.at.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Monshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Posch
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vujic
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sesti
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sobotka
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Klemens
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rappersberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054068:Livedo Reticularis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
keywords: Dermatology Life Quality Index; atrophie blanche; intravenous immunoglobulins; livedo reticularis; livedoid vasculitis; livedoid vasculopathy; quality of life; thrombotic vasculopathy