title: Tricenter analysis of cofactors and comorbidity in patients with pyoderma gangrenosum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic, ulcerative skin disease of largely unknown pathophysiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, potentially relevant cofactors and comorbidities in patients with PG from three dermatological wound care centers in Germany were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 121 patients assessed, women (66.9 %) were more frequently affected than men. Patient age ranged from 18 to 96 years (mean 59.8). Wound size varied from 1-600 cm² (mean 65.6 cm²), and the pain intensity was predominantly very high (VAS 1-10, mean 7). The lower legs were most commonly (71.9 %) affected. Overall, 12 (9.9 %) patients had inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, 5.8 %; Crohn's disease, 4.1 %), 14.1 % exhibited rheumatic comorbidities. Neoplasms were found in 20.6 % of patients, with 6.6 % classified as hematological and 14.0 % as solid neoplasms. With respect to criteria for the metabolic syndrome, obesity was found in 69.4 %, arterial hypertension in 57.9 %, and diabetes mellitus in 33.9 % of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data analysis confirms the association of PG with metabolic syndrome and neoplasms. In the future, these aspects should be included in the targeted diagnostic workup of patients with PG and subsequently treated in a timely fashion.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors: Finja
authors: F
authors: Jockenhöfer
authors: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing/Comprehensive Wound Center (CWC), University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Katharina
authors: K
authors: Herberger
authors: Department of Dermatology, Allergology, and Phlebology, Helios Hospitals Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany.
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Schaller
authors: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors: Katja Christina
authors: KC
authors: Hohaus
authors: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors: Maren
authors: M
authors: Stoffels-Weindorf
authors: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors: Philipp Al
authors: PA
authors: Ghazal
authors: Department of Dermatology, Allergology, and Phlebology, Helios Hospitals Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Augustin
authors: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. joachim.dissemond@uk-essen.de.
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Dissemond
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution