Improvement of idiopathic pyoderma gangrenosum during treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor alfa monoclonal antibody.

Abstract

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an inflammatory ulcerative condition of unknown etiology. An autoimmune mechanism including immune complex-mediated neutrophilic vascular reactions has been suggested. The role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in PG remains unclear. Evidence supports the idea that TNF plays a role in chronic inflammation and migration of neutrophils to these lesions. PG is frequently associated with various diseases, but up to 50% of cases are idiopathic. There are several reports describing the successful use of infliximab (Remicade, Centocor, Inc, Horsham, Pa), a chimeric antitumor necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody, in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease- associated PG, but there have been few reported cases of infliximab in the treatment of idiopathic PG. The authors present a dramatic improvement in 4 cases of idiopathic PG of the lower leg treated with infliximab.

• Authors: Valentina Dini, Marco Romanelli, MariaStefania Bertone, Sara Talarico, Stefano Bombardieri, Paolo Barachini
• Journal: The international journal of lower extremity wounds (Int J Low Extrem Wounds) Vol. 6 Issue 2 Pg. 108-13 (Jun 2007) ISSN: 1534-7346 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17558009 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Infliximab

Topics

• Aged
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use)
• Antiphospholipid Syndrome (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Humans
• Infliximab
• Leg Ulcer (drug therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Pyoderma Gangrenosum (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Wound Healing (drug effects)