title: Topical treatment of pyoderma gangraenosum.
abstract: The treatment of pyoderma gangraenosum (PG) is still a therapeutic challenge. Although several drugs such as corticosteroids, dapsone, clofazimine, azathioprine, tacrolimus and cyclosporine A have been shown to be effective in this disease, side-effects of these agents limit their systemic use in seriously ill patients. In recent years, topical treatment of the disease has gained attention. Several reports show an improvement of cutaneous lesions of PG following topical treatment. These earlier reports as well as our own observations suggest that topical therapeutic regimens can be a useful and safe alternative to systemic immunosuppressive therapy in the treatment of PG. We give a review about these topically used drugs and the mechanisms probably involved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Bonn, Germany. joerg.wenzel@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerdsen
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Phillipp-Dormston
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bieber
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uerlich
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019804:Mesalamine; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium