Sex chromosomal anomalies: a possible association with leg ulcers

Abstract

Study of three male patients with sex chromosome anomalies and a review of a further thirteen collected from the literature suggest an association between the occurrence of leg ulcers and some sex chromosome anomalies in men. The early onset of the leg symptoms is emphasized.

Hypostatic Leg Ulceration and Klinefelter's Syndrome

“…There have been several reports of hypostatic ulceration occurring in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome (Thomsen, 1966;Vogt and Breit, 1969;Palou, Lopez-Delmas and Callejas, 1972;Howell, 1978;Jancar, 1978;Andersen, 1979), but in most instances the subjects were mentally retarded. We have examined a group of patients with Klinefelter's syndrome for evidence of past or present leg ulceration and varicose veins, noting whether the patients were of normal intelligence or were mentally retarded.…”

Lower Leg Ulcers in Klinefelter’s Syndrome

“…Although the occurrence of 82 cases of leg ulcers in Klinefelter patients seems to suggest a positive correlation between these two disorders, it is difficult to establish any association between the occurrence of leg ulcers and a given other disease (Andersen 1979). Few figures are available on the prevalence of leg ulcers, and those quoted for the incidence are often unreliable.…”

“…Ulceration of the lower leg is due to increased venous pressure and its secondary effects and is commonly due to past deep vein thrombosis (Ryan and Wilkinson 1979). The increased height and weight of Klinefelter patients without doubt places greater strain on the vasculature of the lower legs (Andersen 1979). In addition the lower limbs may be long in proportion to the length of the trunk.…”

“…We regret that in probably the majority of cases we did not look for vascular shortcuts in the arterial blood supply. Hormonal factors that in other disorders are known to affect vasculature could perhaps also playa part in Klinefelter's syndrome (Andersen 1979). The endocrine function of the testes has been a subject of discussion since the first description of the syndrome.…”

Rezidivierende Phlebothrombosen und Ulcera crurum als Manifestationsformen hereditärer Gerinnungsstörungen und des Klinefelter-Syndroms

“…Lebensjahr auftritt, und für die chronisch-venöse Insuffizienz (11-41%) [2,7]. Als weitere prädisponierende Faktoren werden der Hochwuchs, die häufig bestehende Adipositas sowie eine Bindegewebsschwäche der Patienten diskutiert [1]. 5-bis 20mal häufiger als in der Normalbevölkerung [7,17].…”