Favorable response to infliximab treatment in a patient with active Crohn disease and pyoderma gangrenosum

Scand J Gastroenterol. 2002 Jul;37(7):863-5.

Abstract

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease requiring meticulous medical and/or surgical treatment. We describe a 46-year-old patient who developed harsh pyoderma gangrenosum during a severe flare-up of the underlying Crohn disease of the terminal ileum. The patient responded favorably to treatment with infliximab-the chimeric antibody against tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The drug was administered intravenously at a dose 5 mg/kg/BW at baseline and weeks 2 and 6. Abdominal signs and symptoms as well as the skin lesions improved markedly before the second infusion. The patient is presently on infliximab maintenance regimen at a dose of 5 mg/kg/BW being administered as a 3 dose loading regimen at 0, 2 and 6 weeks with a treatment-free interval of 10 weeks until the next loading dose. The skin lesions remained in remission. Infliximab is a promising therapeutic modality for patients with Crohn disease and pyoderma gangrenosum.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Crohn Disease / complications
  • Crohn Disease / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Ileitis / etiology
  • Infliximab
  • Middle Aged
  • Pyoderma Gangrenosum / drug therapy*
  • Pyoderma Gangrenosum / etiology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Infliximab