https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2006.26

The treatment of skin ulcers in systemic sclerosis: use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in 26 patients

Vol. 58 No. 1 (2006)
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Authors

Dilia Giuggioli
office@pagepress.org
Rocco Magistro
Michele Colaci
Umberto Franciosi
Andrea Caruso
Clodoveo Ferri
Objectives: To verify the effectiveness of G-CSF in the treatment of non-healing skin lesions in SSc patients. Methods: 26 SSc patients (23 F and 3 M, age 54 ±13,6 yrs) with skin ulcers were enrolled in a pilot study. Prior to the treatment with G-CSF, all ulcers failed to heal with conventional therapies carried out for a period of 1-5 years. All patients were treated with 5μg/kg G-CSF subcutaneously for 5 days. Healing time, quality of wounds, VAS and HAQ-DI were used to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment. Results: An improvement of skin ulcers was observed in 24/26 patients; in particular, 22/26 wounds completely healed, 2/26 showed a partial healing, in only 2 patients skin ulcers did not change during the 6-month follow-up. The quality of life improves as showed by VAS (from 88±13 to 55±28; p<.0001) and HAQ (from 2.12 ±0.45 to 1.28±0.30; p<.0001). The eradication of pathogens from the infected ulcers was also observed in 12/12 patients; while no adverse side effects related to G-CSF were recorded. Our study suggests that G-CSF may be usefully employed in scleroderma skin ulcers refractory to conventional treatments.

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How to Cite

Giuggioli, D., Magistro, R., Colaci, M., Franciosi, U., Caruso, A., & Ferri, C. (2006). The treatment of skin ulcers in systemic sclerosis: use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in 26 patients. Reumatismo, 58(1), 26–30. https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2006.26

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