OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for recurrence of cellulitis, and to assess

      the predictive value of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and C-reactive protein (CRP) measured

      at baseline. METHODS: A follow up study of 90 hospitalised patients with acute

      non-necrotising cellulitis was conducted. Clinical risk factors were assessed and

      PTX3 and CRP values were measured at baseline. Patients were contacted by phone

      at a median of 4.6 years after the baseline episode and the medical records were

      reviewed. RESULTS: Overall, 41% of the patients had a recurrence in the follow

      up. Of the patients with a history of a previous cellulitis in the baseline study

      57% had a recurrence in five year follow up as compared to 26% of those without

      previous episodes (p = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, only the history of

      previous cellulitis was identified as an independent predicting factor for

      recurrence. The levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) or C-reactive protein (CRP) in the

      acute phase did not predict recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of recurrence is

      considerably higher after a recurrent episode than after the first episode.

      Clinical risk factors predisposing to the first cellulitis episode plausibly

      predispose also to recurrences.