Leg Ulcers: A Report in Patients with Hemoglobin E Beta Thalassemia and Review of the Literature in Severe Beta Thalassemia.

Background: Leg ulcers are a frequent complication in patients with the inherited hemoglobin disorders. In thalassemia, the literature is limited, and factors associated with the development of leg ulcers in hemoglobin E (HbE) beta thalassemia, the most common form of severe beta-thalassemia worldwide, have not previously been reported.

Methods: We reviewed all available medical records of patients with HbE beta thalassemia to document the onset of leg ulcers at the 2 largest treatment centers in Sri Lanka.