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Skin ulcer

MedGen UID:
52369
Concept ID:
C0037299
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Skin Ulcer; Skin Ulcers; Ulcer, Skin; Ulcers, Skin
SNOMED CT: Skin ulcer (46742003); Cutaneous ulcer (46742003)
 
HPO: HP:0200042

Definition

A discontinuity of the skin exhibiting complete loss of the epidermis and often portions of the dermis and even subcutaneous fat. [from HPO]

Conditions with this feature

Chilblain lupus 1
MedGen UID:
9822
Concept ID:
C0024145
Disease or Syndrome
Chilblain lupus is a cutaneous form of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; 152700) characterized by the appearance of painful bluish-red papular or nodular lesions of the skin in acral locations (including the dorsal aspects of fingers and toes, heels, nose, cheeks, ears, and, in some cases, knees) precipitated by cold and wet exposure (summary by Lee-Kirsch et al., 2006). Genetic Heterogeneity of Chilblain Lupus See also CHBL2 (614415), caused by mutation in the SAMHD1 gene (606754) on chromosome 20q11. Mutations in the TREX1 and SAMHD1 genes also cause Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome (AGS1, 225750 and AGS5, 612952, respectively).
Prolidase deficiency
MedGen UID:
120647
Concept ID:
C0268532
Disease or Syndrome
Prolidase deficiency is characterized by skin lesions (typically severe, chronic, recalcitrant, and painful skin ulcers of the lower extremities and telangiectasias of the face and hands), recurrent infections (particularly of the skin and respiratory tract), dysmorphic facial features, variable intellectual disability, and organomegaly (typically splenomegaly but occasionally associated with hepatomegaly) with elevated liver enzymes. Skeletal anomalies, chronic pulmonary disease, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and hypocomplementemia are observed in a minority of affected individuals. An association between prolidase deficiency and autoimmune conditions – particularly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) – has been described.
Leukocyte adhesion deficiency 1
MedGen UID:
98310
Concept ID:
C0398738
Disease or Syndrome
Leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of neutrophil function resulting from a deficiency of the beta-2 integrin subunit of the leukocyte cell adhesion molecule. The leukocyte cell adhesion molecule is present on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes and granulocytes and mediates cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion. LAD is characterized by recurrent bacterial infections; impaired pus formation and wound healing; abnormalities of a wide variety of adhesion-dependent functions of granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes; and a lack of beta-2/alpha-L, beta-2/alpha-M, and beta-2/alpha-X expression. Genetic Heterogeneity of Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Also see LAD2 (266265), caused by mutation in the SLC35C1 gene (605881), and LAD3 (612840), caused by mutation in the FERMT3 gene (607901).
Laryngo-onycho-cutaneous syndrome
MedGen UID:
272227
Concept ID:
C1328355
Disease or Syndrome
Junctional epidermolysis bullosa 2C (JEB2C), also known as laryngoonychocutaneous syndrome (LOCS), is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by skin erosions, nail dystrophy, dental anomalies, and excessive vascular granulation tissue of the conjunctiva and larynx. Onset is characterized by a hoarse cry soon after birth. Beginning in infancy, chronic skin ulcers and conjunctival lesions appear. Patients may die in childhood secondary to acute or chronic respiratory obstruction. Long-term survivors have visual loss and often require tracheostomy (McLean et al., 2003). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of the subtypes of JEB, see JEB1A (226650). Reviews Has et al. (2020) reviewed the clinical and genetic aspects, genotype-phenotype correlations, disease-modifying factors, and natural history of epidermolysis bullosa.
MHC class I deficiency
MedGen UID:
346868
Concept ID:
C1858266
Disease or Syndrome
Bare lymphocyte syndrome type I (BLS I) is an inherited disorder of the immune system (primary immunodeficiency). Immunodeficiencies are conditions in which the immune system is not able to protect the body effectively from foreign invaders such as bacteria or viruses. Starting in childhood, most people with BLS I develop recurrent bacterial infections in the lungs and airways (respiratory tract). These recurrent infections can lead to a condition called bronchiectasis, which damages the passages leading from the windpipe to the lungs (bronchi) and can cause breathing problems.\n\nMany people with BLS I also have open sores (ulcers) on their skin, usually on the face, arms, and legs. These ulcers typically develop in adolescence or young adulthood. Some people with BLS I have no symptoms of the condition.\n\nPeople with BLS I have a shortage of specialized immune proteins called major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I proteins on cells, including infection-fighting white blood cells (lymphocytes), which is where the condition got its name.
Neuropathy, hereditary sensory and autonomic, type 1C
MedGen UID:
462246
Concept ID:
C3150896
Disease or Syndrome
Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IC (HSAN1C) is an autosomal dominant neurologic disorder characterized by sensory neuropathy with variable autonomic and motor involvement. Most patients have adult onset of slowly progressive distal sensory impairment manifest as numbness, tingling, or pain, as well as distal muscle atrophy. Complications include ulceration and osteomyelitis. Some patients may have a more severe phenotype with onset in childhood. Electrophysiologic studies show a predominantly axonal neuropathy with some demyelinating features. Some patients may have evidence of central nervous system involvement, including macular telangiectasia type 2 and/or pyramidal signs. Affected individuals have increased levels of plasma 1-deoxysphingolipids (1-deoxySLs), which are thought to be neurotoxic. (summary by Rotthier et al., 2010, Gantner et al., 2019, and Triplett et al., 2019). Oral supplementation with serine decreases 1-deoxySL and may offer some clinical benefits (Fridman et al., 2019). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of HSAN, see HSAN1A (162400).
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
MedGen UID:
811223
Concept ID:
C3495801
Disease or Syndrome
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, formerly termed Wegener granulomatosis, is a systemic disease with a complex genetic background. It is characterized by necrotizing granulomatous inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tract, glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, and the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmatic autoantibodies (ANCAs) in patient sera. These ANCAs are antibodies to a defined target antigen, proteinase-3 (PR3, PRTN3; 177020), which is present within primary azurophil granules of neutrophils (PMNs) and lysozymes of monocytes. On cytokine priming of PMNs, PR3 translocates to the cell surface, where PR3-ANCAs can interact with their antigens and activate PMNs. PMNs from patients with active GPA express PR3 on their surface, produce respiratory burst, and release proteolytic enzymes after activation with PR3-ANCAs. The consequence is a self-sustaining inflammatory process (Jagiello et al., 2004).
Vasculitis due to ADA2 deficiency
MedGen UID:
854497
Concept ID:
C3887654
Disease or Syndrome
Adenosine deaminase 2 deficiency (DADA2) is a complex systemic autoinflammatory disorder in which vasculopathy/vasculitis, dysregulated immune function, and/or hematologic abnormalities may predominate. Inflammatory features include intermittent fevers, rash (often livedo racemosa/reticularis), and musculoskeletal involvement (myalgia/arthralgia, arthritis, myositis). Vasculitis, which usually begins before age ten years, may manifest as early-onset ischemic (lacunar) and/or hemorrhagic strokes, or as cutaneous or systemic polyarteritis nodosa. Hypertension and hepatosplenomegaly are often found. More severe involvement may lead to progressive central neurologic deficits (dysarthria, ataxia, cranial nerve palsies, cognitive impairment) or to ischemic injury to the kidney, intestine, and/or digits. Dysregulation of immune function can lead to immunodeficiency or autoimmunity of varying severity; lymphadenopathy may be present and some affected individuals have had lymphoproliferative disease. Hematologic disorders may begin early in life or in late adulthood, and can include lymphopenia, neutropenia, pure red cell aplasia, thrombocytopenia, or pancytopenia. Of note, both interfamilial and intrafamilial phenotypic variability (e.g., in age of onset, frequency and severity of manifestations) can be observed; also, individuals with biallelic ADA2 pathogenic variants may remain asymptomatic until adulthood or may never develop clinical manifestations of DADA2.
Disabling pansclerotic morphea of childhood
MedGen UID:
858243
Concept ID:
C3898649
Disease or Syndrome
Disabling pansclerotic morphea of childhood is the most severe subtype of deep morphea within the spectrum of juvenile localized scleroderma. Patients affected by this systemic inflammatory disorder experience poor wound healing with rapidly progressive deep fibrosis involving the mucous membranes, dermis, subcutaneous fat, fascia, muscles, and bone, leading to contractures, musculoskeletal atrophy, and articular ankylosis. Systemic manifestations include cytopenias and hypogammaglobulinemia, but scleroderma-associated autoantibodies are usually not present. The disorder is associated with high morbidity and mortality due to squamous cell carcinoma, restrictive pulmonary disease, sepsis, and gangrene (Baghdassarian et al., 2023).
Blau syndrome
MedGen UID:
1684759
Concept ID:
C5201146
Disease or Syndrome
Blau syndrome is characterized by the triad of granulomatous arthritis, uveitis, and dermatitis. First described in 1985, it was considered to be distinct from sarcoidosis due to the early age of onset and autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Published reports of sporadic cases of children with 'early-onset sarcoidosis' (EOS) with granulomatous involvement of different organs, primarily affecting joints, eyes, and skin, were suspected to represent the same disorder because the patients' characteristics were nearly identical. Subsequently, identical NOD2 mutations were identified in patients with Blau syndrome as well as in patients diagnosed with EOS, confirming earlier suspicions that they represented the same disease (summary by Borzutzky et al., 2010). Unlike older children diagnosed with sarcoidosis, these patients have no apparent pulmonary involvement; however, the disease is progressive and may result in severe complications such as blindness and/or joint destruction (Shetty and Gedalia, 1998).
Immunodeficiency 114, folate-responsive
MedGen UID:
1848890
Concept ID:
C5882719
Disease or Syndrome
Folate-responsive immunodeficiency-114 (IMD114) is an autosomal recessive immunologic disorder characterized by the onset of oral ulcers and recurrent skin and respiratory infections in early infancy. Affected individuals have lip fissures, skin sores and abscesses, genital dermatitis, chronic diarrhea, and poor overall growth. Laboratory studies show megaloblastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and lymphopenia with decreased Ig levels. Some individuals have global developmental delay, often with brain imaging abnormalities. Treatment with folic acid supplementation results in significant clinical improvement of the hematologic and immunologic abnormalities, although neurologic abnormalities, if already present, do not respond to treatment. Early intervention and treatment with folic acid supplementation may prevent or delay neurologic deficits in affected infants (Gok et al., 2023; Shiraishi et al., 2023).

