title: Pyoderma gangrenosum: A clinico-epidemiological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pyoderma gangrenosum is a neutrophilic dermatosis of unknown etiology, with inconstant systemic associations and a variable prognosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical features and systemic associations of pyoderma gangrenosum and its response to treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients diagnosed to have pyoderma gangrenosum at the dermatology department of the Government Medical College, Kozhikode, from January 01, 2005 to December 31, 2014 were included in this prospective study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 10-year study period, 61 patients were diagnosed to have pyoderma gangrenosum. A male predilection was noted. The most common clinical type was ulcerative pyoderma gangrenosum (90.2%). More than 60% of patients had lesions confined to the legs; 78.7% had a single lesion and 27.9% had systemic associations. Most patients required systemic steroids. Patients with disease resistant to steroid therapy were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin G and split-thickness skin grafts under immunosuppression induced by dexamethasone pulse therapy. All except one patient attained complete disease resolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main limitation of our study was the small sample size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The male predilection documented by us was contrary to most previous studies. We found split-thickness skin graft to be a useful option in resistant cases. More prospective studies may enable the formulation of better diagnostic criteria for pyoderma gangrenosum and improve its management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Najeeba
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Riyaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Vineetha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mary
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Sarita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasidharanpillai
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Amina Hospital, Perinthalmanna, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Riyaz A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Roshin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Lisa Skin Clinic, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Ottakandathil
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Snigdha
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Ettappurath N Abdul
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Latheef
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Saleem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahima
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Valiaveetil
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bindu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Valluvanad Hospital, Ottappalam, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Ravindran N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Anupama
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Deepthi N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Sureshan
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Pentam Veil Beegum
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Sherjeena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous