Adalimumab therapy for recalcitrant pyoderma gangrenosum.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a patient with treatment-refractory pyoderma gangrenosum and the outcome of a novel therapeutic approach.


METHODS
Case report and review of the literature.


RESULTS
A patient with inflammatory bowel disease developed severe pyoderma gangrenosum while receiving treatment with the chimeric anti-TNF-alpha antibody infliximab. Despite subsequent trials of numerous immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory medications, the dermatologic disease progressed. The patient's ulcers finally resolved when treatment with adalimumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody specific for TNF-alpha, was initiated.


CONCLUSIONS
We report a novel application of the TNF-alpha inhibitor, adalimumab, in the treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum.
Fonder
Margaret A
MA
Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Cummins
Deborah L
DL
Ehst
Benjamin D
BD
Anhalt
Grant J
GJ
Meyerle
Jon H
JH