NGF, a useful tool in the treatment of chronic vasculitic ulcers in rheumatoid arthritis

Vasculitic necrosis and ulceration of the skin are frequent complications of connective tissue diseases and are very difficult to heal. We treated chronic vasculitic leg ulcers in rheumatild arthritis and systemic sclerosis by topical application of nerve growth factor (NGF). In all patients with rh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Lancet (British edition) 2000-11, Vol.356 (9243), p.1739-1740
Main Authors: Tuveri, M, Generini, S, Matucci-Cerinic, M, Aloe, L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Arthritis
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - complications
Autoimmune diseases
Biological and medical sciences
Chronic Disease
Disease
Drug therapy
Female
Humans
Leg Ulcer - drug therapy
Leg Ulcer - pathology
Legs
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Nerve Growth Factor - therapeutic use
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Rheumatoid arthritis
Scleroderma, Systemic - complications
Skin
Skin Diseases, Vascular - complications
Skin Diseases, Vascular - drug therapy
Skin Ulcer - complications
Skin Ulcer - drug therapy
Skin, nail, hair, dermoskeleton
Treatment Outcome
Ulcers
Wound Healing - drug effects
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Summary:Vasculitic necrosis and ulceration of the skin are frequent complications of connective tissue diseases and are very difficult to heal. We treated chronic vasculitic leg ulcers in rheumatild arthritis and systemic sclerosis by topical application of nerve growth factor (NGF). In all patients with rheumatild arthritis, NGF led to rapid healing, whereas less striking results were obtained in patients with systemic sclerosis. The efficacy of NGF could be due to its promoting activity on keratinocytes proliferation and vascular neoangiogenisis. We suggest that topical application of NGF could represent a powerful pharmacological tool for the treatment of vasculitic ulcers.
ISSN:0140-6736
1474-547X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)03212-8