Pyoderma Gangrenosum on the Sternal Area in Ulcerative Colitis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

ABSTRACT

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a painful, chronic, ulcerative skin disease of unknown cause. It commences as an erythematous papulopustule and rapidly evolves to form an area of frank ulceration with undermined, violaceous edges and a bright outer halo of erythema. An underlying systemic illness is present in more than 75 per cent of patients. Inflammatory bowel disease, either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, is the most frequent. Pyoderma gangrenosum generally appears during the course of active bowel disease and frequently concur with exacerbations of colitis. However, they also occur in inactive colitis. Nor is there general agreement regarding the relationship between the duration, activity, and extent of bowel disease and the incidence and severity of the skin lesions. We experienced a case of pyoderma gangrenosum developed on the sternum with inactive ulcerative colitis and improved with corticosteroid, antimicrobial agents and topical dressing but recurred another site with active colitis.