Leg ulcers in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

A retrospective study over an eight-year period of 33 episodes of leg ulceration in 26 patients with rheumatoid arthritis requiring inpatient management is reported. the aetiology of the ulcers was found to be multifactorial. The most common factors were venous insufficiency (45.5%), trauma or pressure (45.5%) and arterial insufficiency (36.4%). Vasculitis (18.2%) and Felty's syndrome (12.1%) were less frequent causes, and pyoderma gangrenosum was rare. Most patients had seropositive erosive disease with high rheumatoid factor titres and significant functional impairment; over half were on maintenance corticosteroids. Colonisation of the ulcers by organisms, predominantly Staphylococcus aureus, was common (69.7%). Skin grafting was required in 63.3%, but the rate of complete take was only 42.9% despite multiple attempts. Hospitalisation was prolonged (mean 47.9 days) and the recurrence rate requiring further hospitalisation was 26.9%. The diagnosis of vasculitis and the limited role of biopsy in establishing its presence are discussed.