Endothelial dysfunction, thrombophilia, and nailfold capillaroscopic features in livedoid vasculopathy

BACKGROUND

Livedoid vasculopathy (LV) is a rare, disabling disease characterized by painful ulcers, livedo reticularis and atrophy blanche. Hypercoagulation, endothelial, and microcirculatory dysfunction are believed to be responsible for the pathogenesis of this difficult-to-treat disease.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to investigate the frequency of endothelial dysfunction, hypercoagulability, and nailfold capillaroscopic features in LV patients to shed light on its etiology.

METHODS

This case-control study included 16 patients with LV, 24 with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and 23 control subjects. Serum markers of endothelial dysfunction soluble endoglin, endocan, endothelin-1, lipoprotein a, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), soluble thrombomodulin, and von Willebrand factor were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Flow-mediated dilation and carotid intima-media thickness were examined as markers of endothelial dysfunction, and microcirculation was assessed with nailfold capillaroscopy. Thrombophilia-related parameters, including gene polymorphisms of factor V Leiden, prothrombin, PAI-1 genes, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and factor XIII mutation and serum levels of protein C, protein S, antithrombin, homocysteine, D-dimer and antiphospholipid antibodies were investigated in LV patients.

RESULTS

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and soluble thrombomodulin levels were significantly higher in LV patients compared to control subjects (2.3 [2.05-2.79] ng/ml vs. 1.89 [1.43-2.33] ng/ml, p = 0.007; 1.15 [0.88-1.4] ng/ml vs. 0.76 [0.56-0.9] ng/ml, p = 0.004, respectively). Flow-mediated dilation was 25.4 % lower in the LV patients compared to the control group (14.77 % [11.26-18.26] vs. 19.80 % [16.47-24.88], p = 0.034). Capillaroscopic features, including ramifications (75 % vs. 8.7 %, p < 0.001), avascular areas (25 % vs. 0 %, p = 0.011) and dilatations (33.2 % vs. 0 %, p = 0.016), were significantly higher in LV patients than in controls. LV patients had multiple biochemical or genetic abnormalities related to thrombophilia, including heterozygous factor V Leiden mutations (6.3 %), MTHFR (C677T) mutations (heterozygous 43.8 %, homozygous 18.8 %), MTHFR (A1298C) mutations (heterozygous 37.5 %, homozygous 12.5 %), factor XIII heterozygous mutation (12.5 %), antithrombin deficiency (31.3 %), protein S deficiency (12.5 %), hyperhomocysteinemia (31.3 %), D-dimer elevation (25 %), anti-β2-glycoprotein I (12.5 %), lupus anticoagulant antibodies (6.3 %), and anticardiolipin antibodies (6.3 %).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, LV patients were characterized by an increased presence of thrombophilia-related parameters, and also exhibited vascular endothelial and microcirculatory dysfunction, resembling SSc. These findings support the complex interaction of thrombophilia, endothelial dysfunction, and microcirculation dysregulation in the pathogenesis of LV. Thus, the treatment of LV patients should be individualized, based on the identification of the predominant pathological pathways.

Cutaneous manifestation of COVID-19: What have we learned an year into the pandemic?

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an emerging health situation caused by the "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2" (SARS-CoV-2). The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which emerged from the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019 has spread to over 188 countries and infected over 100 million people across the globe in over one year. Most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever and respiratory illness. Among extrapulmonary signs associated with COVID-19, dermatological manifestations have been increasingly reported from different geographical regions. The exact incidence or prevalence of COVID-19 associated skin manifestation remains largely unknown and the pathophysiological mechanisms are still unclear. In this article, we have attempted to give a comprehensive overview of what has been learned an year into the pandemic on the epidemiology, clinical and histopathological features, pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical management of COVID-19 associated cutaneous manifestations.

Cutaneous manifestation of COVID-19: What have we learned an year into the pandemic?

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an emerging health situation caused by the "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2" (SARS-CoV-2). The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which emerged from the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019 has spread to over 188 countries and infected over 100 million people across the globe in over one year. Most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever and respiratory illness. Among extrapulmonary signs associated with COVID-19, dermatological manifestations have been increasingly reported from different geographical regions. The exact incidence or prevalence of COVID-19 associated skin manifestation remains largely unknown and the pathophysiological mechanisms are still unclear. In this article, we have attempted to give a comprehensive overview of what has been learned an year into the pandemic on the epidemiology, clinical and histopathological features, pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical management of COVID-19 associated cutaneous manifestations.

