Diagnosis and treatment of vasculitic ulcerations

Abstract

Vasculitis is arare cause of skin ulceration. Depending on the size of the affected vessel, the patient's comorbidities and the pathophysiology present, different clinical morphologies can be seen, which can often give preliminary indications of the type of underlying vasculitis. There may be systemic or cutaneous manifestations; thus, a targeted diagnostic workup should be initiated at an early stage. Treatment should be interdisciplinary if there is systemic participation. Vasculopathies (e.g., livedoid vasculopathy), in which occlusion of the vascular lumen is the main pathophysiological feature, should be delimitated from vasculitis. If vasculitic or vasculopathic ulceration is present, stage-appropriate wound management is recommended.