Treatment of idiopathic pyoderma gangrenosum with infliximab: induction dosing regimen or on-demand therapy?

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an ulcerative skin disease of unknown origin. Recently tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors have been gaining attention in the treatment of recalcitrant pyoderma gangrenosum. However, there is a lack of an optimal dosing strategy in the published literature about the treatment of idiopathic pyoderma gangrenosum, and this is responsible for substantially different treatment strategies. Therefore, it is necessary to report experiences in this patient population in order to develop an optimal dosing strategy and to clarify whether regularly scheduled or on-demand therapy is suitable for idiopathic pyoderma gangrenosum. Herein we report a recalcitrant case of an idiopathic pyoderma gangrenosum treated successfully with a dosing regimen similar to the one that has been used in psoriasis. By doing so, we were capable of controlling the disease and improving the quality of life in our patient. (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.