One of the causes of SCUs is lack of oxygen which may be attributable to overall anaemia and reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of sickled haemoglobin.8 The addition of recombinant human erythropoietin (a glycoprotein hormone that stimulates red blood cell production) subcutaneously at weekly intervals resulted in a rapid and complete healing of a chronic leg ulcer.17 Hence, treatment of chronic leg ulcers should aim at anaemia correction. The gene discussed is EPO; the disease is anemia (phenotype).