Livedoid vasculopathy (atrophie blanche) associated with anticardiolipin antibodies.

Background. - Livedoid vasculopathy is an uncommon condition that affects y oung patients. It must be clinically distinguished from cutaneous vasculiti s. Case report. - A 27-year-old mall presented pain and skin eruptions involvi ng the lower limbs, hands and trunk. The skin eruption predominated on the feet with purpuric lesions producing a livedoid pattern, ulcerations on bot h ankles and white atrophic scars on the dorsum of the feet. Skin biopsy sh owed dermic vessel thrombosis without leukocytoclasia. These features favor ed livedoid vasculopathy rather than vasculitis. Anticardiolipin antibodies were positive, The patient was started on antithrombotic therapy. The skin ulcerations regressed and no recurrence has been observed at 7-months foll ow-up. Discussion, - Livedoid vasculopathy Is characterized by painful purpuric le sions that generally occur on the lower limbs, and frequently ulcerate and heal leaving porcelain white atrophic scars (atrophic blanche). The histolo gy evidences a thrombotic process. Livedoid vasculopathy is normally descri bed as occurring as a sole entity, however thera have been reports of an as sociation with anticardiolipin antibodies. This suggest a possible link wit h antiphosphlipid syndrome.