[QUALITY OF LIFE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LEG ULCER]

Wound represents a disruption of anathomic and physiologic continuity of the skin. Regarding to the healing process, wounds can be classified as acute or chronic wounds. Quality of life is primarily concerned with the impact of chronic wounds. A wound is considered chronic if healing does not occur within expected period of time regarding to its etiology and localization. Chronic wounds can be classified as typical and atypical. The majority of wounds (95 percent) are typical ones which include ischaemic, neurotrophic and hypostatic ulcer and two separate entities: diabetic foot and decubital ulcers. An 80 percent of chronic wounds localized on lower leg are result of chronic venous insufficiency, in 5-10 percent cause is of arterial etiology, whereas the remainder is mostly neuropathic ulcer. Chronic wounds represent a significant burden to patients, health care professionals and the entire health care system. Chronic wounds affect the elderly population and it is estimated that 1-2 percent of western population suffer from it. This estimate is expected to rise due to an increasing population of the elderly and the diabetic and obesity epidemic. The WHO definition of health is "A state of complite physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". Based on this definition, quality of life in relation to health may be defined as "the functional effect of an illness and it's consequent therapy upon a patient, as perceived by the patient". The domains that contribute to this effect are physical, psychological and social functioning. The patient's own perceptions of an illness were found to play an important role in explainig quality of life. Chronic wounds significantly decrease the quality of life in a number of ways such as reduced mobility, pain, unpleasant odor, sleep disturbances, social isolation and frustration, and inability to perform everyday duties. Among the most common psychological reactions to chronic diseases, including chronic wounds, are depression, anxiety, aggression and frustration. Psychological factors may not only be a consequence of delayed healing, but may also impact on wound healing. Anxiety and depression have direct influences on endocrine and immune function. About the impact of disease on quality of life and individuals' perceptions of illness, there are questionnaires and methods to analyze this, but the challenge is to move from a focus on wound management to understanding the specific needs of each individual within the context of their life.

[Differential diagnosis and work up of chronic leg ulcers]

Many factors contribute to the pathogenesis of leg ulcers. The main causes are chronic venous insufficiency, peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and diabetes. Some leg ulcers are caused by combinations of these well-known etiologic factors. The most common cause of PAOD is arteriosclerosis. In diabetic patients, distal symmetric neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease are probably the most important etiologic factors in the development of leg ulcers. Less frequent causes of chronic leg ulcers are hematologic diseases, autoimmune diseases, genetic defects, infections, primary skin disease, cutaneous malignant diseases, use of some medications and therapeutic procedures, and numerous exogenous factors. Diagnosis of leg ulcer is made upon medical history, clinical picture, palpation of arteries, functional testing and serologic testing. Device-based diagnostic testing should be performed for additional clarification. Also, lesion biopsy should be taken for histopathology, direct immunofluorescence, bacteriology and mycology. The knowledge of differential diagnosis is essential for ensuring treatment success in a patient with leg ulcer.

[List of diagnostic tests and procedures in leg ulcer]

Many factors contribute to the pathogenesis of leg ulcer. Most patients have venous leg ulcer due to chronic venous insufficiency. Less often, patients have arterial leg ulcer resulting from peripheral arterial occlusive disease, the most common cause of which is arteriosclerosis. Leg ulcer may be of a mixed arteriovenous origin. In diabetic patients, distal symmetric neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease are probably the most important etiologic factors in the development of diabetic leg ulcer. Other causes of chronic leg ulcers are hematologic diseases, autoimmune diseases, genetic defects, infectious diseases, primary skin diseases, cutaneous malignant diseases, use of some medications and therapeutic procedures, and numerous exogenous factors. Diagnosis of leg ulcer is based on medical history, inspection, palpation of skin temperature, palpation of arteries, fascia holes, presence and degree of edema, firm painful cords, and functional testing to assess peripheral occlusive arterial disease or identify superficial and deep venous reflux of the legs. Knowledge of differential diagnosis is essential for ensuring treatment success in patients with leg ulcer. There are many possible etiologic factors of leg ulcers and sometimes, clinical findings are similar. Additional testing should be performed, e.g., serologic testing such as blood count, C-reactive protein, HBA1c, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, differential blood count, total proteins, electrolytes, coagulation parameters, circulating immune complex, cryoglobulins, homocysteins, AT, PAI-1, APC resistance, proteins C and S, paraproteins, ANA, ENA, ANCA, dsDNA, antiphospholipid antibodies, urea, creatinine, blood lipids, vitamins and trace elements. Also, biopsy of the lesion for histopathology, direct immunofluorescence, bacteriology and mycology should be included. Other tests are Raynaud (cold stimulation) test and pathergy test. Device-based diagnostic testing should be performed for future clarification. Ankle brachial pressure index, color duplex sonography, plethysmography, MSCT and MR angiography, digital subtraction angiography, phlebography, angiography, x-ray, and capillaroscopy in lupus erythematosus are indicated. Except for bacteriologic analyses of wound biopsies, there is no test to provide specific information on the wound condition.

Disseminated Hailey-Hailey disease treated with topical tacrolimus and oral erythromycin: Case report and review of the literature

Hailey-Hailey disease is a rare autosomal dominant skin disorder that typically affects the intertriginous areas. The responsible defect has been identified in the gene named ATP2C1 on chromosome 3q21-24. We present a 50-year-old man with a 16-year history of blistering eruptions and positive familial history where this disease had appeared through four generations. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic studies and negative immunofluorescence findings. A combination of topical tacrolimus therapy and oral erythromycin seemed to play a considerable part in this case, in which all of the lesions healed within 2 weeks.

Erysipeloid--case report

Erysipeloid is an acute, bacterial infection of traumatized skin in an individual who was in direct contact with meat or other animal products contaminated with a gram-positive bacillus Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. We present a case of a 50-year-old housewife whose hobby was fishing, with a reddish, tender patch on the fifth finger and dorsum of the left hand, which developed a week after she had sustained an injury while boning the fish. The patient was treated with orally administered penicillin V 1,500,000 IU t.i.d. for 7 days, with complete resolution.