Pyoderma Gangrenosum and inflammatory bowel disease: a combined medical and surgical approach - case report and literature review

OBJECTIVE: Pyoderma Gangrenosum (PG) is an immune-mediated neutrophilic dermatosis. characterized by large painful ulcers occurring in various body segments. It can be associated to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) including both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn Disease. Prompt and effective management is fundamental, due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. By presenting our clinical experience. we aimed at showing the efficacy of a combined therapeutic approach, in which the best of every specialty cooperates managing this hazardous disease.PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report on two patients attending our outpatient clinic with ulcerative skin lesions at the level of the back. Patient 1 suffered from Crohn disease and Patient 2 presented a positive history of abdominal pain, diarrhea with mucus and blood in the stool. Histological exam was performed with final diagnosis of PG associated with IBD. A Literature review was carried out in order to highlight the role of combined clinical-surgical management of PG in adult patients with IBD.RESULTS: Complete resolution of the lesions was achieved in 4 months and 3 months for each patient respectively without relapse. PubMed was searched from 2000 to 2020 with the following keywords: (Pyoderma) AND/OR (Pyoderma Gangrenosum) AND (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) AND/OR (Ulcerative Colitis) AND/OR (Crohn Disease) AND (Management). Seven pa- pers were included (4 case reports, 2 case series, 1 comprehensive review) and reviewed using a descriptive checklist.CONCLUSIONS: PG should be treated by dedicated multidisciplinary teams, in which every specialist plays a crucial role from the diagnosis to the treatment and up to the long-term follow-up.