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Connective tissue ulcers

Ganary Dabiri1, Vincent Falanga

  • 1Department of Dermatology and Skin Cancer, Roger Williams Medical Center, 50 Maude Street, Providence, RI 02908, USA.

Journal of Tissue Viability
|June 13, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Connective tissue disorders (CTD) can cause disabling lower extremity and digital ulcers. Current treatment guidelines are lacking, posing significant challenges for patients and healthcare providers.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Dermatology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Connective tissue disorders (CTD), also known as collagen vascular diseases, are inflammatory conditions.
  • Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, and scleroderma.
  • Cutaneous manifestations are common in CTD, aiding in diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the occurrence and challenges of lower extremity and digital ulcers in patients with CTD.
  • To underscore the lack of established diagnostic and treatment guidelines for these ulcers.
  • To emphasize the substantial morbidity and socioeconomic impact of CTD-related ulcerations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on CTD and associated ulcerations.
  • Analysis of clinical presentations and complications.
  • Discussion of diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Main Results:

  • Lower extremity and digital ulcers are infrequent but disabling complications of long-standing CTD.
  • The exact frequency and multifactorial causes of these ulcers are not well-defined.
  • There are no established guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of CTD-related ulcerations.

Conclusions:

  • CTD-associated ulcers represent a significant medical and economic burden.
  • Improved understanding and standardized approaches are needed for managing these intractable wounds.
  • Multidisciplinary wound healing centers play a crucial role in patient care.

Keywords:
Connective tissue diseaseConnective tissue ulcersUlcersVasculitis

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