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mottled_skin

mottled skin (livedo reticularis)

see also:

Introduction

  • mottled skin (also known as livedo reticularis) is generally pale cool skin with a reticular pattern of venous congestion, usually of all limbs - not just hands and feet as with Raynaud's phenomenon

Aetiology

benign idiopathic physiologic livedo reticularis

  • exposure to cold leading to arteriolar vasospasm, especially common in young women.
  • sometimes called cutis marmorata, typically resolves on warming and is harmless

venous obstruction usually within the trunk

  • embolism, thrombosis, and cardiac conditions causing impaired circulation can manifest as livedo reticularis
  • Severe form of this may result in phlegmasia caerula dolens or phlegmasia alba dolens
    • life threatening thrombosis of ileo-femoral / pelvic veins +/- IVC
  • consider urgent CT venogram

microvascular thrombosis

arterial vasospasm

  • medications and susbtances
    • amantadine, ergotamine, cocaine, and thiouracil

other causes

mottled_skin.txt · Last modified: 2025/08/04 10:46 by gary1

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