Sulfapyridine and sulfones decrease glycosaminoglycans viscosity in dermatitis herpetiformis, ulcerative colitis, and pyoderma gangrenosum

Treatment of a relapsing facial pyoderma gangrenosum (malignant pyoderma)

A case of rapidly relapsing pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) of the left preauricular area with no undermined borders is described. This might be considered a case of malignant pyoderma (PM), a rare variety of PG. Five months after complete healing obtained with systemic corticosteroids, the preauricular lesion of PG relapsed. As retreatment with oral methylprednisolone induced glucose intolerance and high arterial pressure, sulfa drugs were initially employed with a transitory recovery of the skin lesion. A successive prolonged course with minocycline induced a new complete resolution. To date, at six months' follow-up, the patient is relapse-free. This case confirms that sulfa drugs and minocycline may also be considered alternative therapies in PM. PM is a variety of PG characterized by specific morphological features, a higher tendency to relapse, and poor responsiveness to treatment.

Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (Sneddon-Wilkinson disease) with absence of desmoglein 1 and 3 antibodies: case report and literature review

Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SPD) [Sneddon-Wilkinson disease] is a benign and uncommon disorder characterized by a chronic, relapsing vesiculopustular eruption of unknown etiology. We present a case of SPD in a young Black woman in whom ELISA was performed to test for desmoglein 1 and 3 antigens (the first reported case of evaluation for these antigens in a patient with SPD). The test revealed the absence of both antibodies. The patient was successfully treated with topical corticosteroids and narrow-band UVB phototherapy. In this report, we review both the pathophysiology of SPD, which has yet to be clarified, and its treatment. Data obtained from our case report add further support to the hypothesis that a non-antibody-mediated mechanism is operative in SPD. The treatment of choice for SPD is dapsone. However, the combination of corticosteroids and UVB phototherapy should be considered a valid therapeutic option in patients who are not appropriate candidates for dapsone therapy.

Treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum

Critical to the proper management of pyoderma gangrenosum are correct diagnosis, identification and treatment of any underlying disorder, and the proper choice of topical and systemic therapy. Many agents are available for the treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum. We review the current therapeutic options, their efficacy and side effects, and we offer some guidelines for their proper selection.