Pyoderma Gangrenosum and Interleukin Inhibitors: A Semi-Systematic Review

Targeted therapy for immune mediated skin diseases. What should a dermatologist know?

BACKGROUND

Molecularly targeted therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and Janus Kinase inhibitors (JAKis), have emerged as essential tools in the treatment of dermatological diseases. These therapies modulate the immune system through specific signaling pathways, providing effective alternatives to traditional systemic immunosuppressive agents. This review aims to provide an updated summary of targeted immune therapies for inflammatory skin diseases, considering their pathophysiology, efficacy, dosage, and safety profiles.

METHODS

The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic search was conducted on PubMed over the past 10 years, focusing on randomized clinical trials, case reports, and case series related to targeted immune therapies in dermatology. Eligibility criteria were applied, and data were extracted from each study, including citation data, study design, and results.

RESULTS

We identified 1360 non-duplicate articles with the initial search strategy. Title and abstract review excluded 1150, while a full-text review excluded an additional 50 articles. The review included 143 studies published between 2012 and 2022, highlighting 39 drugs currently under investigation or in use for managing inflammatory skin diseases.

STUDY LIMITATIONS

The heterogeneity of summarized information limits this review. Some recommendations originated from data from clinical trials, while others relied on retrospective analyses and small case series. Recommendations will likely be updated as new results emerge.

CONCLUSION

Targeted therapies have revolutionized the treatment of chronic skin diseases, offering new options for patients unresponsive to standard treatments. Paradoxical reactions are rarely observed. Further studies are needed to fully understand the mechanisms and nature of these therapies. Overall, targeted immune therapies in dermatology represent a promising development, significantly improving the quality of life for patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases.

Analysis of clinical characteristics and factors affecting treatment responses in patients with pyoderma gangrenosum: a multicenter study of 239 patients☆

BACKGROUND

Pyoderma Gangrenosum (PG) is a chronic disease characterized by recalcitrant skin ulcers.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical characteristics, treatments and factors affecting the treatment responses of patients with PG.

METHODS

We performed a multicenter study of 12 tertiary care centers. We analyzed the data of the patients who were followed up with a diagnosis of PG between the years 2012‒2022 retrospectively.

RESULTS

We included a total of 239 patients of whom 143 were female and 96 were male, with an average age of 54.2 ± 17.4 years. The most common treatment was systemic steroids (n = 181, 75.7%). Among these patients, 50.8% (n = 92) used systemic steroids as the sole systemic agent, while 49.2% (n = 89) used at least one adjuvant immunosuppressive agent. The independent factors determined in regression analysis to influence response to systemic steroids positively were disease onset age ≥ 30-years, negative pathergy, absence of leukocytosis, negative wound culture, presence of a single lesion, and absence of upper extremity involvement. Biological agents were used in 18.4% (n = 44) of the patients in the present study. We also analyzed pathergy positive PG and early onset (onset age < 30) PG separately due to their distinct clinical features which were revealed during statistical analysis.

STUDY LIMITATIONS

Retrospective nature of the present study.

CONCLUSIONS

Analyses of the factors influencing treatment responses are addressed in this study. Also, we concluded that investigation for accompanying autoinflammatory diseases of pathergy positive PG and early onset PG is necessary and the patients in these two groups are more resistant to treatment, necessitating more complicated treatments.

Tofacitinib therapy for severe pyoderma gangrenosum in a patient with enteropathic arthritis: a case-based review

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis that is associated with systemic inflammatory conditions. Currently, there is no universally accepted standard therapy for PG, but immunosuppressive (IS) treatment seems essential. We report a patient here who was successfully treated with tofacitinib despite being PG-refractory to multiple anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF) therapies and conventional IS. In addition, we performed a comprehensive review of all cases of PG treated with JAK inhibitors. We identified 27 cases treated with JAK inhibitors. Approximately 80% of the patients achieved complete recovery within a median of 12 weeks, even though 17 patients (63%) had received biologics before JAKinib treatment. Notably, this recovery could appear as early as 2 weeks. JAK inhibitors may prove useful in the future, particularly for treating immunosuppressive and steroid-resistant pyoderma gangrenosum, according to recent case reports.

Progressive Facial Ulcer: A Case Report of Pyoderma gangrenosum

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by rapidly developing and painful skin ulcers with distinctive features. As far as we are concerned, there is no previous case report on facial PG in East-Asia. In this case, we describe a case of a 79-year-old man with a 3-month history of progressive painful ulcers on his cheek and upper lip. Initial suspicion of atypical mycobacterium infection led to an ineffective treatment regimen. Comprehensive infectious testing yielded negative results, and a positive pathergy test indicated a potential diagnosis of PG. A skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, and the patient showed significant improvement with intravenous methylprednisolone and oral cyclosporine treatment. After three months, complete resolution of the lesions was achieved without recurrence. The case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with PG, which is often misdiagnosed due to its resemblance to other conditions. Thorough evaluation is crucial to exclude alternative diagnoses, particularly cutaneous infections. Clinical morphology, tissue biopsy, and culture are essential for accurate diagnosis. The presence of pathergy, the development of new lesions following minor trauma, can also be a diagnostic clue.

New treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum and hidradenitis suppurativa: A review

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are stubborn inflammatory skin diseases categorized as neutrophilic hypodermal dermatoses. These conditions exhibit connections with other autoinflammatory disorders driven by immune responses. Their pathogenesis is complex, rooted in significant imbalances in both innate and adaptive immune systems, particularly featuring elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-8, IL-17, and IL-23. Studies involving skin tissue pathology and serology have indicated that targeting specific cytokines can bring therapeutic benefits. Indeed, many patients in clinical settings have responded positively to such interventions. Yet, given the diverse cytokines in play, focusing on a single one with antibody therapy might not always be effective. When resistance to biologics emerges, a combined approach targeting multiple overactive cytokines with immunosuppressants, for example cyclosporine and Janus kinase inhibitors, could be an option. In the current review, we explore recent therapeutic developments for PG and HS.

Certolizumab treatment of localized pyoderma gangrenosum in a pregnant patient

THE PURPOSE OF THE ARTICLE

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an ulcerating neutrophilic dermatosis with an incidence of 3-10 patients per million. PG equally affects patients of both sexes and of any age. Of these patients, 50-75% are associated with auto-immune disease. The lower extremities are the most commonly affected body parts. Minor trauma to the skin may result in the development of new lesions. Patients complain of chronic, nonhealing ulcers with associated pain. Treatment starts with systemic or intralesional corticosteroids, however, no official treatment protocol currently exists. Recent success has been found with biologic agents such as TNF-a inhibitor, although the treatment efficacy in these reports is limited. As for the pregnant patient, the drug selection is difficult. In this report, we want to assess the efficiency of certolizumab in the pregnant patient.

RESULTS

We report a case of a patient with PG, who responded well to certolizumab, 400 mg as a booster dose, followed by 200 mg biweekly for 8 weeks. The lesions gradually resolved and followed up for 5months without side effect. In addition, we reviewed the literature and compared the current treatment efficiency in the treatment of PG.

CONCLUSION

Certolizumab may be a promising therapeutic option for patients with severe PG.

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.

Multiple Lesions at Different Stages of Pyoderma Gangrenosum in a Crohn's Disease Patient

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an inflammatory dermatosis characterized by the rapid progression of a painful, necrolytic ulcer with an irregular and undermined border. The prevalence of PG in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) has been estimated to be 0.7%. Here, we report a case that presented various painful skin lesions, including erythema, vesicles, plaques, and ulcers, one week before the fourth infliximab infusion for CD. PG was diagnosed and the lesions subsided after a 390-mg ustekinumab infusion for one month. It suggests that different lesions of PG may occur concomitantly in CD patients, and the therapy should be re-evaluated on time.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum: An Updated Literature Review on Established and Emerging Pharmacological Treatments

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare inflammatory skin disease classified within the group of neutrophilic dermatoses and clinically characterized by painful, rapidly evolving cutaneous ulcers with undermined, irregular, erythematous-violaceous edges. Pyoderma gangrenosum pathogenesis is complex and involves a profound dysregulation of components of both innate and adaptive immunity in genetically predisposed individuals, with the follicular unit increasingly recognized as the putative initial target. T helper 17/T helper 1-skewed inflammation and exaggerated inflammasome activation lead to a dysregulated neutrophil-dominant milieu with high levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-1α, IL-8, IL-12, IL-15, IL-17, IL-23, and IL-36. Low-evidence studies and a lack of validated diagnostic and response criteria have hindered the discovery and validation of new effective treatments for pyoderma gangrenosum. We review established and emerging treatments for pyoderma gangrenosum. A therapeutic algorithm based on available evidence is also provided. For emerging treatments, we review target molecules and their role in the pathogenesis of pyoderma gangrenosum.

Positioning biologics in the treatment of IBD: A practical guide – Which mechanism of action for whom?

The number of available biological therapies have doubled over the last 10 years and the arrival of novel molecules (interleukin 23p19 inhibitors) is ongoing alongside the development of small molecules. As a result of this vast landscape of treatment, positioning advanced therapies (according to clinical situation, efficacy and safety) is of paramount importance to providing personalized, appropriate IBD treatment.

In this publication the recent available literature is summarized for practical integration into clinical practice including comparative efficacy data, patient and disease demographics. We refer to recent publications and expert opinion in order to facilitate the decision making process of positioning biologicals IBD treatment.

When Recurring Infections Mask an Atypical Presentation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A Re-Visitation and Literature Review

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon and severe extra-intestinal manifestation (EIM) of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Head or scalp involvement in this condition is exceedingly rare. Approximately one-third of presentations can be precipitated by skin trauma or infection, a phenomenon known as pathergy. These ulcers develop acutely, do not necessarily correlate with IBD activity, and can precede IBD diagnosis. Here, we present an atypical presentation of PG that became a cornerstone finding in the subsequent diagnosis of IBD.