Case Reports Epublish
PubMed: 38487135 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54127
The Curious Case of a Painful Leg Ulcer.
Cureus 16(2):e54127
Authors: Jay R Patel, Rubi Montejano, Christina Hopkins, Hanna Siatecka, Theodore Rosen
Affiliations
- Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA.
- Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA.
- Dermatology, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA.
Abstract
Sickle cell disease is a condition that can involve numerous organ systems secondary to vascular occlusion. Herein, we present a case of a 21-year-old male with sickle cell disease requiring long-term hydroxyurea therapy. Upon migrating to the United States from Yemen, the patient developed a rapidly progressive, exquisitely painful ulcer on his right lower extremity. Given his country of origin, a broad differential, including select infectious diseases, was essential. Moreover, establishing the unequivocally correct diagnosis was crucial to determine proper and safe therapy. Ultimately, a lesional biopsy demonstrated numerous sickled red blood cells occluding blood vessels, leading to the diagnosis of sickle cell disease-related leg ulceration.
MeSH
Cells, Blood, Anemia, Sickle Cell, Leg Ulcer, Ulcer, Diagnosis, Therapeutics