As a tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist, infliximab is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. Infliximab has been used to treat a variety of dermatological diseases. Among these is pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), an uncommon inflammatory disorder characterized by painful skin ulcers. Often treated with corticosteroids, antibiotics with anti-inflammatory properties, and/or immunosuppressive medications, PG may be difficult to treat. The authors performed a retrospective analysis of patients with refractory PG treated with infliximab at a dose of 5mg/kg. Five patients were treated. Infliximab was efficacious in all, with healing of 12 of 13 ulcers in a mean time of 12.2 weeks. Patients received a range of one to three infusions (mean 1.8). In conclusion, infliximab is a treatment option for PG.
