Livedoid vasculopathy in 24 Finnish patients in a single-center institution

What is it about?

Abstract Aim To evaluate retrospectively the demographics, clinical characteristics and treatment response in patients with an atypical cause for a wound, livedoid vasculopathy (LV). Method This was a retrospective database review of 24 patients with an ICD-10 code L95.0. Inclusion criteria were clinical and histopathological features typical for LV. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics and treatment response were collected. Results We found a female predominance in our cohort (62.5%). The median age of the study population at the time of diagnosis was 53.5 years. Mean time between symptom onset and the definitive diagnosis was 8.3 years. Nineteen of our 24 LV patients had one or more comorbidities. Regarding prothrombotic and proinflammatory conditions, 21 patients were screened, and we found positive parameters in 12 of them (57%). Prednisolone and aspirin were most often used as a first-line therapy, and the median healing time was 11 months. Conclusion According to our retrospective data, livedoid vasculopathy occurs predominantly in middle-aged women. Patients have many comorbidities, and the treatment and treatment responses vary. LV ulcers have a tendency to heal slowly.

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