Cutaneous Pathology of COVID-19 as a Window into Immunologic Mechanisms of Disease

Many skin manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection reflect activation of cutaneous and systemic immune responses involving effector pathways of both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. This article reviews evidence from the recent clinical and scientific literature that informs the current understanding of the consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced immune cell activation, as relevant to dermatology. Topics include the clinical consequences of autoantibody production in patients with COVID-19, immunologic evidence for chilblains as a manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the relationship between type I interferons and COVID-19 disease severity.

Time of Onset of Selected Skin Lesions Associated with COVID-19: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Distinct skin lesions associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been described, but data regarding their time of onset during the COVID-19 course are scant. Our objective was to systematically review the studies reporting the time of onset of selected skin lesions with respect to the reported onset of the COVID-19 core symptoms.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of studies published before 21 January 2021 was performed on MEDLINE via PubMed database using a predefined strategy to identify relevant articles.

RESULTS

Out of 354 references, 87 were selected, reporting a total of 895 patients with skin lesions associated with COVID-19. The most frequent pattern was exanthema (n = 430, 48%), followed by vascular (n = 299, 33%), urticarial (n = 105, 12%) and others (n = 66, 7%). Skin lesions occurred more frequently in the first 4 weeks from the COVID-19 onset (n = 831, 92%), whereas prodromal or late lesions were rarer (n = 69, 8%). The urticarial and exanthema patterns were more frequent in the first 2 weeks. About the vascular pattern some differences were noted among its subtypes. Livedoid lesions occurred mainly in the first 2 weeks, while chilblain-like lesions between weeks 2 and 4. Purpuric/petechial lesions were equally distributed during the first 4 weeks. Several skin manifestations did not fall into the pattern classification, including erythema multiforme, generalized pruritus, Kawasaki disease and others.

CONCLUSION

The diversity in the time of onset of skin lesions as well as their polymorphic nature likely reflects the diversity of the pathogenetic underlying mechanisms.

PROSPERO DATABASE REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021236331.

Cutaneous Manifestations in the Context of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (COVID-19)

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2), has had enormous health, economic, and social consequences. The clinical spectrum of cutaneous manifestations observed in patients with COVID-19 is both heterogeneous and complex. To date, reports have identified 5main categories: acral lesions, vesicular rashes, urticarial rashes, maculopapular rashes, and livedoid and necrotic lesions. However, these will probably be modified as new information comes to light. Cutaneous manifestations associated with COVID-19 probably reflect the activation of pathogenic pathways by the virus or a response to inflammatory processes, vascular or systemic complications, or even treatments. Familiarity with the cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 may enable early diagnosis or help guide prognosis.

[Cutaneous alterations in vasculitides : Part 2: Special aspects of diseases of large, medium and small vessels]

Cutaneous vasculitides present with typical clinical signs depending on the size and distribution of the affected vessels. Since there are no large vessels in the skin, giant cell arteritis and Takayasu's arteritis only rarely lead to cutaneous symptoms. The classical systemic polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is very rare. More frequent is cutaneous PAN presenting with a typical localized livedo racemosa and palpable subcutaneous nodules. The ANCA-associated vasculitides, which belong to the small vessel vasculitides, usually show systemic involvement and manifest on the skin with a diverse picture. Immune complex vasculitides are characterized by deposition of immunoglobulins on the walls of small vessels. The most common form is IgA vasculitis with the cardinal symptoms of palpable, round or oval and partially branched (retiform) purpura and a clear predilection for the legs. Serum disease is a príme example of systemic immune complex diseases due to large circulating immune complexes. Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis primarily involves small as well as medium sized vessels. Simultaneous involvement of vessels of different sizes is characteristic for vasculitis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and sarcoidosis. Recurrent macular vasculitis in hypergammaglobulinemia is an episodic macular vasculitis of the small blood vessels. Bacteremic vasculitis of the small vessels (without direct microbial infection of the vessel wall) can typically also affect capillaries of dermal papillae and is usually accompanied by a disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In some cases more than one distinct cutaneous vasculitis can occur in the same patient.

[Cutaneous alterations in vasculitides : Part 1: Nomenclature, classification and correlation between clinical signs and histological features]

