:Lipodermatosclerosis

Pain may be the first noticed symptom. People with lipodermatosclerosis have tapering of their legs above the ankles, forming a constricting band resembling an inverted champagne bottle.Phelps RG, Shoji T. . The Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine. 2001;:. Available at: http://www.mssm.edu/msjournal/68/v68_pages262_267.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122005115/http://www.mssm.edu/msjournal/68/v68_pages262_267.pdf |date=2008-11-22 }}. February 13, 2008. In addition, there may be brownish-red pigmentation and induration. Symptoms may also include swelling in feet and ankles, leathery skin, flaky skin, itchy skin, leg cramping, leg heaviness, leg swelling, leg tiredness, leg achiness, foot pain, slow healing wounds on legs and feet, bulging varicose veins, warmth in legs, redness in legs, and pain with prolonged standing. {{Cite web |last=McLain |first=Houston |date=2024-04-22 |title=Lipodermatosclerosis - Vascular Institute of Chattanooga |url=https://vascularinstituteofchattanooga.com/vein-clinic/venous-conditions/lipodermatosclerosis/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=vascularinstituteofchattanooga.com |language=en-US}}

The exact cause of lipodermatosclerosis is unknown.Fischer DR, Matthews JB. Sleisenger & Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 7th ed . In: . Diseases of the mesentery and omentum. Philadelphia, PA:Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.; 2002. Venous disease, such as venous incompetence, venous hypertension, and body mass (obesity) may be relevant to the underlying pathogenesis.

Increased blood pressure in the veins (venous hypertension) can cause diffusion of substances, including fibrin, out of capillaries. Fibrotic tissue may predispose the tissue to ulceration. Recurrent ulceration and fat necrosis is associated with lipodermatosclerosis. In advanced lipodermatosclerosis the proximal leg swells from chronic venous obstruction and the lower leg shrinks from chronic ulceration and fat necrosis resulting in the inverted coke bottle appearance of the lower leg.Habif TP. Habif: Clinical Dermatology, 4th ed. In: . Stasis dermatitis and venous ulceration: Postphlebitic syndromes. New York, NY:Mosby, Inc.; 2004

Lipodermatosclerosis is most commonly diagnosed in middle-aged women.

The origin of lipodermatosclerosis is probably multifactorial, involving tissue hypoxia, leakage of proteins into the interstitium, and leukocyte activation. Studies of patients with lipodermatosclerosis have demonstrated significantly decreased concentrations of cutaneous oxygen associated with decreased capillary density. Capillaries are virtually absent in areas of fibrotic scars, leading to a condition known as atrophie blanche or livedoid vasculopathy.PubMed. Transcutaneous oxygen tension and capillary morphologic characteristics and density in patients with chronic venous incompetence. Franzeck UK, Bollinger A, Huch R, Huch A. Circulation. 1984;70(5):806.

Diagnosis is clinical, based on observation.{{cite journal |last1=Geist |first1=Ryan S. |last2=Crane |first2=Jonathan S. |title=Lipodermatosclerosis |journal=StatPearls |date=2023 |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594262/#:~:text=Introduction,skin%20of%20the%20lower%20extremities. |publisher=StatPearls Publishing}} Biopsy is rarely required.

The management of lipodermatosclerosis may include treating venous insufficiency with leg elevation and elastic compression stockings. In some difficult cases, the condition may be improved with the additional use of the fibrinolytic agent, stanozol. Fibrinolytic agents use an enzymatic action to help dissolve blood clots.Camilleri MJ, Danil Su WP. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine, 6th ed. In: . Panniculitis. New York, NY:McGraw-Hill; 2003.

Stanozol is injected directly into the affected area, Venous Ablation has also been known to help circulation in patients. Lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight & diet, exercising regularly, avoiding prolonged sitting or standing, and elevating your legs can play a significant role in managing lipodermatosclerosis and reducing its symptoms.{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Lauren |date=2024-04-22 |title=Lipodermatosclerosis - Vascular Institute of Chattanooga |url=https://vascularinstituteofchattanooga.com/vein-clinic/venous-conditions/lipodermatosclerosis/ |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=vascularinstituteofchattanooga.com |language=en-US}}

• Panniculitis
• List of cutaneous conditions

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Note: This article contains material adapted from the public domain source "[http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/QnA.aspx?PageID=4&CaseID=21093&DiseaseID=9671 Lipodermatosclerosis: Questions and Answers]", by the U.S federal government's Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

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• {{cite web|url=http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/QnA.aspx?PageID=4&CaseID=21093&DiseaseID=9671 |title=Lipodermatosclerosis: Questions and Answers|publisher=Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center}}

{{Disorders of subcutaneous fat}}

Category:Conditions of the subcutaneous fat