Connective Tissue Disease Leg Ulcer Etiology Study

Patients with non-healing leg ulcers who are over 18 years old will be eligible to enter the CLUE study. All eligible patients will be evaluated in both the Georgetown University Rheumatology Clinic and the Georgetown University Comprehensive Wound Healing Center. Since these evaluations are part of our routine care of patients, you need to have health insurance to be evaluated in our clinics.

WHAT DOES THE STUDY INVOLVE?

Enrollment in the CLUE study is voluntary, and will not affect your medical care at Georgetown University Hospital.

The standard evaluation of patients with non-healing leg ulcers evaluated in the Georgetown Division of Rheumatology includes an initial history and physical examination, along with hypercoagulable and autoimmune profiles. If this is your first visit to the rheumatology clinic the initial laboratory testing will require 3.5 tablespoons of blood. We will ask for your permission to review your medical record for previous blood test results so that you do not undergo unnecessary testing.

If you agree to participate in the CLUE study we will ask you to sign a consent form, allow us to photograph and measure your ulcers, and complete three brief pain and quality-of-life questionnaires.