Thrombotic skin disease as a marker of the anticardiolipin syndrome. Livedo vasculitis and distal gangrene associated with abnormal serum antiphospholipid activity.

Two patients with livedo vasculitis and microthrombosis of the dermal vessels and one patient with symmetric gangrene of both hands are presented. Their only biologic abnormality was the presence of a lupus-type circulating anticoagulant and an increased level of anticardiolipin antibodies. These observations and the few previously reported cases of cutaneous disorders associated with abnormal antiphospholipid activity suggest that the common pathologic process is thrombosis.