¹Department of Dermatology, West Virginia University Medicine, USA
²Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West Virginia University Medicine, USA

*Address for Correspondence: Tallman R, Department of Dermatology, West Virginia University Medicine, Morgantown, Medical Center Drive, HSC P.O. Box 9158, Morgantown, WV 26506-9158, Fax: 304-293-8055, Tel: 855-988-273; Email: rmtallman@mix. wvu.edu

Submission: 30 July, 2021; Accepted: 06 September, 2021; Published: 10 September, 2021

Copyright: © 2021 Tallman R, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans is a neutrophilic dermatosis that is classically associated with inflammatory bowel disease. It is rare with less than 40 cases reported in the literature within the last 10 years. We discuss the case of a 30-year-old male who presented with pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans and previously undiagnosed Crohn’s disease. We aim to emphasize the importance of prompt recognition of pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans order to commence a thorough investigation of underlying inflammatory bowel disease, and initiate appropriate therapy. Because no standardized treatment regimens have been established, we also describe the variability in treatment responses seen with pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans with a review of the literature.

Pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans (PPV); Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID); Direct immunofluorescence (DIF); Gastrointestinal (GI); Ulcerative colitis (UC)

Pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans (PPV) is a neutrophilic dermatosis characteristically associated with underlying inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBD) [1]. The first reported case of PPV was in 1898 by Francois Hallopeau [2], and only 37 cases of PPV were reported in the literature between 1979 and 2011 [3]. Diagnosis can be challenging due to its resemblance to autoimmune blistering disorders such as pemphigus vegetans, and infectious etiologies such as Staphylococcus aureus and blastomycosis. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of PPV is critical in order to prompt further work up for IBD and begin appropriate management, especially considering that responses to treatments can be variable among patients and often require trial and error to maintain remission. Here, we report a case of PPV that highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis, especially in cases where underlying IBD has yet to be uncovered. We also perform a literature review of treatment responses in patients with PPV.

A 30-year-old Caucasian male with fever, hypotension, and tachycardia was admitted for one-week history of abdominal pain, diarrhea, rash, and concern for sepsis. Past medical history revealed another recent admission for melena, diarrhea, and abdominal pain which he had self-managed with 1 gram of ibuprofen per day. At that time, EGD and colonoscopy revealed edematous and ulcerated tissue with mucopurulent material. Biopsy revealed ulceration and granulation tissue, which was diagnosed as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced colitis. NSAIDs were discontinued, however diarrhea and melena had since persisted Additional past medical history included intravenous drug abuse managed with buprenorphine and naloxone, and recent unintentional 35-pound weight loss.

On admission, he was noted to have an elevated white blood cell count of 12,800 /UL with 87% polymorphonuclear lymphocytes. C-Reactive Protein was elevated at 189.5 mg/L (normal <8 mg/L). Due to concern for sepsis secondary due to bacterial endocarditis, vancomycin, cefepime, and metronidazole were started. Examination of the rash revealed crusted vegetative plaques with a rim of pustules localized to the face, arms, and legs (Figure 1A,Figure 1B), and multiple

erosions on the hard palate. Dermatologic differential diagnosis included deep fungal infection including blastomycosis, staphylococcal infection, pemphigus vegetans, and PPV. Biopsyrevealed necrotic epidermis, ulcerations, and neutrophilic infiltration (Figure 1C) with negative direct immunofluorescence (DIF). Tissue cultures were negative. Histologic diagnosis was compatible with a neutrophilic dermatosis including PPV.

Given ongoing diarrhea, melena, and skin biopsy compatible with PPV, gastroenterology was consulted. Colonoscopy revealed multiple strictures and large ulcers throughout the colon (Figure 2A). Biopsy of the colonic lesions revealed focal chronic active colitis with ulceration and granulation and no granulomas present (Figure 2B). IBD panel was consistent with Crohn’s disease. Given his history and skin biopsy results, it was suspected that the lesions were PPV secondary to IBD. The patient was started on prednisone 40 mg daily with significant improvement of skin and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Vedolizumab infusions successfully controlled GI symptoms after prednisone was tapered, however cutaneous manifestations of PPV recurred. He was eventually switched to infliximab with successful remission of both Crohn’s disease and PPV.

