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Giant cells in pyoderma gangrenosum
1Department of Dermatology, Cornell University Medical Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
|February 13, 2001
Summary
Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) lesions associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly Crohn's disease, may show granulomatous foci. Histiocytic giant cells in PG biopsies can indicate underlying IBD.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
Background:
- Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare inflammatory skin disease.
- The association between PG and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially Crohn's disease, is recognized.
- Granulomatous foci in PG lesions have been suggested in association with IBD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of granulomatous foci in pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) lesions.
- To determine if these foci correlate with associated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly Crohn's disease.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical histories and skin biopsies from 34 PG patients.
- Immunohistochemical staining using PGM1 (a macrophage marker) on biopsied tissue.
- Comparison of findings between PG patients with and without IBD.
Main Results:
- Six of 13 (46%) PG patients with IBD showed PGM1+ histiocytic giant cells in their lesions.
- Five of these 6 patients had Crohn's disease; one had ulcerative colitis.
- No giant cells were observed in the 21 PG patients without IBD (p = 0.006).
Conclusions:
- The presence of PGM1+ histiocytic giant cells in pyoderma gangrenosum lesions may serve as an indicator of associated inflammatory bowel disease.
- This finding is particularly relevant for identifying patients with Crohn's disease.