Efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulins in livedoid vasculopathy: long-term follow-up of 11 patients.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the efficacy of various therapies of livedoid vasculopathy (LV) is limited.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine efficacy and tolerability of 2 g/kg of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) every 4 weeks in patients with LV.

METHODS: This was a long-term follow-up study of 11 patients with LV treated with 2 g/kg of IVIG assessing the clinical characteristics, disease course, and quality of life.

RESULTS: The treatment regimen led to complete remission of ulcerations and pain in 17 of 29 disease episodes (59%) after 3 cycles and in 25 of 29 episodes (86%) after 6 cycles. Two disease episodes showed remission after 7 and 8 cycles, resulting in a total number of remissions of 27 (93%). Subscore analysis showed resolution of pain in 80% after 2 IVIG cycles. Disease severity and quality of life were significantly improved after 6 cycles. Median duration of remissions was 26.7 months after initial and 7.5 months after subsequent disease episodes.

LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study that did not include the comparison of IVIG efficacy and its impact on quality of life with treatment options.

CONCLUSIONS: In our patients with LV, high-dose IVIG led to fast and complete resolution of pain and ulcerations and to substantial improvement in quality of life.