Wound healing of chronic leg ulcers under the influence of erysipelas

We report four patients with long-lasting therapy-resistant ulcus cruris, on which a new erysipelas was superimposed. In one case there was a total closure of the ulcers under the erysipelas. In three patients a reduction in size occurred. All ulcers became flatter. Other stimuli of wound healing were excluded. Because of the long-lasting existence and well known therapy resistance in each case, these changes suggest a positive effect of the erysipelas on the healing of the ulcers. We assume that serum cytokines could offer a possible explanation for this. The concentrations of the IL-6 and IL-2-receptor were initially raised and then later decreased in three of the four cases. Because of the complex stimulation and regulation mechanisms in the cytokine network which are triggered by inflammation, systemic and local effects of keratinocytes, monocytes/macrophages, fibroblasts and endothelium cells could also be assumed to support wound healing.