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A Curious Case of Cutaneous Pathergy: Pyoderma Gangrenosum in the Setting of Hepatitis C and Cocaine Use

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a neutrophilic dermatosis that presents with rapidly developing, painful ulcers, often associated with underlying autoimmune or hematological conditions. Pathergy, the exacerbation of skin lesions after minor trauma, is a hallmark of PG but may be present in other diseases. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and cocaine use have been increasingly recognized as potential triggers of PG and pathergy. This case describes a patient with hepatitis C and active cocaine usage, without any known systemic inflammatory conditions, who developed pathergy and met the 2018 Delphi Criteria for PG.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.85807

Authors: Yasasvhinie Santharam, Michael Cargill, Raafat Makary, Rafik Jacob

Institutions: University of Florida, University of Florida Health Science Center

Language: English

Topic: Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4411194725