Sjogren's Syndrome and Livedo Reticularis

Annie asked an interesting question yesterday - specifically about a condition called livedo reticularis. It seems that Annie has been gifted with this condition and would like to know more about it, specifically if an autoimmune disease such as Sjogren's syndrome can cause it.

LR causes the skin to appear mottled in a net-like pattern. It is seen on the trunk, legs, and forearms. Image found here.

Although livedo reticularis can appear without cause, most often it is a symptom of an underlying disease. Sjogren's Syndrome is one of the many diseases that may cause LR.

Here's a definition found on Medscape:

The term livedo reticularis refers to a reddish-violet reticular discoloration of the skin that mainly affects the limbs. It is caused by an interruption of blood flow in the dermal arteries, either due to spasm, inflammation, or vascular obstruction, and is associated with diseases of varying etiology and severity. 

You can read similar information from the Mayo Clinic site, here.

The excellent Johns Hopkins Sjogren's Syndrome site here describes the various skin - or cutaneous - issues that can be caused by Sjogren's syndrome, among them livedo reticularis:

Cutaneous vasculitis may be seen in patients with SS, and its presence serves as a reminder of the systemic inflammatory nature of this disease. The most common lesions are palpable and nonpalpable pupuric lesions over the lower extremities. Urticaria-like lesions have also been observed. In contrast to classic urticaria, which is transient, these lesions persist for days and even weeks. Raynauds phenomenon, digital ulceration, erythema multiforme, erythema nodosum, and livedo reticularis may also be seen.

You can read more about this and many other effects that Sjogren's Syndrome may have on your skin in my post The Skinny On Autoimmune Skin.