title: Chronic leg ulceration associated with polycythemia vera responding to ruxolitinib (Jakafi(®)).
abstract: We present the case of a 63-year-old white male with bilateral chronic leg ulcers due to polycythemia vera and hydroxyurea therapy who demonstrated dramatic healing of his wounds in response to ruxolitinib (Jakafi(®), Novartis), a novel Janus kinase-1 and -2 inhibitor. This patient's wound had previously been refractory to multiple surgical interventions and immunosuppression. After the initiation of ruxolitinib, the patient underwent successful split-thickness skin grafting, with resultant healing of his wounds. He was stable without prednisone and other immunosuppressant therapy and had healed at 6 months. Ruxolitinib therapy could represent a novel option for patients who develop persistent inflammatory wounds in the setting of polycythemia vera and hydroxyurea therapy.
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC. Electronic address: vks4@gunet.georgetown.edu.
authors: Victoria K
authors: VK
authors: Shanmugam
authors: Sean
authors: S
authors: McNish
authors: Nawar
authors: N
authors: Shara
authors: Katherine J
authors: KJ
authors: Hubley
authors: Bhaskar
authors: B
authors: Kallakury
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Dunning
authors: Christopher E
authors: CE
authors: Attinger
authors: John S
authors: JS
authors: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000009:adverse effects; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000150:complications*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011743:Pyrimidines; C540383:ruxolitinib; D053612:Janus Kinases; D006918:Hydroxyurea
keywords: 4; chronic wound; hydroxyurea; leg ulcer; polycythemia vera; pyoderma gangrenosum; split-thickness skin graft
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