Minidose heparin therapy for vasculitis of atrophie blanche.

Atrophie blanche vasculitis is due to thromboocclusion of dermal blood vessels. A 28-year-old white man with a very severe case of this disease had a complete remission when he was treated with minidose heparin sodium injections. As little as 5,000 U of heparin every 3 days controlled his vasculitis. Further reduction of heparin dose resulted in an exacerbation of disease which was controlled with more vigorous heparin therapy. The role of minidose heparin in cutaneous disease is discussed.