Angiotensin II receptor blockers as a risk factor for skin ulcers

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the risk factors associated with skin ulcers that were not of vascular, paraneoplastic, rheumatologic, or pressure origin. Methods: This was an observational, case- and control-designed, and retrospective trial. The group of cases was patients who presented skin ulcers that were not of vascular, paraneoplastic, or pressure origin. The control group was formed by ill subjects with no skin ulcers paired in age, sex, and chronic diseases. The cases were defined with the presence of an ulcer, at the 1st time consultation; treatment with medication, symptoms, progression time, and substance abuse were entered in a database. The statistical analysis of the results was performed using the EpiInfo software, version 7.2.2.6. Results: Between July 2005 and December 2020, 69 patients suffering from skin ulcers without apparent etiology were enrolled. Following the statistical analysis of all variables, a significant difference in favor of the cases with antihypertensive treatment with angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) was obtained, with p ≤ 0.02 and odds ratio 2.24 with confidence interval 95 % (1.1–4.5). Conclusion: ARB medications are a risk factor for the presence of skin ulcers.

Keywords

• Skin ulcers. Angiotensin II receptor blockers. Nonvascular ulcers.