Chronic leg ulcers in sickle cell disease: experience in Ibadan, Nigeria.

The prevalence of chronic leg ulcers was investigated in 872 adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) (630 HbSS and 242 HbSC) at Ibadan, Nigeria. The incidence was 7.5% in HbSS and 1.7% in HbSC patients. The sex ratio in HbSS was 2:1 in favour of males, and three of the four HbSC were females. Ulcers were sited around the ankles in more than 70% of the patients. The duration of the ulcers varied from less than 1 year to more than 20 years. There was no bias for social class. Response to therapy, including autologous skin graft, was poor.