Multiple Lesions at Different Stages of Pyoderma Gangrenosum in a Crohn’s Disease Patient

Introduction

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) was first described in 1908 as a “geometric phagedena” (phagédénisme géométrique) and was later redefined as PG in 1930.¹ It is an inflammatory dermatosis characterized by the rapid progression of a painful, necrolytic ulcer with an irregular, undermined border. The early stages of pyoderma gangrenosum may present as pustules and nodules that may progress to ulcers. The pathogenesis of PG remains unclear. Pathophysiology is believed to be related to the exaggerated recruitment of neutrophils to the dermis, which is a typical pathological feature of PG. PG is usually a diagnosis of exclusion; however, recently diagnostic criteria for PG have been proposed.¹

PG is associated with systemic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, hematological malignancies, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in about half of the cases.^2,3 Almost one-third of patients with PG have an underlying IBD and the prevalence of PG in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) has been estimated to be 0.7%.⁴ Here, we report a patient with CD presented with various stages of lesions of PG.

Case Report

A 29-year-old man presented with various painful skin lesions, including erythema, vesicle, plaques, and ulcers, one week before the fourth infliximab infusion for moderately active CD. Physical examination showed multiple erythematous papules/plaques covered with crust on the scalp and face ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 cm. An erythematous papulovesicle was on the abdomen, and an oval, 0.5cm-sized, erythematous ulcer was on the calf. In addition, a single oval, 1cm-sized, sharply demarcated ulcer is located on the penis (Figure 1). Skin biopsies revealed epidermal acanthosis and a lichenoid infiltration of lymphocytes in the superficial dermis with dermal edema (the papule on the abdomen) and a dense polymorphic inflammatory dermal infiltrate, very rich in neutrophils, compatible with PG (the ulcer on the calf) (Figure 2). Laboratory and radiologic tests were negative for infection, vasculitis, and malignancy. Bone marrow biopsy was normal. Tissue cultures grew neither bacteria nor fungi. The patient was diagnosed with PG, and because of inadequate response to infliximab, a ustekinumab infusion was given. The lesions gradually subsided after a 390-mg ustekinumab infusion for one month.

Figure 1 (A–C) multiple erythematous papules/ plaques covered with crust on the scalp and face ranging from 0.5 to 1.5cm. (D) an erythematous papulovesicle on the abdomen. (E) single oval, 1cm-sized, sharply demarcated ulcer located on the penis. (F) an erythematous ulcer on the right calf.

Figure 2 (A) an epidermal acanthosis and a lichenoid lymphocyte infiltrate in the superficial dermis with dermal edema (the papulovesicle on the abdomen, HE, ×100), (B) a dense polymorphic inflammatory dermal infiltrate, very rich in neutrophils (the ulcer on the calf, HE, ×100).

Discussion

PG is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis with an estimated incidence of 3–10 cases per million per year.² It occurs most commonly in individuals 20–60 years old, with the average age of onset at 44 years old.^3,5 Approximately 50% of patients have other associated conditions such as IBD, arthritis, and hematological malignancies (acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplasia, and IgA monoclonal gammopathies).^5–8 PG has five widely recognized subtypes-ulcerative PG, bullous PG, vegetative PG, pustular PG, and peristomal PG.⁹ The most common morphologic variant is ulcerative PG.¹⁰

Ulcerative PG typically presents with an inflammatory and tender nodule or pustule that rapidly expands into an ulcer. The ulcer was always demonstrated with an undermined violaceous border and a purulent base. The disease recovers slowly, and the healing of lesions may result in disfiguring cribriform scar formation. PG is a diagnosis of exclusion. Clinical, histological, and laboratory findings are nonspecific and cannot be used alone for a definitive diagnosis. Although widespread validated diagnostic criteria are lacking for PG, practical criteria have been suggested.¹¹ We finally excluded vasculitis, thrombophilic conditions, malignancies, infections, and other inflammatory diseases through a series of laboratory tests and radiological examinations.

CD is an inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract and can affect other organs, including the skin, eyes, liver, and joints.¹² Cutaneous extraintestinal manifestations are currently divided into four categories: (1) disease-specific lesions, (2) reactive lesions, (3) associated conditions, and (4) therapy-related lesions.^4,12 Disease-specific lesions that are seen only in CD,¹³ including perianal fissures/fistulae and metastatic CD, are caused by the direct involvement of the skin by a pathologic mechanism identical to the underlying CD.⁴ Erythema nodosum (EN) and pyoderma gangrenosum are common cutaneous manifestations of reactive lesions, which are induced by cross antigenicity between the integument and gut mucosa without exhibiting the exact pathologic features of the IBD.¹³ As therapeutic options for IBD expand, some investigators have proposed a fourth category of cutaneous extraintestinal manifestations-therapy-related lesions.¹² Associated conditions and therapy-related lesions, including psoriasis, vitiligo, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, eczema, and alopecia areata, sometimes cannot be distinguished. In our case, the pathology was not consistent with the CD and EN, and the lesions also did not meet the diagnostic criterion of associated lesions and therapy-related lesions reported.

The histopathologic findings of PG are not specific, and the primary objective in obtaining a biopsy specimen is to rule out other causes of ulceration. Skin biopsy specimens taken from the erythematous regions adjacent to ulcers may show the disruption or necrosis of dermal or pannicular blood vessels (with lymphocytes as the primary inflammatory cells).¹¹ Classical histopathological findings demonstrated mixed cellular inflammation with neutrophil predominance in skin biopsy specimens of necrotic, undermined ulcer border. In this case, the skin biopsy of the ulcer showed typical features of neutrophil infiltration. In contrast, that of the papulovesicle demonstrated a lichenoid lymphocyte infiltrate in the superficial dermis with dermal edema, indicating that different stages of PG lesions revealed different histopathological manifestations.

Systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents are the main treatment for PG.^14,15 Biologics and small-molecule drugs are emerging. In addition, treating the underlying disease may be helpful.¹⁶ Infliximab-Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) antagonists have shown a more remarkable improvement for PG.^17,18 Other biologics, such as Tocilizumab,¹⁹ Ustekinumab,²⁰ Vedolizumab,²¹ anakinra, canakinumab,²² and small-molecule drugs, including tofacitinib²³ and apremilast,²⁴ have been reported to be effective in some small sample cases.

Conclusion

Here, we present an unusual case of various stages of lesions of PG concomitantly in a Crohn’s disease patient one week before the fourth infliximab infusion and the lesions gradually subsided after taking ustekinumab for one month. It suggests that various painful skin lesions, including erythema, vesicles, plaques, and ulcers, might be the manifestation of PG and the therapy should be re-evaluated.