Idiopathic Livedo Reticularis

• The most common form of livedo reticularis and is a completely benign condition of unknown cause affecting mostly young women during winter months
• It is a lacy purple appearance of skin in extremities due to sluggish venous blood flow
• May be mild, but ulceration may occur later in the summer months

Secondary Livedo Reticularis

Capillary Obstruction

• Anti-Phospholipid Antibody Syndrome (see Anti-Phospholipid Antibody Syndrome): due to small blood clots
• Cholesterol Emboli Syndrome (see Cholesterol Emboli Syndrome)
• Cryoglobulinemia (see Cryoglobulinemia): proteins in the blood that clump together in cold conditions
• Hematologic Disease
  • Polycythemia Vera (see Polycythemia Vera): excessive RBC
  • Thrombocytosis (see Thrombocytosis): excessive platelets
• Homocystinuria: due to chromosome 21 autosomal recessive cystathionine beta synthase deficiency
• Hypercalcemia (see Hypercalcemia): raised blood calcium levels which may be deposited in the capillaries
• Infection
  • Syphilis (see Syphilis)
  • Tuberculosis (see Tuberculosis)
  • Lyme Disease (see Lyme Disease)
• Intra-Arterial Injection: seen in IVDA

Vasculitis/Autoimmune Disease (see Vasculitis)

• Amantadine (see Amantadine)
• Dermatomyositis (see Polydermatomyositis)
• Livedoid Vasculitis: with painful ulceration occurring in the lower legs
• Lymphoma (see Lymphoma)
• Pancreatitis (see Acute Pancreatitis)
• Polyarteritis Nodosa (see Polyarteritis Nodosa)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) (see Rheumatoid Arthritis)
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (see Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
• Tuberculosis (see Tuberculosis)

Other

• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (see Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome)
• Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita: rare congenital condition
• Sneddon Syndrome: association of livedoid vasculitis and systemic vascular disorders, such as strokes, due to underlying genetic cause