title: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for the Adjunctive Treatment of Pyoderma Gangrenosum: A Case Report.
abstract: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a neutrophilic dermatosis of unknown etiology characterized by an ulcerative skin condition and confirmed through a diagnosis of exclusion. Management usually consists of systemic drug therapy, such as corticosteroids, sulfones, or immunosuppressants, either alone or in combination. Long-term use of these medications often has untold side effects. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been shown effective in the treatment of PG, reducing pain and tempering the need for medication. A case is presented of a 54-year-old woman with diabetes, hypertension, and a peptic ulcer who presented with painful, purulent ulcers on her buttocks, hands, and lower extremities of 2 weeks' duration. She was ultimately diagnosed with PG and provided 20 mg/day of oral prednisone for 1 week, tapered to 10 mg/day in the next week and then stopped. In addition, she received 12 sessions of HBOT - she breathed in 100% oxygen under 2.5 atmospheres absolute pressure for 90 minutes over 2 weeks. Her wounds healed without scarring. This excellent outcome including good wound healing, decreased pain, and reduced doses of systemic corticosteroids warrants additional study of the adjunctive use of HBOT for PG.
authors.forename: I-Han
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Yi-Shu
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Niann-Tzyy
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Hao-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chiao
authors.forename: Chang-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Shyi-Gen
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tim-Mo
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shun-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D011241:Prednisone