Clinical analysis of skin lesions in livedoid vasculopathy: a study of 46 Chinese patients

Clinical data regarding cutaneous manifestations in Chinese patients with livedoid vasculopathy (LV) are limited.

To assess clinical features of skin lesions in LV, especially the characteristics of extensive livedo reticularis and pigmented purpuric dermatosis-like lesions in these patients.

This was a single-center retrospective study of 46 Chinese patients with LV between March 2021 and July 2021. The characteristics of skin lesions in LV were described in detail.

A total of 29 females and 17 males were included in this study, with a mean age of 27.7 years (ranging from 13 to 51 years). Twenty (43.5%) patients developed their first skin lesions before age 18. Among 46 patients, 33 presented livedo reticularis with 78.8% (n = 26) of these patients whose livedo reticularis was extensive. Seven patients had lesions simulating pigmented purpuric dermatosis, including four cases of pigmented purpura and three cases of telangiectatic purpura. Numbness was found in 16 patients, mainly in the lower limbs (62.5%), ankles (31.3%), and dorsum of the feet (18.8%).

For patients with symptoms of extensive livedo reticularis, retiform purpura, or numbness, it is necessary to make a differential diagnosis.