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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
[Ganulomatosis with polyangiitis revealed by a cutaneous ulceration mimicking a pyoderma gangrenosum: Two patients]
G de Cambourg1, A Mahé1, S Banea1
1Service de dermatologie, hôpitaux civils de Colmar, 68024 Colmar, France.
Introduction:
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a systemic and necrotizing vasculitis, and cutaneous involvement is uncommon. We report two cases of skin ulceration mimicking a pyoderma gangrenosum, and revealing granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Case Reports:
We report two patients who presented with atypical cutaneous ulcerations, with a chronic course. These wounds were large ulcerations with abrupt edges, with purulent and hemorrhagic exudates. The first hypothesis was a pyoderma gangrenosum, but the biopsies were not specific. New biopsies performed distant from the edges showed a necrotizing vasculitis associated with giant cells granuloma, typical from granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Conclusion:
Cutaneous manifestations are uncommon in granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and can be misleading as they may precede the systemic symptoms. We report two cases of granulomatosis with polyangiitis revealed by cutaneous symptoms mimicking a pyoderma gangrenosum. Repetition of the skin biopsies were necessary to obtain the diagnosis.
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