Matti Karppelin1, Tuula Siljander2, Janne Aittoniemi3, Mikko Hurme4, Reetta Huttunen5, Heini Huhtala6, Juha Kere7, Jaana Vuopio8, Jaana Syrjänen9. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, P.O. Box 2000, FI-33521 Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: matti.karppelin@uta.fi. 2. Department of Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 57, FI-20521 Turku, Finland. 3. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Fimlab Laboratories, P.O. Box 66, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland. 4. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Fimlab Laboratories, P.O. Box 66, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, FI-33014 University of Tampere, Finland. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, P.O. Box 2000, FI-33521 Tampere, Finland. 6. School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, FI-33014 University of Tampere, Finland. 7. Department of Medical Genetics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 33, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, and Clinical Research Centre, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; Science for Life Laboratory, P.O. Box 1031, SE-17121 Solna, Sweden. 8. Department of Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 57, FI-20521 Turku, Finland; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turun Yliopisto, Finland. 9. Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, P.O. Box 2000, FI-33521 Tampere, Finland; Medical School, University of Tampere, FI-33014 Tampereen Yliopisto, Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for recurrence of cellulitis, and to assess the predictive value of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and C-reactive protein (CRP) measured at baseline. METHODS: A follow up study of 90 hospitalised patients with acute non-necrotising cellulitis was conducted. Clinical risk factors were assessed and PTX3 and CRP values were measured at baseline. Patients were contacted by phone at a median of 4.6 years after the baseline episode and the medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: Overall, 41% of the patients had a recurrence in the follow up. Of the patients with a history of a previous cellulitis in the baseline study 57% had a recurrence in five year follow up as compared to 26% of those without previous episodes (p = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, only the history of previous cellulitis was identified as an independent predicting factor for recurrence. The levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) or C-reactive protein (CRP) in the acute phase did not predict recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of recurrence is considerably higher after a recurrent episode than after the first episode. Clinical risk factors predisposing to the first cellulitis episode plausibly predispose also to recurrences.
OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for recurrence of cellulitis, and to assess the predictive value of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and C-reactive protein (CRP) measured at baseline. METHODS: A follow up study of 90 hospitalised patients with acute non-necrotising cellulitis was conducted. Clinical risk factors were assessed and PTX3 and CRP values were measured at baseline. Patients were contacted by phone at a median of 4.6 years after the baseline episode and the medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: Overall, 41% of the patients had a recurrence in the follow up. Of the patients with a history of a previous cellulitis in the baseline study 57% had a recurrence in five year follow up as compared to 26% of those without previous episodes (p = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, only the history of previous cellulitis was identified as an independent predicting factor for recurrence. The levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) or C-reactive protein (CRP) in the acute phase did not predict recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of recurrence is considerably higher after a recurrent episode than after the first episode. Clinical risk factors predisposing to the first cellulitis episode plausibly predispose also to recurrences.
Authors: Manoj Kumar; Vincent Jiu Jong Ngian; Clarence Yeong; Caitlin Keighley; Huong Van Nguyen; Bin Soo Ong Journal: Ann Med Surg (Lond) Date: 2019-11-22