The significance of anticardiolipin antibody and immunologic abnormality in livedoid vasculitis

Objective To evaluate the significance of anticardiolipin and immunologic abnormality in the livedoid vasculitis (LV). Methods 30 patients with biopsy-proven LV and 30 normal controls involved in the study. Indirect immunofluorescence, immunoblot, and ELISA were used for detecting antinuclear antibody (ANA), circulating immune complex, immune globulin, anticardiophospholipin antibody (ACA), and anti-beta(2)GP1. Results ANA was positive in four patients with LV, and among them, two patients were diagnosed as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) later. Addition to the two SLE patients, the level of ENA and immunoglobulin were normal in the rest of patients. Anticardiolipin antibodies were present in 13 (43.33%), and beta(2)GP1 was present in nine (30%) of 30 patients. There were significant differences between LV and controls. Conclusions ACA is one of important pathogenesis of LV. Numerous heterogeneous coagulation abnormalities and thrombogenesis may involve the LV.