What is lipodermatosclerosis?
Lipodermatosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition characterised by subcutaneous fibrosis and hardening of the skin on the lower legs.
Lipodermatosclerosis is also known as sclerosing panniculitis and hypodermitis sclerodermaformis.
Who gets lipodermatosclerosis?
Lipodermatosclerosis is common, affecting middle-aged or older people. It is more common in women and is associated with immobility and a high body mass index (obesity) [1].
What causes lipodermatosclerosis?
Lipodermatosclerosis is an inflammatory skin condition resulting from underlying venous insufficiency. This is caused by:
- Incompetent venous valves
- Venous outflow obstruction
- Dysfunction of the calf muscle pump [2].
The resulting venous hypertension causes an increase of leukocytes within the veins, which then migrate into surrounding tissue. The leukocytes become activated, attracting and releasing proinflammatory cells and cytokines, inducing a chronic inflammatory state. Increased collagen production leads to the fibrosis of subcutaneous fat [2].
What are the clinical features of lipodermatosclerosis?
Acute phase
Acute lipodermatosclerosis may mimic cellulitis, with induration, erythema, pain, itch, aching, and a feeling of swelling or heaviness in one or, more often, both lower limbs [2].
In the acute phase, signs may be localised to a single plaque but are usually more widespread. The most commonly affected areas are the pretibial or medial aspect of the leg.
Acute lipodermatosclerosis
See more images of acute lipodermatosclerosis.
Chronic phase
Induration, erythema, and pain continue in the chronic phase of lipodermatosclerosis. Subcutaneous fibrosis may result in significant narrowing of the distal lower limb, causing the leg to have an ‘upside-down champagne bottle’ appearance [1,2].
Other clinical features of chronic venous insufficiency may be present, including hyperpigmentation of the skin from haemosiderin deposition, atrophie blanche, varicose veins, venous eczema, and venous ulcers.
Chronic lipodermatosclerosis
See more images of chronic lipodermatosclerosis.
What are the complications of lipodermatosclerosis?
Lipodermatosclerosis is associated with poor wound healing because of the chronic inflammatory state and fibrosis. Venous ulcers commonly co-exist and may be difficult to treat.
How is lipodermatosclerosis diagnosed?
Lipodermatosclerosis is usually diagnosed clinically. Underlying venous insufficiency may be confirmed using Doppler studies.
A biopsy is helpful but should be performed with caution because of the likelihood of poor wound healing [3]. Any biopsy also needs to include the panniculus. The characteristic features seen upon biopsy are dependent on the stage of disease but include subcutaneous lobular and septal changes including:
- Adipocyte necrosis
- Pseudocyst formation
- Lipomembranous (fatty tissue) change
- Macrophage collections forming lipogranulomas (a nodule of inflamed fat cells around a foreign body)
- Iron deposition [4,5].
What is the differential diagnosis for lipodermatosclerosis?
Differential diagnoses for lipodermatosclerosis can include:
- Cellulitis
- Erythema nodosum
- Other causes of panniculitis
- Morphoea (localised scleroderma)
- Cutaneous vasculitis
- Necrobiosis lipoidica.
What is the treatment for lipodermatosclerosis?
General measures
Physical activity (walking) should be encouraged to increase the functionality of the calf muscle pump. Weight reduction is effective if obesity is a factor.
Compression therapy and elevation
Mechanical compression therapy using compression stockings or socks is the mainstay of treatment, encouraging venous return and assisting with symptom control, but may be poorly tolerated in some individuals.
Elevation of the legs can help reduce oedema and pain.
Medical treatment
- Stanozolol can be effective for pain relief and has also shown to reduce dermal thickness [6].
- Pentoxifylline has been shown to be useful in venous ulcers in conjunction with compression or in patients who cannot tolerate compression.
- Combination therapy with hydroxychloroquine may reduce symptoms that are refractory to other treatments [7,8].
- Intralesional steroid injection of triamcinolone has proven to be effective at alleviating symptoms [9].
- Tetracyclines, such as doxycycline or minocycline, have anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties that may provide benefit [10–12].
- Phlebotonic drugs that modify the tone of the vein wall, including diosmin, hydroxyethylrutoside, or horse chestnut seed extract (escin), may reduce oedema and other symptoms [13].
- Ultrasound therapy may offer symptomatic benefit, relief of erythema, hardness and pain [14, 15].
- Ultraviolet radiation (UVA1) has been reported to be effective [16].
- Emollients and topical steroids are useful in the management of associated venous eczema.
Surgical treatment
Treatment of underlying venous insufficiency can improve symptoms and may reduce the risk of ulcer recurrence. Referral to a vascular surgeon should be considered. Leg vein therapies include:
- Endovenous ablation by laser, radiofrequency (RF) catheter, steam, cyanoacrylate and mechanical occlusion with chemical assistance (MOCA)
- Sclerotherapy
- Vein surgery [17].
What is the outcome for lipodermatosclerosis?
Venous insufficiency is a progressive disease. Although treatment can improve symptoms or slow progression, its associated conditions such as lipodermatosclerosis are usually chronic and recurring.