title: Use of Becaplermin for nondiabetic ulcers: pyoderma gangrenosum and calciphylaxis.
abstract: Large difficult to heal ulcers of various etiologies carry a high morbidity and mortality rate. Becaplermin is a recombinant platelet-derived growth factor approved for treatment of diabetic ulcers. In this two-case series, we report the use of becaplermin in the treatment of ulcers due to (i) calciphylaxis, an often fatal condition resulting from systemic calcification and thrombosis of vessels and (ii) pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), a neutrophilic dermatosis. We also report that topical collagenase worsened PG ulcers, consistent with pathergy. Becaplermin can be used to help treat ulcers resulting from calciphylaxis and PG. These encouraging results lend support for the utilization of becaplermin in the treatment of nondiabetic chronic ulcers of various etiologies.
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Twu
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mednik
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scumpia
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of California, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doaty
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Worswick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077214:Becaplermin; D002115:Calciphylaxis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D000077214:Becaplermin
keywords: becaplermin; calciphylaxis; pyoderma gangrenosum