Pyoderma Gangrenosum in an African American Male Initially Presenting as Sepsis

Carly E Wallace; Amit Sharma

doi:10.7759/cureus.21592

Pyoderma Gangrenosum in an African American Male Initially Presenting as Sepsis

Cureus. 2022 Jan 25;14(1):e21592. doi: 10.7759/cureus.21592. eCollection 2022 Jan.

Authors

Carly E Wallace¹, Amit Sharma²

Affiliations

¹ College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, USA.
² College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Elmira, USA.

Abstract

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, ulcerating, rapidly developing neutrophilic dermatosis that is often challenging to diagnose and treat. We present the case of a 47-year-old African American male who presented with a painful left anterior shin ulcer, fever, leukocytosis, and tachycardia. The patient had a similar lesion seven years prior that had since healed, with no other medical conditions. Sepsis secondary to a soft tissue infection was initially suspected; however, given the patient's history of pathergy, rapid progression of the lesion, skin examination, and sterile wound culture, PG was diagnosed. The patient improved in response to corticosteroid therapy. A brief overview of the disease presentation, diagnosis, and treatment is provided.

Keywords: neutrophilic dermatosis; pathergy; pyoderma gangrenosum; sepsis; soft tissue infection.

Publication types

Case Reports