Pyoderma Gangrenosum

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a relatively rare destructive vasculitis, which may present as a medical emergency. Since its first description in 1930, it has become established as a distinctive entity. Others have described similar clinical findings as a part of an infectious process, but it seems well established now that the disease occurs in a given patient because of altered immune competence in the patient. Although originally described in association with underlying disease—chronic ulcerative colitis and empyema—fully 50% of patients now seem generally well. The presence of pyoderma gangrenosum in association with leukaemia seems to be receiving special emphasis today as a clinical entity. Advances in our understanding of the disease are continually occurring. Systemic corticosteroids for the very acute problems and sulphapyridine or dapsone for more chronic problems remain the treatments of choice.