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Updated: Jul 21, 2026
12:23
Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
Chronic ulcerative colitis, skin necrosis, and cryofibrinogenemia
Annals of Internal Medicine
|October 1, 1976
Summary
A patient with chronic ulcerative colitis developed necrotizing skin lesions due to circulating cryofibrinogen causing thrombosis. Warfarin treatment halted lesion progression and prevented new ones, suggesting a therapeutic role.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Chronic ulcerative colitis (CUC) is an inflammatory bowel disease.
- Necrotizing skin lesions are rare complications of CUC.
- The pathogenesis of skin infarction in CUC is not fully understood.
Observation:
- A male patient with CUC presented with necrotizing skin lesions.
- No intrinsic disease of medium or small-sized vessels was identified.
- Circulating cryofibrinogen was detected in the patient's blood.
Findings:
- Circulating cryofibrinogen was implicated as the cause of in situ thrombosis.
- In situ thrombosis led to the observed skin infarctions.
- Low-dose sodium warfarin (2.5-5 mg daily) was administered.
Implications:
- Warfarin therapy appears effective in managing cryofibrinogen-induced skin infarctions in CUC patients.
- This suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for similar vascular complications.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the link between cryofibrinogen and CUC-associated skin necrosis.
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