[Pyoderma gangrenosum following cesarean delivery]

We describe the case of a 30-year-old woman who, 5 days after giving birth to her first child by cesarean section, presented with dehiscence of one end of the surgical wound and a lesion on her leg that developed into a well-defined ulcer; both lesions were very painful. The patient was initially diagnosed with a skin infection and later with superficial pyoderma gangrenosum. The lesions were treated with topical corticosteroids and a good response was observed. No evidence was found of underlying disease. Isolated cases of pyoderma gangrenosum associated with pregnancy or cesarean delivery have been reported in the literature. The etiology of pyoderma gangrenosum is currently unknown, but some theories suggest an immunologic mechanism. Gestation is known to generate a state of immune tolerance that could play a role in the development of the disease and future studies may help to clarify the significance of this association.