Clinical disorders determining sclerocythemic hyperviscosity and skin ulcers

G. Caimi, E. Hopps

Abstract: In this brief review, we examine some clinical conditions that result to be associated to a sclerocythemic hemorheological profile and at times accompanied by skin ulcers. This skin condition, even if it may be noted in patients with primary polycythemic hyperviscosity treated with hydroxyurea and in patients with primary plasma hyperviscosity, results present especially in primary sclerocythemic hyperviscosity. In fact, in hereditary spherocytosis, in beta-thalassemia (in particular in thalassemia intermedia) and in sickle cell disease, this skin complication developing above the medial malleolus is a distressing problem that may be attributed to the abnormal rheological profile or to the reduced oxygen released to the tissue.

Series on Biomechanics, Vol.31, No.1 (2017), 45-49

Keywords: hereditary spherocytosis; Sclerocytemic hypervscosity; sickle cell anemia; β-thalassemia

Date published: 2017-06-19