title: Successful treatment of postoperative pyoderma gangrenosum with cyclosporin.
abstract: Postoperative pyoderma gangrenosum (PPG), also known as postoperative progressive gangrene of Cullen, is a rare and rapidly evolving complication of surgical procedures. Since the first description by Cullen in 1924 (Surg Gynecol Obstet 1924; 38: 579-582) various case reports have been published. Even in typical cases PPG is often misdiagnosed and therefore wrongly treated; the unknown aetiology makes treatment difficult. The therapies used for pyoderma gangrenosum include systemic corticosteroids, azathioprine, dapsone, mercaptopurine, sulphasalazine, sulphapyridine, thalidomide, cyclophosphamide, clofazimine, isotretinoin, immunoglobulins and cyclosporin. We report on two patients with PPG following breast surgery who were successfully treated with low-dose cyclosporin (2.5-5 mg/kg per day).
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Frankfurt, Germany. Schoefer@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schöfer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine