Pyoderma gangrenosum in childhood leukemia

Pyoderma gangrenosum

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis that presents with rapidly developing, painful skin ulcers hallmarked by undermined borders and peripheral erythema. Epidemiological studies indicate that the average age of PG onset is in the mid-40s, with an incidence of a few cases per million person-years. PG is often associated with a variety of other immune-mediated diseases, most commonly inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The cause of PG is not well understood, but PG is generally considered an autoinflammatory disorder. Studies have focused on the role of T cells, especially at the wound margin; these cells may support the destructive autoinflammatory response by the innate immune system. PG is difficult to diagnose as several differential diagnoses are possible; in addition to clinical examination, laboratory tests of biopsied wound tissue are required for an accurate diagnosis, and new validated diagnostic criteria will facilitate the process. Treatment of PG typically starts with fast-acting immunosuppressive drugs (corticosteroids and/or cyclosporine) to reduce inflammation followed by the addition of more slowly acting immunosuppressive drugs with superior adverse event profiles, including biologics (in particular, anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents). Appropriate wound care is also essential. Future research should focus on PG-specific outcome measures and PG quality-of-life studies.

Medical and surgical management of paraneoplastic pyoderma gangrenosum--a case report and review of the literature

We present a case of a 44-year-old male with pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) presenting simultaneously with diagnosis of acute leukemia. His skin disease was stabilized with corticosteroids and most lesions cleared after chemotherapy-induced remission of the malignancy, but the largest lesion remained necrotic. Surgical treatment of the large necrotic ulcer included debridement followed by split-thickness skin graft while maintaining corticoid therapy. Unfortunately, relapse of the pyoderma gangrenosum with bullous lesions heralded relapse of the ultimately fatal malignancy. This case illustrates: (1) PG presenting simultaneously with a haematologic malignancy (2) Relapse with atypical bullous lesions with return of the malignancy and (3) The use of surgical modalities in managing patients with PG, a disease notorious for surgical complications.

Neutrophilic dermatoses in children

The neutrophilic dermatoses are rare disorders, especially in children, and are characterized by neutrophilic infiltrates in the skin and less commonly in extracutaneous tissue. The neutrophilic dermatoses share similar clinical appearances and associated conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, malignancies, and medications. Overlap forms of disease demonstrating features of multiple neutrophilic dermatoses may be seen. The manuscript attempts to provide an up-to-date review of (i) classical neutrophilic dermatoses, focusing on distinctive features in children and (ii) neutrophilic dermatoses which may largely be pediatric or genodermatosis-associated (Majeed, SAPHO [synovitis, severe acne, sterile palmoplantar pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis] syndrome, PAPA (pyogenic sterile arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, and acne), PFAPA (periodic fever with aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenopathy), and other periodic fever syndromes, and congenital erosive and vesicular dermatosis healing with reticulated supple scarring).

Atypical pyoderma gangrenosum as a manifestation of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a neutrophilic dermatosis that may occur idiopathically or in association with various systemic diseases and malignancy. Although the association of this entity with myeloid malignancies is well known, its association with lymphoid malignancy is extremely rare. We describe atypical pyoderma gangrenosum in association with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a 2-year-old child, an occurrence not reported before.

Pyoderma gangrenosum in two siblings: a familial predisposition

We report pyoderma gangrenosum in two siblings with onset during childhood and no associated systemic abnormalities. The patients were born of nonconsanguineous, healthy parents. Treatment with oral corticosteroids produced an excellent clinical response, followed by recurrence after cessation of therapy. Steroids were restarted in combination with dapsone to prevent further recurrence.

Pyoderma gangrenosum. A comparison of typical and atypical forms with an emphasis on time to remission. Case review of 86 patients from 2 institutions

