ECTHYMA GANGRENOSUM IN A PATIENT WITH HYPOGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA

Ecthyma gangrenosum is a characteristic skin lesion that is caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in the majority of cases. Syste mic P. aeruginosa usually complicates debilitating conditions like leu kaemia, burns and cystic fibrosis. We report a patient wth underlying hypogammaglobulinemia who developed ecthyma gangrenosum secondary to P . aeruginosa septicaemia, which was potentially life-threatening. Reco gnition of the characteristic skin lesions with prompt initiation of a ppropriate antibiotics and intravenous immunoglobulins were Life-savin g. A review of the English Literature reports three other cases of ect hyma gangrenosum in patients with underlying hypogammaglobulinemia.