Successful Treatment of Cabozantinib-induced Pyoderma Gangrenosum with Ixekizumab Therapy: A Case Report

The Pathophysiology and Treatment of Pyoderma Gangrenosum-Current Options and New Perspectives

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon inflammatory dermatological disorder characterized by painful ulcers that quickly spread peripherally. The pathophysiology of PG is not fully understood; however, it is most commonly considered a disease in the spectrum of neutrophilic dermatoses. The treatment of PG remains challenging due to the lack of generally accepted therapeutic guidelines. Existing therapeutic methods focus on limiting inflammation through the use of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies. Recently, several reports have indicated the successful use of biologic drugs and small molecules administered for coexisting diseases, resulting in ulcer healing. In this review, we summarize the discoveries regarding the pathophysiology of PG and present treatment options to raise awareness and improve the management of this rare entity.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum: Treatment Options

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis that leads to exceedingly painful ulcerations of the skin. Although the exact pathogenesis is not yet fully understood, various auto-inflammatory phenomena with increased neutrophil granulocyte activity have been demonstrated. Despite the limited understanding of the pathogenesis, it is no longer a diagnosis of exclusion, as it can now be made on the basis of validated scoring systems. However, therapy remains a major multidisciplinary challenge. Various immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies are available for the treatment of affected patients. In addition, concomitant topical pharmacologic therapy, wound management and pain control should always be addressed. Corticosteroids and/or cyclosporine remain the systemic therapeutics of choice for most patients. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing number of studies on the positive effects of biologic therapies such as inhibitors of tumour necrosis factor-α; interleukin-1, interleukin-17, interleukin-23 or complement factor C5a. Biologics have now become the drug of choice in certain scenarios, particularly in patients with underlying inflammatory comorbidities, and are increasingly used at an early stage in the disease rather than in therapy refractory patients.

Clinical efficacy of flap transplantation combined with vacuum sealing drainage and methylprednisolone and cyclosporine in the treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum

This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of flap transplantation combined with vacuum sealing drainage and methylprednisolone and cyclosporine in the treatment of ulcer wound of patients with pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). From August 2014 to February 2022, 30 patients with pyoderma gangrenosum ulcer wounds were selected as the research objects and randomly divided into the observation group (n = 12) and the control group (n = 18) in this retrospective study. The patients in observation group were treated with VSD combined with flap transplantation and immunosuppressive agent treatment, while the control group was treated with normal dressing change combined with hormone and cyclosporine. The ulcer wound healing time and dressing change times were compared between the two groups. All the 30 cases of two groups healed after corresponding treatment. The wound healing time of ulcer in the observation group was 35-40 days, with an average healing time of (35.83 ± 1.95) days, and the wound healing time of the control group was 60-200 days, with an average healing time of (44.14 ± 9.67) days. The healing time of observation groups was significantly shorter than that in the control group (t = 4.652, P < .05). The frequency of dressing change in the observation group was seven-eight times, with an average of (7.17 ± 0.39) times, and the frequency of dressing change in the control group was 75-86 times, with an average of (79.22 ± 3.62) times. The difference between the two groups was significant (t = 6.214, P < .05). The treatment of VSD combined with flap transplantation and immunosuppressive agent treatment promote ulcer wound healing of pyoderma gangrenosum.

Novel and Off-Label Biologic Use in the Management of Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Pyoderma Gangrenosum, Lichen Planus, and Seborrheic Dermatitis: A Narrative Review

With advances in drug development and our understanding of the pathophysiology of skin disease, biologic medications have emerged as powerful management tools for dermatologists. While biologics have most often been used in the management of psoriasis, they are being used off-label for the management of a variety of other immune-mediated skin diseases with overlapping molecular targets. This narrative review focuses on the novel and off-label use of biologic medications for the management of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), lichen planus (LP), and seborrheic dermatitis (SD). Review of the literature revealed that IL-17, IL-23, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors were being used across a variety of immune-mediated skin pathologies with variable efficacy, among other targeted biologics. While biologics were generally safe in the treatment of primary immune-mediated skin disorders, paradoxical disease eruptions were noted with biologic use and were theorized to occur owing to immune dysregulation and cytokine imbalance. While numerous case reports show promise for the use of biologics in immune-mediated skin pathologies, the variable efficacy and safety reported warrants more thorough investigations of the role of these targeted medications in comprehensive disease management.

Macrophages in Skin Wounds: Functions and Therapeutic Potential

Macrophages regulate cutaneous wound healing by immune surveillance, tissue repair and remodelling. The depletion of dermal macrophages during the early and middle stages of wound healing has a detrimental impact on wound closure, characterised by reduced vessel density, fibroblast and myofibroblast proliferation, delayed re-epithelization and abated post-healing fibrosis and scar formation. However, in some animal species, oral mucosa and foetal life, cutaneous wounds can heal normally and remain scarless without any involvement of macrophages. These paradoxical observations have created much controversy on macrophages' indispensable role in skin wound healing. Advanced knowledge gained by characterising macrophage subsets, their plasticity in switching phenotypes and molecular drivers provides new insights into their functional importance during cutaneous wound healing. In this review, we highlight the recent findings on skin macrophage subsets, their functional role in adult cutaneous wound healing and the potential benefits of targeting them for therapeutic use.