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an idiopathic, inflammatory, ulcerative disease of undetermined cause. The diagnosis is based on clinical and pathologic features and requires exclusion of conditions that produce ulcerations. An atypical bullous variant (atypical pyoderma gangrenosum, APG) exists with clinical features similar to those of Sweet syndrome. Because PG is a rare disease, few large case series have been reported. Pyoderma gangrenosum was first recognized as a unique disease entity in the first half of the 20th century. Cumulative knowledge of PG is based on a handful of case series and multiple individual case reports. To augment that knowledge, we present our experience with a large number of patients over a significant time. We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 86 patients with PG who were evaluated and treated over 12 years at 2 university-based dermatology departments. The mean (+/- standard deviation) age of onset of PG and APG, respectively, was 44.6 +/- 19.7 years and 52.2 +/- 15.3 years. Lower extremity involvement was most common in PG, whereas upper extremity involvement was most common in APG. Associated relevant systemic diseases were seen in 50% of patients. Inflammatory bowel disease was the most common association in patients with PG, whereas hematologic disease or malignancy was most common in those with APG. Although a few patients were managed with local measures or nonimmunosuppressive treatment, the majority required oral corticosteroid therapy, often with systemic immunosuppressive treatment. PG patients required a mean 11.5 +/- 11.1 months of treatment to achieve remission compared with 9.0 +/- 13.7 months for patients with APG. Five patients (5.8%) had disease that was extremely refractory to multiple intensive therapies. The prognosis and disease associations for PG and APG appear to be different. Compared with PG, APG is more often associated with hematologic disease or malignancy, and remits more quickly.

Familial pyoderma gangrenosum presenting in infancy

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, poorly understood skin disease that occurs in all age groups. Less than 0.4% of patients are infants and represent a diagnostic challenge as early lesions may resemble other skin disorders. Here we report for the first time three siblings affected with PG all presenting during infancy. Unlike the older age group, the ulcers spared the legs but involved the buttocks, thighs and perianal area in all the infants.

CONCLUSION

This is the first reported family with PG affecting three siblings suggesting autosomal recessive inheritance. The diagnosis may be more difficult in infants due to absence of underlying associated disorders and the tendency of the lesions to appear in areas where infants frequently have other dermatoses. PG characteristically involves the buttocks, thighs and perianal area and spares the legs.

Pyoderma gangrenosum and cranial osteolysis: case report and review of the paediatric literature

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a poorly understood, ulcerating cutaneous disorder which is rarely seen in the paediatric age-group. We report a 3-year-old boy who developed an ulcer over the left frontoparietal scalp at the age of 1 year. A 9-cm area of underlying cranial bone was destroyed. The appearance on radiographs and CT scan was suggestive of eosinophilic granuloma, osteomyelitis, or other destructive processes. Biopsies of the scalp lesion and calvaria showed granulation tissue and degenerating bone. After the biopsies the scalp lesion increased in size, and wound dehiscence occurred. Ulceration developed at the site of a PPD skin test, which on biopsy was consistent with the diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum. Pyoderma gangrenosum should be added to the differential diagnosis of cutaneous disorders which can result in osteolytic/osteonecrotic defects.

Pyoderma gangrenosum in infants and children

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an uncommon ulcerative skin disorder that occurs in all age groups. Approximately 4% of patients are infants and children. There are several notable differences between the childhood and adult manifestations of the disease, including the distribution of lesions and associated disorders. We reviewed the childhood cases (< or = 18 yrs of age) of unequivocal pyoderma gangrenosum in the English literature and tabulated the trends in clinical features, associated disorders, and therapy. We report our 3-week-old patient, the youngest documented case. Of the 46 patients, only 4 were less than 1 year of age. A systemic illness was present in 74% of the older children, most commonly, ulcerative colitis. Only one infant had an associated problem (HIV+) at the time of onset. Infants appear to have an unusual distribution of perianal and genital lesions not often described in other age groups. Our review suggests that pyoderma gangrenosum in children has a similar clinical appearance to that in adults. It is associated with some of the same underlying disorders, but with different frequencies. The distribution of lesions in children is similar, often involving the lower extremities, but pyoderma gangrenosum of the head and face appears to be more common in children. Infants may have ulcers in genital and perianal areas. The most frequently prescribed treatment for children is systemic corticosteroids, which generally are very effective.

Paraneoplastic pyoderma gangrenosum

Pyoderma Gangrenosum (PG) is often associated with an underlying disease. PG as a paraneoplastic disease is illustrated by the presentation of four patients with malignancy of myeloproliferative origin and PG. An associated malignancy is found in approximately 7% of patients with PG, most commonly haematologic in nature and in particular leukaemia. Clinically the PG is often of the superficial bullous variant and is associated with a poor prognosis.

Pyoderma gangrenosum, polycythemia rubra vera, and the development of leukemia

A patient with long-standing, well-controlled polycythemia rubra vera developed recurrent episodes of bullous pyoderma gangrenosum followed by the transformation of his hematologic disease into a rapidly progressive acute myeloid leukemia. This case, together with previously described patients, indicates that the appearance of bullous pyoderma gangrenosum in a patient with polycythemia rubra vera is often of ominous prognostic significance.