2nd December 2004
Jerry,
I believe the correct spelling and term is Pyoderma Gangrenosum (PG).
It's an ulcerative, inflammatory skin disorder and some feel it's an autoimmune reaction of some kind, rather than being caused by bacteria.
I read that about 4-5% of these lesions appear in people with stomas.
I would imagine it's very painful and must interfere with your using your stoma bag comfortably.
I did a search and found that there are many ways to treat this:
Topical therapies like local wound care and dressings, superpotent topical corticosteroids, cromolyn sodium 2% solution, nitrogen mustard, and 5-aminosalicylic acid.
Systemic therapies (pills) would include corticosteroids, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, dapsone, tacrolimus, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, thalidomide, and nicotine.
And intravenous therapies which would include pulsed methylprednisolone, pulsed cyclophosphamide, and immune globulin.
But IV treatment is reserved for the most severe cases.
Antibiotics are ONLY given if there is secondary bacterial infection.
Surgery to biospy or excise any part of the wound is NOT RECOMMENDED because new, larger lesions have been caused by these invasive procedures.
The bottom line is that steroids in some form are the drugs of choice and the majority of patients respond really well to them.
Good luck,
zuzu xx
I believe the correct spelling and term is Pyoderma Gangrenosum (PG).
It's an ulcerative, inflammatory skin disorder and some feel it's an autoimmune reaction of some kind, rather than being caused by bacteria.
I read that about 4-5% of these lesions appear in people with stomas.
I would imagine it's very painful and must interfere with your using your stoma bag comfortably.
I did a search and found that there are many ways to treat this:
Topical therapies like local wound care and dressings, superpotent topical corticosteroids, cromolyn sodium 2% solution, nitrogen mustard, and 5-aminosalicylic acid.
Systemic therapies (pills) would include corticosteroids, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, dapsone, tacrolimus, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, thalidomide, and nicotine.
And intravenous therapies which would include pulsed methylprednisolone, pulsed cyclophosphamide, and immune globulin.
But IV treatment is reserved for the most severe cases.
Antibiotics are ONLY given if there is secondary bacterial infection.
Surgery to biospy or excise any part of the wound is NOT RECOMMENDED because new, larger lesions have been caused by these invasive procedures.
The bottom line is that steroids in some form are the drugs of choice and the majority of patients respond really well to them.
Good luck,
zuzu xx