Stewart-bluefarb syndrome: Review of the literature and case report of chronic ulcer treatment with heparan sulphate (Cacipliq20®)

Abstract

Stewart-Bluefarb syndrome (SBS), also known as acroangiodermatitis or pseudo-Kaposi, is a condition rarely encountered. It involves skin lesions that are clinically similar to Kaposi sarcoma but are histologically different, and are usually secondary to an underlying arteriovenous fistula. Treatment of this disease usually involves the correction of the underlying vascular abnormality, with the mainstay of therapy ranging from compression devices for venous stasis, limited oral medications (dapsone and erythromycin) and local wound care including topical steroids. Different methods of treatment showed varied success but none is ideal. We report a case of a lower extremity ulcer in a 22-year-old male recently diagnosed with SBS successfully treated with heparan sulphate (Cacipliq20®).