Summary
The leg ulcer is mostly caused by vascular or venous diseases. About 1% of the German
population suffer from a leg ulcer. 50–80% of the leg ulcers are caused by chronic
venous insufficiency. Besides, there are many other diseases which can develop a leg
ulcer. If a leg ulcer does not heal over months of therapy there are many other differential
diagnosis possible. The ulcer is only a symptom, not a diagnosis.
Following diseases can induce leg ulcer: vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, cryoglobulinaemia,
livedo vasculitis, polyarthritis nodosa, haematological, neuropathic, infectious and
metabolic disorders, necrobiosis lipoidica (diabeticorum), pyoderma gangraenosum,
calciphylaxis, arterial hypertension, chemical and physical injuries. The different
diseases are discussed. For the diagnosis it is important that a detailed anamnesis,
a typical statement, laboratory and histological findings exist. Sometimes the cooperation
between several medical disciplines is necessary. Only an exact diagnosis can induce
a differentiated therapy and in many cases the leg ulcer heal up. The aim of this
paper is a survey of various non venous or vascular reasons for the development of
leg ulcer. However the survey is not completed. But the main causes are mentioned.
Zusammenfassung
Das Ulcus cruris ist in der Mehrheit venös und vaskulär bedingt. Daneben gibt es zahlreiche
Erkrankungen, die ebenfalls ein Ulcus cruris hervorrufen können. Ist ein Ulcus cruris
über Monate therapieresistent, sollten differenzialdiagnostische Überlegungen angestellt
werden. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist auf die möglichen Ursachen für ein Ulcus cruris
aufmerksam zu machen und im Einzelnen zu darzulegen.
Keywords
Leg ulcer - non-venous or vascular ulcers of the leg - differential diagnosis
Schlüsselwörter
Ulcus cruris - nicht venöse vaskuläre Beinulzera - Differenzialdiagnose