The skin is one of the organs most commonly affected by vasculitis and the only one that is open to direct inspection. Cutaneous vasculitis can be part of a systemic vasculitis, a variant restricted to the skin (e.g. systemic and cutaneous IgA1 vasculitis) or an independent cutaneous form (recurrent macular vasculitis in hypergammaglobulinemia, nodular vasculitis). For the nomenclature and classification of cutaneous vasculitides the scheme of the Chapel Hill Consensus Conference can be used and the vessels mainly affected determine the clinical picture of individual forms of vasculitis. Some cutaneous efflorescences and their distribution are so characteristic for certain forms of vasculitis that they provide diagnostic indications or even diagnostic criteria. A palpable purpura on the legs is typical for involvement of postcapillary venules in the context of immune complex vasculitis. If arterioles or venules in the dermis are additionally affected, the clinical presentation is that of plaques with marginal offshoots and central hemorrhagic blisters or necrosis (retiform purpura). In contrast to the purpura in occluding vasculopathies, which shows no or little surrounding erythema, the purpura in vasculitis is accompanied by an inflammatory erythema. In vasculitides of the arterioles and small-caliber arteries in the subcutaneous tissue, visible or only palpable nodules exist surrounded by an irregular livedo or also retiform purpura. Understanding how vasculitis-induced efflorescence arises and the histological manifestations helps their recognition during physical examinations in daily practice and is an important guide in the diagnosis and classification of vasculitides.

Extra-criteria manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome: Risk assessment and management

OBJECTIVES

Extra-criteria manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) might impact on prognosis and morbidity of the disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate a population of patients with primary APS (PAPS) whether the extra-criteria manifestations were more frequently found in subjects with higher adjusted Global APS Score (aGAPSS) values when compared to patients with thrombotic and/or obstetric APS ("criteria" manifestations) only.

METHODS

Clinical records were analyzed to retrieve extra-criteria manifestation of APS, cardiovascular risk factors and antiphospholipid antibodies profile. The aGAPSS was calculated by adding the points, as follows: 3 for hyperlipidaemia, 1 for arterial hypertension, 5 for anticardiolipin antibodies IgG/IgM, 4 for anti-β2 glycoprotein I IgG/IgM, and 4 for lupus anticoagulant.

RESULTS

This retrospective multicenter study included 89 consecutive PAPS [mean age 43.1 (S.D. ± 12.9), female 67%, 52% arterial and 65% venous]. Twenty-seven patients (30.3%) had a history of livedo, 19 (21.3%) had a history of confirmed thrombocytopenia, 3 (3.4%) had biopsy-proven antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL)-related nephropathy and 3 (3.4%) had a history of valvulopathy. Patients with extra-criteria manifestations presented a mean aGAPSS significantly higher [mean 10.30 (S.D. ± 3.57, range: 4-17) vs mean 8.16 (S.D. ± 3.52;range: 4-16, p = 0.005). When comparing patients with and without extra-criteria manifestations, the first group had significantly higher incidence of anti-β2GPI antibodies positivity (59% and 33%, respectively, p = 0.015), double aPL positivities (53% and 31%, respectively, p = 0.034), cerebrovascular events history (52% and 24%, respectively, p = 0.007) and arterial hypertension (52% and 24%, respectively, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that patients with higher aGAPSS, might be at higher risk for developing extra-criteria manifestations of APS and should therefore undergo a thorough laboratory and instrumental evaluation.

[Multiple facets of ADA2 deficiency: Vasculitis, auto-inflammatory disease and immunodeficiency: A literature review of 135 cases from literature]

Deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2) is a recently described auto-inflammatory disorder. It is an autosomal recessive inherited disease, caused by mutations in the ADA2 gene (formerly known as CECR1) encoding ADA2 enzyme. Besides its role in the purine metabolism, it has been postulated that ADA2 may act as a growth factor for endothelial cells and in the differenciation of monocytes. Thus, deficiency of ADA2 would lead to endothelial damage and a skewing of monocytes into M1 pro-inflammatory macrophage, causing DADA2 manifestations. Three core clinical features have been described: inflammatory-vascular signs, hematologic abnormalities and immunodeficiency. Clinically, patients display intermittent fever, cutaneous vascular manifestations, such as livedo, ischemic strokes, arthralgia and abdominal pain crisis. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents (i.e. cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, ciclosporin, methotrexate) appear to be poorly effective. Although the mechanism has not been elucidated, anti-TNF agents have been proven efficient in DADA2 and should therefore be used as first line therapy for vasculitis. Role of anti-platelet and anticoagulant therapies in stroke-prophylaxis remains to be discussed, as those patients display a high risk of intracranial bleeding.

An ulceronecrotic foot lesion in a patient with essential thrombocythemia: successful treatment with hydroxyurea

The patient was a 47-year-old woman with a painful ulcer that had appeared on the right 5th toe two weeks before she visited our hospital. Histopathological examination showed that thrombi were present in small blood vessels in the dermis and pancytosis was detected in a blood test, suggesting polycythemia-associated ulceration of the toe. Essential thrombocythemia was diagnosed based on bone marrow puncture and chromosomal test findings. Platelet count and the ulcer were improved by oral hydroxyurea.