Improvement of pyoderma gangrenosum and psoriasis associated with Crohn disease with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody

Background: Infliximab is an anti-tumor necrosis factor or monoclonal antib ody IgG effective in the treatment and maintenance of remission of active r efractory Crohn disease and associated draining enterocutaneous fistulae. M ultiple infusions of infliximab show promising results in patients with rhe umatoid arthritis. Currently, there is limited clinical experience with inf liximab, and no published reports exist on its use in cutaneous disorders. Observations: We describe 2 patients with Crohn disease and pyoderma gangre nosum and 1 patient with Crohn disease and psoriasis who were treated with infliximab for recalcitrant Crohn fistulae, with concurrent improvement in their skin diseases. Conclusions: These cases suggest that infliximab, a promising therapeutic a gent for refractory Crohn disease and fistulae, may also be effective in th e treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum and psoriasis associated with Crohn dis ease.