Leg ulcers in patients with sickle cell disease.
Chronic leg ulcers may result from vasoocclusive complications associated with the decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin in patients with sickle cell disease or its variants. Nonsurgical management includes the use of anti-sickling drugs and chemical manipulation of the hemoglobin composition. It has been suggested that the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) may help by stimulating proliferation of red blood cell precursors; it also has been proposed that r-HuEPO may act as a growth factor to non-hematologic tissues. Surgical management is a choice of last resort, often requiring microsurgical techniques, such as free-flap transfer.
Chung
C
C
Department of Surgery, Allegheny University East Falls, Philadelphia, Pa, USA.
Cackovic
M
M
Kerstein
M D
MD
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014945:Wound Healing
D004921:Erythropoietin