RESUMO
Since pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis, epidemiological and clinical data on the disease are scarce. In this single-center retrospective study, we aim to evaluate the clinical characteristics, underlying systemic associations and treatment modalities in patients with PG in a university hospital between 2014 and 2022. It is known that PG most commonly affects the lower extremities, but extracutaneous involvement should also be kept in mind. PG is usually associated with various comorbidities that share a similar inflammatory pathogenesis with the disease. The prevalence of PG-related comorbidities varies in different studies, arthritis and solid organ malignancies were observed most frequently in the current study. Non-PG-related comorbidities including diabetes mellitus, hypertension and peripheral vascular disease can adversely affect wound healing and limit treatment options; therefore, a holistic approach to patients with PG is crucial. Consistent with literature, the mainstay of treatment for PG is systemic corticosteroids and cyclosporine. However, the implementation of biologic agents in treatment-resistant patients is an increasingly important issue in the literature. Antitumor necrosis factors (anti-TNFs) are the most commonly preferred biological therapies, and these agents seem to have paved the way for a paradigm shift in the treatment of PG. In the present study, a relatively high per cent of (23.3%) patients treated with anti-TNFs, most commonly infliximab (87.5%). Recurrence was observed in 46.7% of our patients in the follow-up period and the relapse rate was found to be higher in patients using multiple systemic agents compared to those using single agents (64.7% vs 23.1%, P < .05). In conclusion, we emphasize that early diagnosis and treatment by considering the patient's comorbidities are important in preventing complications, and biologic treatments seem particularly promising in treatment-resistant patients.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Erythema Nodosum (EN) is the most common skin manifestation in sarcoidosis and has often been associated with a good prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical characteristics and treatment-related features in patients with sarcoidosis according to whether or not EN was seen as a presenting symptom at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: A 20-year single-center retrospective study was performed. The following two groups were identified: one group with EN as one of the presenting symptoms at the time of diagnosis of sarcoidosis (EN group) and a second group without EN as a presenting symptom at diagnosis (non-EN group). The clinical characteristics and treatment modalities were collected from the medical records. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients (31 in the EN group, 91 in the non-EN group) were included. Radiological stages of pulmonary disease were significantly lower in the EN group. Articular involvement was more common in the EN group (p = 0.001), whereas other systemic organ involvements (p = 0.025), especially neurological involvement (p = 0.036), were significantly more common in the non-EN group. In the EN group, a higher percentage of patients were managed without systemic therapy (71.0% vs. 54.9%) and spontaneous remission was more frequent (25.0% vs. 14.1%), however, this wasn't statistically significant. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: The lower radiological stage of pulmonary sarcoidosis and lower frequency of systemic organ involvement in patients with EN augment the prognostic value of EN highlighted in the literature. However, this study couldn't confirm that the patients with EN would need less systemic therapy in the course of their disease.