Stasis Ulcers – The Unifying Concept

Abstract

Chronic stasis dermatitis, usually confined to the lower legs, is a complication of longstanding interstitial edema and inflammation, due either to venous hypertension or disorders having in common excessive lymph overload. Heart failure, renal failure, liver cirrhosis, secondary and primary diseases of lymph vessels may complicate with stasis dermatitis. The same mechanisms causing stasis dermatitis can also generate skin ulcers superimposed on stasis dermatitis. In the appropriate context such skin ulcers are called "venous ulcers" or, in different situations, “stasis ulcers”. The distinction between venous and other stasis ulcers is usually possible at the bedside. Also, some general measures of therapy are similar for venous and other stasis ulcers: such are elastic compression, topical skin care and ulcer care. In having in common the pathophysiological mechanisms, in bearing clinical resemblance, and responding to similar therapies, a unifying concept may be opportune to comprise the spectrum of stasis dermatitis, venous and other stasis ulcers. The present work is an appeal to this aim.