The Objective Evaluation Methods for Therapeutic Effectiveness and the Efficacy of Systemic Corticosteroid in the Treatment of Cellulitis

Cha, Young Chang; Jang, Yun Hwan; Lee, Jung Joo; Lee, Seok Jong; Chung, Sang Lip; Min, Pok Kee; Kim, Jin Ha; Seo, Koo Il

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Because it has been known that the inflammatory process of cellulitis can be modified by the immune reaction, systemic corticosteroid may be helpful to reduce the inflammatory reaction of the cellulitis and its consequent complications such as skin necrosis and lymphangitis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was as follows; To find out the appropriate and objective examination methods to evaluate the improvement of cellulitis. To estimate the efficacy of the systemic corticosteroid of short period in the treatment of cellulitis. METHODS: First, as methods of evaluation of therapeutic effectiveness, we measured the lesional skin temperature, circumference of extremity and subjective tenderness in two groups-patients with cellulitis and controls to find out the objective tools showing the improvement of cellulitis. Second, we also measured the skin temperature, circumference of extremity and subjective tenderness in another two groups-patients with systemic corticosteroid and those without to evaluate the effect of systemic corticosteroid in cellulitis. RESULTS: The results were as follows ; Measurements of the skin temperature, circumference and subjective tenderness all showed statistic significance to evaluate the improvement of cellulitis. Patients who were treated with systemic corticosteroid showed statistically better improvement than control group in the lesion of cellulitis. CONCLUSION: The lesional skin temperature, circumference and tenderness can be an objective evaluation method of clinical effectiveness and the systemic corticosteroid may be as adjunct to improvement of the cellulitis.