Vasculopathy, inflammation, and blood flow in leg ulcers of patients with sickle cell anemia.

ABSTRACT: Chronic leg ulcers are frequent and debilitating complications of sickle cell anemia. Inadequate blood supply has been postulated to be an important factor in their occurrence and delayed healing. Little is known about their microcirculatory and histopathological changes. We evaluated the microcirculation of lower extremity ulcers with laser speckle contrast imaging and infrared thermography and obtained clinical and laboratory characteristics in 18 adults with sickle cell anemia and chronic leg ulcers. Skin biopsies were obtained in four subjects. Subjects had markers of severe disease, anemia, high degree of hemolysis, inflammation, and thrombophilia. The highest blood flow was present in the ulcer bed, progressively less in the immediate periwound area, and an unaffected control skin ar

SUBMITTER: Minniti CP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3946883 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature