Tyrosine kinase inhibitors-associated pyoderma gangrenosum, a systematic review of published case reports

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare ulcerative dermatosis. It may be caused by some drugs, including small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the reported evidence of pyoderma gangrenosum associated with the use of these drugs. A systematic electronic literature search of PubMed and Embase was conducted. In these databases, search terms describing pyoderma gangrenosum were combined with TKIs. Fifteen case reports (eight cases associated with sunitinib, two with imatinib, two with ibrutinib, one with gefitinib, one with pazopanib, and one with dabrafenib and trametinib) were identified over the 14 years. The average Naranjo score of these cases is 6.6, which indicates a probable adverse drug reaction. Pyoderma gangrenosum is a probable and reversible drug reaction associated with some TKIs. Detailed medical history can help to prompt diagnosis of drug-induced pyoderma gangrenosum. Clinicians should be aware of TKI-associated pyoderma gangrenosum when caring for the skin of oncologic patients undergoing therapy with kinase inhibitors.