Pyoderma Gangrenosum with Ulcerative Colitis Successfully Treated by the Combination of Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorption Apheresis and Corticosteroids

Intern Med. 2016;55(1):25-30. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.55.5422. Epub 2016 Jan 1.

Abstract

A 36-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to swelling and redness of the left lateral malleolus and dorsum of the left foot with severe pain, with a flare-up of ulcerative colitis (UC). A pathologic examination by skin biopsy led to a diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). She was treated with the intravenous administration of prednisolone (60 mg/day), and granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GMA) was performed twice-a-week for 5 weeks. This treatment dramatically improved both the skin and colonic mucosal lesions. These results suggest that a combination of GMA and corticosteroids might be recommendable to induce the remission of serious PG complicated with UC.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / administration & dosage*
  • Adult
  • Blood Component Removal / methods*
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / complications
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Granulocytes / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Leukapheresis
  • Monocytes / immunology*
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage*
  • Pyoderma Gangrenosum / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Prednisolone