ascorbic-acid and Leg-Ulcer

Topics: Adolescent; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Ascorbic Acid; Blood Transfusion; Child; Cholelithiasis; Deferoxamine; Endocrine System Diseases; Female; Folic Acid; Growth Disorders; Heart Failure; Hematopoiesis; Humans; Iron; Leg Ulcer; Liver Diseases; Male; Pericarditis; Splenectomy; Thalassemia; Vitamin E

Eight patients with beta thalassaemia major suffering from leg ulcers, were treated over an 8-week period with 3 g ascorbic acid daily in a controlled double-blind crossover study. The ulcers of all the patients showed a high rate of either complete or partial healing.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Humans; Leg Ulcer; Male; Pilot Projects; Placebos; Thalassemia

Topics: Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; Ascorbic Acid; Aspirin; Humans; Hydroxychloroquine; Leg Ulcer; Prolidase Deficiency

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eczema; Humans; Leg Ulcer; Treatment Outcome

Vitamin C is a necessary cofactor for collagen synthesis. A deficiency of vitamin C results in the breakdown of connective tissue in and around the walls of blood vessels. The disease is thus characterized by poor healing of wounds. Chronic leg ulcers are defined as wounds that do not heal.. To investigate whether patients with chronic leg ulcers have vitamin C deficiency.. Case control study; vitamin C was assayed in peripheral blood samples of 42 consecutive patients with chronic leg ulcers and in 37 consecutive patients without chronic leg ulcers. Patients without leg ulcers had peripheral vascular disease, or hypertension, or connective disorders. Patients with diabetes, immunodepression (cancer, HIV infection, corticosteroid therapy) and aged under 65 years were excluded. Reference range for plasma vitamin C was above 26 micromol/l (normal levels, group I), hypovitaminosis C as 6-26 micromol/l (group II) and concentrations<6 micromol/l as scurvy (group III).. Mean age was 77.2 years in the ulcers group and 73.8 in the control group (NS), mean weight 73.1 kg in the ulcers group and 67.5 kg in the control group (NS). Smoking was more frequent in the control group (P<0.001). Mean vitamin C levels were lower in the leg ulcers group: 23.9 vs 33.8 micromol/l (P<0.003). Normal levels of vitamin C (group I) were more frequent in the control group: 78.4 vs 50% (P<0.01). Hypovitaminosis C (group II) was more frequent in the leg ulcers group: 23.8 vs 16.2% (P<0.01). Scurvy was more frequent in the leg ulcers group: 26.2 vs 5.4% (P<0.01). C reactive protein levels were higher in the leg ulcers group: 31.8 vs 9.3 mg (P=0.002) and albumin levels were lower in the leg ulcers group: 25 vs 38 g/l (P=0.01) [retrospective data].. Patients with chronic leg ulcers have lower levels of vitamin C than patients without leg ulcers, although smoking was more frequent in patients without leg ulcers. The question is whether vitamin C deficiency is a cofactor of impaired healing or is a simple marker of poor healing? It would be interesting to conduct a randomized controlled study about treatment of chronic leg ulcers with vitamin C.

Topics: Aged; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Body Weight; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Leg Ulcer; Male; Patient Selection; Reference Values

The risk of vitamin C deficiency is underestimated in industrialized countries and is only disclosed in rare cases of severe scurvy.. We report three cases of scurvy presenting with ecchymotic purpura and hemorrhagic ulcerations of the lower limbs. Vitamin C supplementation led to rapid improvement of the skin lesions.. Clinical diagnosis of low-grade deficiency can be difficult. Biological diagnosis requires special care in sample taking and transport.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Diagnosis, Differential; Ecchymosis; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Leg Dermatoses; Leg Ulcer; Purpura; Risk Factors; Scurvy

Topics: Aged; Ascorbic Acid; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Humans; Leg Ulcer; Male; Middle Aged; Ozone; Sulfates; Wound Healing; Zinc; Zinc Sulfate

This report discusses vitamins and trace elements profiles in Nigerians suffering from chronic leg ulcers. The levels of vitamin A, C and E are significantly lower than levels in healthy Nigerian controls. Copper values are almost the same in the two groups, but the results indicate deficiency of zinc. The relationship of these nutrients to wound healing is discussed; the addition of vitamin E in the management of leg ulcers is recommended.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Copper; Humans; Leg Ulcer; Nigeria; Trace Elements; Vitamin A; Vitamin E; Vitamins; Wound Healing; Zinc

Topics: Adult; Aged; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Burns; Child; Contraceptives, Oral; Depression; Female; Folic Acid; Folic Acid Deficiency; Humans; Infant; Infections; Leg Ulcer; Pyridoxine; Scurvy; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency; Vitamins; Wound Healing; Zinc

Since oedema of adjacent tissue is a major factor in preventing healing of leg ulcers conservative treatment should aim to dry out the ulcer area before bandaging and to keep it dry afterwards. A method of postural drainage of oedema is described in which the patient lies supine with the legs raised vertically for two days. Non-stretch Viscopaste bandages are then applied and the patient allowed to move about normally, but instructed to continue vertical leg drainage for a period each day. Out of 106 cases treated by this method the leg ulcer healed within a year in 82 (77.4%). Relapses were apt to occur when the patient neglected to continue the vertical drainage regimen after the ulcer had healed. These results compare well with those reported for other methods of treatment. Vertical leg drainage treatment is inexpensive and the patient can continue at work.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Bandages; Edema; Female; Humans; Leg Ulcer; Male; Posture; Varicose Ulcer; Wound Healing

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Aspirin; Atrophy; Auscultation; Cellulitis; Drug Combinations; Edema; Humans; Leg Ulcer; Lymphatic System; Macrophages; Necrosis; Occlusive Dressings; Pigmentation Disorders; Posture; Respiration; Rest; Thrombophlebitis; Time Factors; Valsalva Maneuver; Varicose Veins; Venous Insufficiency; Venous Pressure

Topics: Aged; Ascorbic Acid; Diabetic Angiopathies; Female; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Leg Ulcer; Male; Middle Aged; Ointments; Rifampin; Vascular Diseases

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Ascorbic Acid; Citrates; Female; Flavonoids; Hemorrhoids; Humans; Leg Ulcer; Male; Middle Aged; Nucleosides; Skin Diseases; Varicose Veins; Vascular Diseases

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Bandages; Humans; Leg Ulcer; Male; Middle Aged; Ointments; Textiles; Thrombophlebitis; Varicose Veins; Vitamin A; Vitamin D