| Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an idiopathic,
painful and destructive condition that usually presents as an ulceration
on the pretibial region of the legs. It primarily affects patients with
inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, myeloproliferative disorders and
chronic hepatitis, and occasionally affects patients with other conditions,
but it may also occur without any associated illness. Since there are no
specific serologic or histologic markers for PG, it must be diagnosed clinically.
Treatment usually involves immunosuppressant therapy as well as treatment
of the underlying disease. The course of PG is unpredictable, and prognosis
depends on the extent of the skin lesions at the time of diagnosis, underscoring
the need for early and aggressive management. |
