[Successful therapy of a rheumatoid leg ulcer with intravenous immunoglobulins].

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease. Leg ulcers in rheumatoid arthritis may be caused by vasculitis and are an interdisciplinary therapeutic challenge. A 69 year old women with rheumatoid arthritis and many other medical problems presented with widespread vasculitis-induced therapy-resistant ulceration on her right lower leg. Since previous therapeutic efforts had a negative effect on wound healing, we administered intravenous immunoglobulins which led to complete healing of the ulcer was achieved. Both the serological and rheumatologic features of her rheumatoid arthritis also improved. Intravenous immunoglobulins represented an effective therapeutic option with fewer side effects in the therapy of vasculitis-induced leg ulceration in this patient with rheumatoid arthritis.