[Studies on the relationship between diabetes mellitus and necrobiosis lipoidica]

From 1970 to 1974 in the dermatological clinic of Leipig University in 17 women and 3 men a necrobiosis lipoidica was established. Of these patients hitherto 12 female patients with histologally ascertained diagnosis underwent a clinico-angiological follow-up examination. Apart from this metabolic disturbances were thought for. In two thirds a disturbance of the carbohypdrate metabolism, in three fourths a disturbance of the lipometabolism was found; hyperlipoproteidaemia and diabetic change of the metabolism were simultaneously present in 7 out of 12 female patients. Uric acid level of the serum and rheumatic serology were, however, rarely pathological. A disturbance of the arterial blood supply of the legs could be ascertained in three fourths of the women who underwent a control examination. In these cases 15 to 19 extremities affected with necrobiosis had a disturbance of the blood supply. The microangiopathy histologically provable in foci of necrobiosis was to be seen only in one long-term diabetic also on the eye-ground. One third of the female patients suffered from hypertension. In all cases disturbances of the carbohydrate metabolism or of the lipometabolism and/or of the local blood supply could be proved. On the basis of these findings adequate examinations are recommendable in patients with necrobiosis lipoidical with regard to therapeutic consequences.