Poor prognosis of arthritis-associated pyoderma gangrenosum.
BACKGROUND
The association between pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) and arthritis is well established. We have observed a refractory population of patients with arthritis-associated PG (PGA). We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that differences exist in response to treatment in patients with PGA compared with patients with PG without arthritis.


METHODS
We performed a review of patients with PG during a 2-year period. Patients had noninfectious chronic ulcerations clinically typical for PG, exclusion of relevant differential diagnoses, and consistent histopathological features. Outcomes compared between patients with arthritis (PGA) and without arthritis (PG) included complete healing, percentage change in wound size, and duration of therapy. Of 10 PG ulcers, 7 healed, compared with 2 of 8 PGA ulcers. There was a greater mean percentage decrease in wound size in the PG vs the PGA ulcers (78.9% vs 23.4%; P =.10) and a shorter mean duration of treatment (8.7 vs 14.8 months; P =.18).


CONCLUSIONS
The ulcers of patients with PGA seem more refractory to treatment than the ulcers of patients with PG alone. Those with PGA ulcers represent a refractory subset of patients, and the ulcers are possibly secondary to unique pathophysiological features.
Charles
Carlos A
CA
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine/Veterans Administration Medical Center, 1201 NW 16th Street, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
Bialy
Tracy L
TL
Falabella
Anna F
AF
Eaglstein
William H
WH
Kerdel
Francisco A
FA
Kirsner
Robert S
RS
D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing