Leg ulcers in patient affected by polycythemia vera in treatment with hydroxycarbamide. Case report

Leg ulcers are a frequent and serious complication of polycythemia vera (PV). They are caused by a synergic action of vascular, neurological and infectious physiopathologic mechanisms. Furthermore, cytostatic therapies commonly employed to control the myeloproliferative disease negatively interfere on the development of granulation tissue, slowing down the recovery of the ulcer. We describe the case of a 70 years old woman with PV, who had calcaneous and perimalleolar ulcers. They were so painful that they made it almost impossible for her to sleep and walk normally. These ulcers were particularly resistant to common topical therapy. Further and accurate investigations showed that these ulcers were a complication of hydroxycarbamide therapy employed and they were not a complication of the ematologic disease. Leg ulcers during hydroxycarbamide therapy are a relatively frequent but underestimated condition. Pathogenesis is bound to numerous factors, i.o. cellular damage and tissutal hypoxia, consequent of drug induced macroerythrosis. In our patient drug substitution and prosecution of topic therapies allowed the recovery of the leg ulcers, particularly serious for both, extensiveness and symptom

[Il trattamento topico di ulcere da pressione con aminoacidi e acido ialuronico. Caso clinico.]

Pressure ulcers are evolutive tissue of the skin, derma and subcutaneous layer. If not treated properly, but sometimes despite that, they may even reach muscles and bones. Nutritional status of the patient is the most important and potentially reversible factor which can contribute to wound recovery. Several studies underline in particular the importance of the proteic and caloric intake in order to stimulate the formation of granulation tissue and collagen. We thought giving the nutrients for wound repair directly on the wound bed, topically, therefore using the wound bed as exchange surface and presuming the wounded tissues are able to absorb, metabolize and ultimately use the aminoacids to repair the damage. The goal of our work is to describe the clinical case patient treated with a new active wound dressing releasing aminoacids and hyaluronic aci

[Aminoacids and hyaluronic acid in topical treatment of bedsores. Clinical report]

: Pressure ulcers are evolutive tissue of the skin, derma and subcutaneous layer. If not treated properly, but sometimes despite that, they may even reach muscles and bones. Nutritional status of the patient is the most important and potentially reversible factor which can contribute to wound recovery. Several studies underline in particular the importance of the proteic and caloric intake in order to stimulate the formation of granulation tissue and collagen. We thought giving the nutrients for wound repair directly on the wound bed, topically, therefore using the wound bed as exchange surface and presuming the wounded tissues are able to absorb, metabolize and ultimately use the aminoacids to repair the damage. The goal of our work is to describe the clinical case patient treated with a new active wound dressing releasing aminoacids and hyaluronic acid