Glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and approaches to minimizing systemic activity

PMID: 23503968
Source: Therap Adv Gastroenterol
Publication date: 2013-03-19
Year: 2013

Abstract

Comment in J Crohns Colitis. 2013 May;7(4):e153. J Crohns Colitis. 2013 May;7(4):e154. Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an ulcerating noninfectious disease of the skin seen in 1-2% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The pathogenesis of PG has yet to be determined, but may be related to abnormal T cell responses and the production of TNF-α, a pathway also involved in IBD pathogenesis. Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody to TNF-α, is used to treat moderate to severe IBD and several case reports and studies suggest the efficacy of infliximab in the treatment of PG. The surgical approach to PG is reserved to a few selected cases. We report here the case of a patient with ulcerative colitis (UC) and PG localized on the left breast, treated with a simultaneous combined medical and surgical approach. Copyright © 2012 European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.