- Pyoderma gangrenosum
Pyoderma gangrenosum is a disease that causes tissue to become necrotic, causing deep
ulcer s that usually occur on the legs. When they occur, they can lead tochronic wound s. Ulcers usually initially look like small bug bites orpapule s, and they progress to larger ulcers. Though thewound s rarely lead to death, they can causepain andscar ring.The disease was identified in 1930. It affects approximately 1 person in 100,000 in the population. Though it can affect people of any age, it mostly affects people in their 40s and 50s.Jackson JM and Callen JP. 2006. [http://www.emedicine.com/DERM/topic367.htm Emedicine: Pyoderma Gangrenosum.] Retrieved on
January 23 ,2007 .]Types
There are two main types of pyoderma gangrenosum:
* the normal ulcerative form, which occurs in the legs
* an 'atypical' form that is more superficial and occurs in the hands and other parts of the bodyOther variations arecite journal |author=Brooklyn T, Dunnill G, Probert C |title=Diagnosis and treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum |journal=BMJ |volume=333 |issue=7560 |pages=181–4 |year=2006 |pmid=16858047 |doi=10.1136/bmj.333.7560.181] :
* Peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum is 15% of all cases of pyoderma
* Bullous pyoderma gangrenosum
* Pustular pyoderma gangrenosumcite journal |author=Shankar S, Sterling JC, Rytina E |title=Pustular pyoderma gangrenosum |journal=Clin. Exp. Dermatol. |volume=28 |issue=6 |pages=600–3 |year=2003 |pmid=14616824 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2230.2003.01418.x ]
* Vegetative pyoderma gangrenosumcite journal |author=Langan SM, Powell FC |title=Vegetative pyoderma gangrenosum: a report of two new cases and a review of the literature |journal=Int. J. Dermatol. |volume=44 |issue=8 |pages=623–9 |year=2005 |pmid=16101860 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02591.x]Causes
Though the
etiology is not well understood, the disease is thought to be due toimmune system dysfunction, and particularly improper functioning ofneutrophil s. At least half of all pyoderma gangrenosum patients also suffer from illnesses that affect their systemic function. For instance,ulcerative colitis ,Crohn's disease ,rheumatoid arthritis ,myeloma sufferers have the condition.Associations
The common conditions associated with pyoderma gangrenosum are:
*Inflammatory bowel disease:
**Chronic ulcerative colitis
**Crohn's disease
*Arthritides:
**Rheumatoid arthritis
**Seronegative symmetrical polyarthritis
*Haematological disease:
**Myelocytic leukaemia
**Hairy cell leukaemia
**Myelofibrosis
**Myeloid metaplasia
**Monoclonal gammopathy (IgA) [ [http://www.gpnotebook.com/simplepage.cfm?ID=-771358647&linkID=28508&cook=no Maintenance on GPnotebook site ] ]Treatment
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.