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Su CJ, Tseng YJ, Wong LS
Australas J Dermatol 2022 Nov;63(4):524-526. Epub 2022 Sep 8 doi: 10.1111/ajd.13923. PMID: 36073855
SIPOS K
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KANOF NM
J Invest Dermatol 1964 Nov;43:441-2. doi: 10.1038/jid.1964.181. PMID: 14216525

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Ryan MP, Monjazeb S, Goodwin BP, Group AR
Dermatol Online J 2019 Mar 15;25(3) PMID: 30982305
Hashemi DA, Rosenbach M
JAMA Dermatol 2019 Feb 1;155(2):238. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.3597. PMID: 30566195
Riyaz N, Sehgal VN
Skinmed 2017;15(1):45-51. Epub 2017 Feb 1 PMID: 28270310
Makrantonaki E, Wlaschek M, Scharffetter-Kochanek K
J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2017 Mar;15(3):255-275. doi: 10.1111/ddg.13199. PMID: 28252848
Jung P, Trautinger F
J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2013 Aug;11(8):731-6. Epub 2013 Jun 5 doi: 10.1111/ddg.12137. PMID: 23738531

Diagnosis

Costa D, Carvalho P
N Engl J Med 2024 Jul 11;391(2):e3. Epub 2024 Jul 6 doi: 10.1056/NEJMicm2310965. PMID: 38973741
Belalcazar ESM, Dupont L, Luzzatto L, Souza PRM
Skinmed 2022;20(1):62-63. Epub 2022 Feb 28 PMID: 35435827
Bauer-Alonso A, Llobera-Ris C, Llatjós R, Bonfill-Ortí M
Med Clin (Barc) 2021 Dec 24;157(12):599. Epub 2021 Jun 1 doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2021.03.024. PMID: 34083075
Hashemi DA, Rosenbach M
JAMA Dermatol 2019 Feb 1;155(2):238. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.3597. PMID: 30566195
Trott A
Emerg Med Clin North Am 1992 Nov;10(4):823-45. PMID: 1425405

