Efficacy of an anti-TNF-alpha agent in refractory livedoid vasculopathy: a retrospective analysis

Livedoid vasculopathy is a recurrent thrombo-occlusive vasculopathy of cutaneous blood vessels and its standard or first-line therapy is still controversial. Besides hypercoagulability, inflammatory factors may also play a secondary role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Monotherapy of thrombolytics cannot achieve satisfactory results because of concomitant inflammation.

This pilot study aimed to determine the efficacy of an anti-TNF-alpha agent in patients with refractory livedoid vasculopathy.

We studied five patients with livedoid vasculopathy who were resistant to steroids, antiplatelets, or danazol therapy, and were treated with etanercept 25-50 mg once a week for 12 consecutive weeks. We assessed clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and etanercept's efficacy on skin lesions, pain, and quality of life.

Etanercept therapy resulted in fast relief of pain in a mean time of 2 weeks. The median duration for the disappearance of erythema and ulcer healing was 8.8 weeks and 10.6 weeks, respectively. There was a reduction in pain by 34.3% after 12 consecutive weeks of etanercept treatment. Disease severity and quality of life significantly improved.

In refractory livedoid vasculopathy patients, etanercept therapy is efficient for skin lesions and pain, and improvement of quality of life, especially in rapid relief of pain.