Livedo vasculitis: vasculitis or thrombotic vasculopathy?

Elevated fibrinopeptide A levels, suggestive of a thrombogenic state, were observed in six patients with livedo vasculitis. Serological studies demonstrated normal complement levels, and circulating immune complexes were not identified by standard assays. Morphological studies showed no evidence of immune complex deposition or a neutrophilic vascular reaction. These results support classification of this disorder as a thrombogenic vasculopathy rather than as a small vessel vasculitis. Further investigations into the thrombotic abnormalities underlying this entity are warranted.