Therapy

Zhao R, Lin H, Bereza-Malcolm L, Clarke E, Jackson CJ, Xue M
Int J Mol Sci 2019 Feb 19;20(4) doi: 10.3390/ijms20040903. PMID: 30791425Free PMC Article
Wei EX, Kirsner RS, Eaglstein WH
J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 Jul;75(1):203-9. Epub 2016 Feb 28 doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.01.052. PMID: 26936300
Maguiness SM, Frieden IJ
Arch Dis Child 2012 Mar;97(3):266-71. Epub 2012 Jan 3 doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2011-300851. PMID: 22215816
Bajaj DR, Qureshi AA
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2005 Mar;15(3):187-8. PMID: 15808107
Novice FM, Hacker P, Unger WP, Keystone EC
Int J Dermatol 1987 Jan-Feb;26(1):42-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4362.1987.tb04574.x. PMID: 3557789

Prognosis

Br J Surg 2019 Mar;106(4):341. doi: 10.1002/bjs.11040. PMID: 30811048
Riyaz N, Sehgal VN
Skinmed 2017;15(1):45-51. Epub 2017 Feb 1 PMID: 28270310
Dini M, Quercioli F, Caldarella V, Gaetano M, Franchi A, Agostini T
J Craniofac Surg 2012 Jan;23(1):e23-5. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0b013e3182420801. PMID: 22337453
Landis SJ
Adv Skin Wound Care 2008 Nov;21(11):531-40; quiz 541-2. doi: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000323578.87700.a5. PMID: 18981758
Bajaj DR, Qureshi AA
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2005 Mar;15(3):187-8. PMID: 15808107

Clinical prediction guides

Izzetti R, Oranges T, Janowska A, Gabriele M, Graziani F, Romanelli M
Int J Low Extrem Wounds 2020 Dec;19(4):334-340. Epub 2020 Nov 25 doi: 10.1177/1534734620972815. PMID: 33233975
Ward D, Holloway S
Br J Community Nurs 2019 Dec 1;24(Sup12):S6-S11. doi: 10.12968/bjcn.2019.24.Sup12.S6. PMID: 31804882
Emrani Z, Karbalaie A, Fatemi A, Etehadtavakol M, Erlandsson BE
Microvasc Res 2017 Jan;109:7-18. Epub 2016 Sep 7 doi: 10.1016/j.mvr.2016.09.001. PMID: 27614146
Jung P, Trautinger F
J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2013 Aug;11(8):731-6. Epub 2013 Jun 5 doi: 10.1111/ddg.12137. PMID: 23738531
Lancet 1990 May 5;335(8697):1078-80. PMID: 1970380

Recent systematic reviews

Suliman YA, Campochiaro C, Hughes M, Schoones JW, Giuggioli D, Moinzadeh P, Baron M, Chung L, Ross L, Maltez N, Allanore Y, Denton CP, Distler O, Frech T, Furst DE, Khanna D, Krieg T, Kuwana M, Matucci-Cerinic M, Pope J, Alunno A
Semin Arthritis Rheum 2023 Dec;63:152266. Epub 2023 Sep 26 doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2023.152266. PMID: 37826898
Ross L, Maltez N, Hughes M, Schoones JW, Baron M, Chung L, Giuggioli D, Moinzadeh P, Suliman YA, Campochiaro C, Allanore Y, Denton CP, Distler O, Frech T, Furst DE, Khanna D, Krieg T, Kuwana M, Matucci-Cerinic M, Pope J, Alunno A
Rheumatology (Oxford) 2023 Dec 1;62(12):3785-3800. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead289. PMID: 37335850Free PMC Article
Saeg F, Orazi R, Bowers GM, Janis JE
Plast Reconstr Surg 2021 Jul 1;148(1):226-238. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000008061. PMID: 34181622
Cozzani E, Gasparini G, Parodi A
G Ital Dermatol Venereol 2014 Oct;149(5):587-600. PMID: 25213386
Sun X, Jiang K, Chen J, Wu L, Lu H, Wang A, Wang J
Int J Infect Dis 2014 Aug;25:32-7. Epub 2014 May 16 doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.1397. PMID: 24841930

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