ACUTE LIPODERMATOSCLEROSIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY

Background: Acute lipodermatosclerosis is characterized by pain and te nderness in the medial aspect of the leg. It is thought to be the resu lt of venous insufficiency and to be the acute counterpart of chronic lipodermatosclerosis, a hallmark of venous disease. However, there is no direct evidence linking acute lipodermatosclerosis to venous diseas e. Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether acute lipodermatosc lerosis is associated with venous insufficiency. Methods: With air ple thysmography, we determined the venous filling index, the ejection fra ction, and the residual volume fr-action in 15 sequential patients wit h acute lipodermatosclerosis. Results: Ten of the 15 patients (67%) ha d at least one abnormal result, eight (53%) had two, and two (13%) had three. In four patients (77%), abnormalities of both reflux and eject ion were noted. Duplex venous ultrasonography., in two of the patients with normal results from air plethysmography, showed incompetent perf orators at sites of lipodermatosclerosis. Conclusion: Acute lipodermat osclerosis is associated with objective findings of venous insufficien cy in a high percentage of patients. It is Likely that this condition is the result of venous disease.