Dermatological Manifestations of Venous Disease. Part Ii: Reticulate Eruptions

The reticulate pattern is probably one of the most important dermatological signs that signifies the involvement of the underlying vascular networks and the cutaneous vasculature. It is seen in benign forms of livedo reticularis and in more sinister conditions such as Sneddon’s syndrome. There is considerable confusion in the literature with different authors having utilised a variety of terms including livedo reticularis, livedo racemosa, cutis marmorata and retiform purpura when communicating about the same or entirely different conditions. This confusion arises from the historical and geographical origin of these terms. For instance, the term livedo racemosa has a European root and is more widely used in French and German literature. The term livedo is a description of a colour (livid, violet) and not a pattern. The term reticularis refers to the reticulate netlike pattern. However, many physicians wrongly refer to the reticulate pattern as the livedo or livedoid pattern. Finally, a variety of sub classifications of livedo reticularis such as transient, persistent, systemic, idiopathic, blanchable and necrosing have added to the confusion.