PPV is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis that characteristically presents with friable pustules of the oral cavity that form a “snailtrack” pattern and papulopustular cutaneous lesions that give rise to vegetating plaques [1]. PPV has a well-documented association with IBD. Although it presents more often as a sequela of ulcerative colitis (UC), it can be seen in Crohn’s disease as well, as in our patient [4]. Cases have also been reported with primary sclerosing cholangitis. It is more common for patients to present with GI symptoms prior to the onset of PPV, however skin lesions may appear first in approximately 15% of cases [1]. Although classic PPV involves both the mouth and the skin, involvement of both sites is not required to render a diagnosis. The etiology of PPV remains uncertain, and males between the ages of 20 and 50 are preferentially affected (3:1 male: female ratio) [5].

PPV has characteristic histology including intraepithelial and subepithelial splitting with neutrophilic and eosinophilic microabscesses. It is important to distinguish PPV from auto-immune blistering disorders, including the pemphigus vegetans subtype of pemphigus vulgaris, IgA pemphigus, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, and dermatitis herpetiformis. Unlike these blistering disorders, DIF is negative in PPV. Additional considerations include cutaneous infections such as blastomycosis-like pyoderma due to S.aureus, and endemic dimorphic fungal infections such as blastomycosis, which can be differentiated by positive tissue cultures. Finally, clinical findings of oral ulcers and documented IBD also support the diagnosis of PPV [1,3]. Our patient exhibited characteristic histology of PPV with negative DIF, negative bacterial and fungal tissue cultures, and presence of oral ulcers diffusely on the hard palate with new diagnosis of underlying IBD.

There is no standardized treatment for PPV, and responses to different therapies are extremely variable among patients. To illustrate this, we performed a review of case reports and case series of PPV since 2015 in PubMed detailing patient responses to varying treatment regimens, which is summarized in Table 1. Although there is no standard algorithm for management, corticosteroids are considered efficacious first line therapy. They are used as systemic, intralesional, and topical treatments depending on disease severity. All the cases reviewed that used corticosteroids achieved clearance, however relapse was common when tapering [1-4,6-13]. Other systemic treatments for PPV include dapsone, azithromycin cyclosporine, methotrexate, and infliximab, although varying efficacy has been reported with these options. Other topical treatments include tacrolimus, mupirocin, and antiseptic mouth washes for oral involvement.

Often the clinical courses of PPV and IBD are parallel [1], and successful management of the underlying IBD typically results in resolution of PPV [2]. However, there have also been cases in which PPV develops and persists despite well controlled IBD [1,3,4]. Our patient was started on vedolizumab initially for Crohn’s disease due to preference over infliximab, however he was eventually switched to infliximab after his skin manifestations continued to flare. Both his skin and GI symptoms have been well controlled with infliximab infusions. Previous reports have shown successful responses of both cutaneous and GI symptoms to infliximab [14], whereas vedolizumab has shown less efficacy in treating cutaneous manifestations of IBD [15].

In summary, we present a case of PPV that posed a diagnostic challenge, given both the patient’s risk factors for infectious cause and unknown underlying Crohn’s disease. Our case demonstrates characteristic clinical and histological features of PPV and highlights the necessity to recognize this condition to screen for underlying IBD. A review of the literature revealed the majority of cases clear with corticosteroid treatment, however relapse is common once discontinued. Although PPV has been shown to resolve with management of IBD, this was inconsistent among the reviewed cases and with our patient as well. Responses to other treatments for maintenance of PPV is variable and often requires trial and error to achieve remission.