Dealing with Corticosteroid and High-Dose Cyclosporine Therapy in a Pyoderma Gangrenosum Patient Contracting a COVID-19 Infection

Journal of Personalized Medicine, vol. 12, pp. 173

Abstract

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare and chronic neutrophil inflammation belonging to the spectrum of autoinflammatory disorders. Immunosuppressive therapy is the cornerstone of successful treatment. However, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, physicians struggle with therapeutic strategies during infection. This paper describes the case of a 58-year-old patient with a very painful, rapidly increasing wound on his right foot, which was diagnosed as pyoderma gangrenosum. Five weeks after the initial treatment with high-dose immunosuppressives (combination therapy with cyclosporine A and systemic methylprednisolone), he became infected with COVID-19. Reduction in the immunosuppressive dosage proved effective, as the patient recovered from COVID-19 without any complication and showed rapid wound healing.

Authors 5

1. Marcella Ricardis May Aachen Department of Dermatology and Allergology

   RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Albert Rübben Aachen Department of Dermatology and Allergology

   RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Department of Dermatology, St. Nikolaus Hospital, 4700 Eupen, Belgium

3. Andrea Lennertz
   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine, St. Nikolaus Hospital, 4700 Eupen, Belgium

4. Luk Vanstreels
   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dermatology, St. Nikolaus Hospital, 4700 Eupen, Belgium

5. Marike M. Leijs corresponding Aachen Department of Dermatology and Allergology

   RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Department of Dermatology, St. Nikolaus Hospital, 4700 Eupen, Belgium