RN Nursing · Peripheral Vascular Disorders · Practice question
Which dermatologic finding is typical of peripheral venous disorder
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Livedo reticularis
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✓
Brown hyperpigmentation
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Depigmented plaques
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Psoriatic plaques over extensor surfaces
Answer & explanation
Correct: Brown hyperpigmentation
Brown hyperpigmentation, also called hemosiderin staining or stasis dermatitis pigmentation, is a classic dermatologic finding of peripheral venous insufficiency. When venous hypertension causes red blood cells to leak into the tissues, hemoglobin breaks down into hemosiderin, which deposits in the skin and produces a brownish discoloration, typically seen around the ankles and lower legs. Livedo reticularis is a mottled, net-like purplish discoloration more commonly associated with arterial insufficiency or vasospastic and autoimmune conditions such as antiphospholipid syndrome, not venous disorders. Depigmented plaques are associated with conditions like vitiligo or lipodermatosclerosis in its later stages but are not a primary or typical finding of venous disease. Psoriatic plaques over extensor surfaces are a finding of psoriasis, an inflammatory skin condition entirely unrelated to venous pathology. The hallmark venous insufficiency skin changes include edema, varicosities, eczematous dermatitis, and the characteristic brown discoloration caused by hemosiderin deposition, making option 383407 the correct answer.
Study note
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE): Nursing Study Guide
A comprehensive nursing study guide on DVT and PE, covering risk factors, clinical presentation, Wells scoring, diagnostics, anticoagulation therapy, nursing care, and NCLEX high-yield pearls.
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