Pyoderma gangrenosum: an Indian perspective.

BACKGROUND

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon, idiopathic, neutrophilic skin disease sometimes associated with systemic diseases. To our knowledge, there have been no case series of PG reported from India.

AIM

To study the clinical features, associated systemic diseases and treatment methods in our case series.

METHODS

In total, 18 cases of PG diagnosed at our institution in Mangalore were evaluated in a prospective study.

RESULTS

Ulcerative PG was the most common variant, seen in all except one case. Paediatric patients constituted less than a quarter (27.77%) of the patients. Systemic diseases were associated with the disease in over half of the patients (55.55%). The pathergy test was positive in seven patients (38.88%), and all but one had associated systemic disease. Corticosteroids were mainly used for management.

CONCLUSIONS

PG is a rare disease in India, but paediatric PG cases were relatively common. Ulcerative PG was the commonest type, and over half of the patients had associated systemic diseases. There were a significant number of patients with associated systemic disease who had a positive pathergy test.