[Pyoderma gangrenosum: a report of 15 cases and review of the literature]

Abstract

Background: Pyoderma gangrenosum is a condition that is included among the neutrophilic dermatoses. Given its low incidence, few studies have addressed its epidemiology or treatment.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with pyoderma gangrenosum along with our experience of treating the condition in a referral hospital in Malaga, Spain.

Material and methods: A retrospective, observational study was undertaken in the Department of Dermatology at Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria in Malaga, Spain between January 2000 and December 2009 and included all patients diagnosed with pyoderma gangrenosum.

Results: The incidence of pyoderma gangrenosum in our reference population is 3.26 cases per million inhabitants per year. The most frequent concomitant systemic disease was ulcerative colitis (5 cases, 33%). In 4 patients with that disease, pyoderma gangrenosum appeared during a flare-up. In 80% of cases, patients were not referred to a dermatologist during the initial phase of pyoderma gangrenosum, and most referrals were from gastroenterology or general surgery (4 patients each, 52%).

Conclusions: Patients with pyoderma gangrenosum are often referred to dermatologists by other specialists after a varying period of time has elapsed without achieving an accurate diagnosis. In these patients, especially those between 20 and 40 years of age, it is essential to rule out concomitant disease. Adalimumab is a good treatment option for pyoderma gangrenosum.