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Article
August 1995

Leg Ulcers and Klinefelter's Syndrome

Author Affiliations

Department of Dermatology Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht P Debeyelaan 25 6202 AZ Maastricht, the Netherlands

Maastricht

Arch Dermatol. 1995;131(8):958-959. doi:10.1001/archderm.1995.01690200098022
Abstract

We read with interest the vignette by Spier et al1 in the February 1995 issue of the Archives concerning recurrent leg ulcerations as the initial clinical manifestation of Klinefelter's syndrome. We completely agree with their conclusion that it is important to consider Klinefelter's syndrome in young male patients with chronic leg ulcers. We must also realize that this chromosomal abnormality is far from rare. Its prevalence has been estimated at one male birth in 500.2 Up to now, it is not exactly known which percentage of all patients with Klinefelter's syndrome actually have leg ulcers. We recently diagnosed several patients with Klinefelter's syndrome; their presenting symptom was recurrent leg ulcers. Further investigation into the pathogenesis of skin symptoms and ulcers showed that some of these patients even lack the underlying venous insufficiency. The reported platelet hyperaggregability was not present in our group of patients with Klinefelter's syndrome. Therefore,

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