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Use of Becaplermin for nondiabetic ulcers: pyoderma gangrenosum and calciphylaxis
Author(s) -
Twu Olivia,
Mednik Suzanne,
Scumpia Philip,
Doaty Sarah,
Worswick Scott
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
dermatologic therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1529-8019
pISSN - 1396-0296
DOI - 10.1111/dth.12318
Subject(s) - medicine , calciphylaxis , pyoderma gangrenosum , pathergy , dermatology , etiology , surgery , skin ulcer , calcification , disease
Large difficult to heal ulcers of various etiologies carry a high morbidity and mortality rate. Becaplermin is a recombinant platelet‐derived growth factor approved for treatment of diabetic ulcers. In this two‐case series, we report the use of becaplermin in the treatment of ulcers due to (i) calciphylaxis, an often fatal condition resulting from systemic calcification and thrombosis of vessels and (ii) pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), a neutrophilic dermatosis. We also report that topical collagenase worsened PG ulcers, consistent with pathergy. Becaplermin can be used to help treat ulcers resulting from calciphylaxis and PG. These encouraging results lend support for the utilization of becaplermin in the treatment of nondiabetic chronic ulcers of various etiologies.