Je. Naschitz et al., THE PATHOGENESIS OF LIPODERMATOSCLEROSIS - FACTS, UNCERTAINTIES AND THEORIES, JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 9(3), 1997, pp. 209-214
Lipodermatosclerosis is the accepted term for describing induration of
the skin and subcutaneous layers of the legs in patients with venous
insufficiency. The pathogenic processes leading from venous insufficie
ncy to lipodermatosclerosis are poorly understood. Based on their clin
ico-pathological studies of different subcutaneous indurative disorder
s, the authors suggest that lipodermatosclerosis exhibits similarities
to eosinophilic fasciitis and other fasciitis-panniculitis syndromes.
The theories of the pathogenesis of lipodermatosclerosis are reviewed
and a unifying pathogenetic concept is proposed. The underlying princ
iple of all theories is that there is regional micro-angiopathy second
ary to severe venous hypertension. Lipodermatosclerosis is best concei
ved as a fasciitis-panniculitis reaction evolving in the calf of the p
atient with venous insufficiency. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.