Unexpected healing of cutaneous ulcers in a short child

A boy aged 10 years was referred to the Paediatric Department of Milan Univ ersity Hospital, Milan, Italy, with a long history of pain in the lower lim bs, alleviated only by exposure to cold. His legs were swollen, with multip le cutaneous ulcers. He had severe painful crises, and was totally incapaci tated. After the diagnosis of erythermalgia was made, numerous treatments w ere tried, but none were successful. After finding growth hormone (GH) defi ciency, we started treatment with recombinant GH. He had immediate relief o f pain and complete healing of ulcers. We postulate that the healing of the ulcers can be attributed to the GH-promoting effect on dermal connective t issue.