Corticosteroid-resistant pyoderma gangrenosum associated with Crohn's disease: rapid cure with infliximab.

A 41-year-old woman with Crohn's disease had a severe and rapidly extensive corticosteroid-resistant pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) of the leg. She had been treated 2 years previously with antibiotics and surgery for a similar lesion of the back of the hand which had been diagnosed as a fulminating infection. Infliximab 5 mg/kg was given at weeks 0, 5 and 9. A dramatic response was observed within 72 h with a favourable effect persisting for 4 weeks after each infliximab infusion. A complete healing was achieved at week 11. This case illustrates that (1). PG of the hand is frequently misdiagnosed as an infection and treated with inappropriate therapies; (2). infliximab may be an interesting alternative in corticosteroid-resistant PG associated with Crohn's disease. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel