Pyoderma Gangrenosum, Acne, and Hidradenitis Suppurativa Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Pyoderma gangrenosum, acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa syndrome is a rare inflammatory disease characterized by pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), mild to severe facial acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). It only affects the skin and represents cutaneous characteristics of a spectrum of autoinflammation. Lack of pyogenic sterile arthritis (PA) distinguishes the pyoderma gangrenosum, acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa (PASH) syndrome from pyogenic arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa (PA-PASH), pyoderma gangrenosum, acne, hidradenitis suppurtiva, and ankylosing spondylitis (PASS), and pyogenic arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, and acne (PAPA) syndromes. The exact etiology and pathogenesis of PASH syndrome remain unknown. Both PG and HS are contained in the spectrum of neutrophilic dermatitis, which is considered as an autoinflammatory syndrome. From a pathophysiological point of view, they show similar mechanisms, including neutrophil-rich cutaneous infiltration and overexpression of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family. These findings provide guidance for these intractable diseases. In this review, we described a case of PASH syndrome in a patient who initially failed to respond to immunosuppressive treatment but responded to a combination of colchicine and thalidomide. We reviewed the relevant literature that focuses on PASH syndrome management.

Introduction

The term “autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs)” was first proposed in 1999 to describe autosomal dominant periodic fever syndromes (1). Traditionally, it represents a group of hereditary recurrent non-invasive inflammatory diseases characterized by a dysfunction or hyperactivation of the innate immune system (lack of autoreactive T-cells and autoantibody production), with mutations in single genes involved in inflammation (2). As the study of AIDs deepens, it was found that such antigen-independent overactivation of the immune system played a key role in a variety of inflammatory skin diseases (3–5). A consistent feature of those disorders is neutrophil-rich cutaneous infiltration without evidence of infection. Hence, AIDs currently represent a rising group of inflammatory conditions, such as PASH syndrome, that extend beyond monogenic diseases.

Pyoderma gangrenosum, acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa (PASH) syndrome is a rare autoinflammatory dermatosis associating pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), mild to severe facial acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Distinct genetic mutations and differences in clinical phenotypes distinguish PASH syndrome from other AIDs (6). The exact etiology and pathogenesis of PASH syndrome remain unknown. Marzano et al. (7) analyzed several patients with PASH syndrome and found the expressions of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and its receptors to be remarkably higher in local skin lesions than in controls, but serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines were within normal limits. Mutations causing defective inflammasome function have been reported with PASH syndrome that increases IL-1β to stimulate innate immunity and neutrophil recruitment (8). These findings demonstrate that PASH syndrome belongs to the spectrum of IL-1-driven AIDs. Patients with PASH syndrome are treated in a variety of ways, with individual differences in efficacy. Corticosteroids combined with other immunosuppressants are usually considered first-line therapy. In this review, we described a case of PASH syndrome in a patient who failed immunosuppressive treatment initially but responded to a combination of colchicine and thalidomide. We reviewed the relevant literature that focuses on PASH syndrome management.

Case Presentation

A 20-year-old man of Asian origin was referred to our hospital in July 2020 with a 9-year history of recurrent painful ulceration of both legs and aggravation during the previous few months. The patient also reported a history of recurrent draining sinuses and abscesses in the axillary and genitofemoral regions, as well as severe and scarring nodular acne of the face since puberty. Dermatological examination revealed papulopustules and sinus tracts in his axillae with purulent secretion upon palpation (Figure 1A). On his trunk and limbs, especially the lower extremities, diffuse and geographic skin ulcers surrounded by an undermined margin with apparent ridged erythema were found (Figures 2A,B). Histological examination showed pseudo-epitheliomatous hyperplasia with epidermal neutrophilic abscess formation and intradermal granuloma formation with extensive infiltration of neutrophils, which was consistent with the diagnosis of vegetative PG. PAS and acid-fast staining were negative.

FIGURE 1.

Hidradenitis suppurativa before (A) and following combination therapy (B).

FIGURE 2.

Pyoderma gangrenosum before (A,B) and following combination therapy (C,D), the healed ulcer formed atrophic cribriform scars.

Routine and immunological laboratory tests were within normal limits except for mild anemia. Considering the potential links between PG and inflammatory bowel disease or hematological diseases, serum and urine immunofixation electrophoresis and fecal calprotectin tests were conducted with negative results. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax and abdominal ultrasound showed no obvious abnormalities. The patient was otherwise in good health. He denied trauma and proceeding or concurrent illnesses. His family history was unremarkable for inflammatory pathologies. Genetic testing of proline-serine-threonine phosphatase-interacting protein 1 (PSTPIP1), nicastrin (NCSTN), NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), and mediterranean fever (MEFV) genes revealed no mutations.

In view of the clinical, laboratory, and histopathological findings, we made a diagnosis of PASH syndrome. The patient had tried a variety of drugs regimens to unsatisfactory effect before coming to our clinic (Figure 3). Since the diagnosis of PG in 2014, he had been receiving oral corticosteroid therapy (initial dose prednisone 40 mg per day). The therapeutic regimen was incipiently effective, with most of his lesions subsiding after 1 month of administration. Prednisone was subsequently tapered over a year to 5 mg. However, the symptoms recurred after 2 years of maintenance; at this time, glucocorticoids alone failed to control the progression of the disease. Therefore, the patient was treated with oral corticosteroids in combination with other immunosuppressants, including sulfasalazine and cyclosporine, with only partial resolution. Attempts to add acitretin were met with failure as well. During this period, he was hospitalized several times due to secondary infection and aggravation of the illness. Until visiting our clinic, the patient was still taking oral prednisone 10 mg per day. In consideration of a therapeutic strategy targeted against all three entities (PG, HS, acne), the patient was treated with a combination of 40 mg of prednisone per day, 50 mg of thalidomide per day, 0.5 mg of colchicine two times per day, 0.2 g of doxycycline per day, and daily topical application of corticosteroids. Significant pain relief and the dramatic response of the skin lesions were observed during his second visit half a month later. Complete healing of the skin ulceration of both legs (Figures 2C,D) and remission of the facial acne and hidradenitis suppurativa (Figure 1B) were achieved within half a year. Subsequently, prednisone was tapered down to 5 mg per day within half a year, and to date, no obvious recurrence has been observed. The patient has given his consent for his case to be reported.

FIGURE 3.

Course of disease in PASH patient from 2011 to 2021.

Discussion

Pyoderma gangrenosum, acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa syndrome is a rare inflammatory disease characterized by PG, mild to severe facial acne, and HS. It was first described as a new entity in 2012; however, Hsiao et al. (9) had previously described this clinical phenotype. Prevalence estimates of PASH syndrome are lacking, but its associated conditions, PG and HS, have a prevalence of 0.0058% and a higher worldwide prevalence ranging from 0.3 to 1.4%, respectively (10, 11). In contrast to other autoinflammatory syndromes within the spectrum, PASH syndrome seems to only affect the skin organ and may have a wide array of genetic changes, so the diagnosis of PASH syndromes is largely based on typical clinical presentation. Both PG and HS are contained in the spectrum of neutrophilic dermatitis, and both can occur as either idiopathic diseases or syndromic manifestations. Interestingly, the coexistence of PG and HS may indicate poor response to traditional treatment options or does not achieve sustained remission. The initial symptom of our patient was painful ulceration of both legs, which rapidly responded to prednisone. However, with the recurrence of PG and the emergence of HS, glucocorticoids alone or even combined with immunosuppressants failed to provide complete relief.

As mentioned before, PASH syndrome is a heterogeneous disease. Although mutations in PSTPIP1 (an increase in the number of CCTG repeats in the PSTPIP1 promoter), PSENEN, and NCSTN have been identified in a portion of patients with PASH (12–17), the genetic background of PASH is still unclear. Genes involved in other similarly related inflammatory diseases, with which PASH syndrome shares common clinical characteristics, seem to be potential candidates. Just as there is a documented relationship between neutrophilic dermatosis and inflammatory bowel disease or malignancy, there are reports of PASH syndrome occurring in association with both of these (18, 19). It is worth noting that most patients with PASH syndrome were reported to be overweight, which is also found in PG and HS. Hence, we recommend genetic testing and thorough examination for every patient diagnosed with PASH syndrome.

With a limited number of reported cases, there are no defined treatment recommendations for PASH syndrome. Often, treatment is directed at the management of PG and HS, including wound care, topical and intralesional therapies (corticosteroids, tacrolimus, and photodynamic therapy), oral antibiotics (doxycyline, rifampin, moxifloxacin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, linezolid, etc.), traditional immunosuppressants (corticosteroids, cyclosporine, sulfasalazine, etc.), immunomodulators (thalidomide and dapsone), biologics (anti-TNF, anti-IL-1, anti-IL-17, and anti-IL-23), and surgical procedures (3, 20–27). Moreover, any proposed therapeutic strategy should address all three comprising entities as effectively as possible, and combined therapies are strongly recommended. Our general approach to treating common presentations of PASH syndrome is reviewed as follows.

Firstly, intensive lifestyle modifications focusing on weight reduction and smoking cessation can be beneficial in the treatment of PASH syndrome. For us, it is the preferred option to prescribe glucocorticoids and/or cyclosporine for timely relief of the pain and wound exacerbation. After beginning therapy, the clinician should reappraise the patient’s response to treatment within 1–3 weeks. If complete relief is not achieved, biologics or other compatible steroid-sparing agents should be considered. If there is no improvement after the above aggressive treatment, the clinician should reconsider other possible diagnoses. Furthermore, Ead et al. (28) shared two cases indicating that PASH syndrome may be a biofilm disease (a dysregulation of the host microbiota causing a persistent inflammatory condition) and emphasized the importance of antibiotic use and wound care. Frequent debridement of the wound or surgical procedures is generally considered to be avoided during the active phase of the disease with concerns for pathergic response. However, some clinical case reports (29) suggest that Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) and Split Thickness Skin Grafts (STSG) may have surprising therapeutic effects in the early treatment of PG when combined with immunosuppressors, especially for patients with large wounds or high susceptibility to infection. While potent topical corticosteroids are often used to treat PG and HS, evidence for their efficacy in PASH is limited. We typically use them as an important adjunctive therapy and tend to taper and discontinue them over the course of 3–4 months. There is accumulating evidence indicating that biologics, particularly TNF inhibitors, have surprising efficacy when conventional immunosuppressive therapies fail to provide satisfactory results or in patients with severe organ dysfunction (30). The JAK-STAT pathway regulates signaling for multiple inflammation-relevant mediators and has been found to be associated with PG. In this vein, successful PG therapy with a JAK inhibitor was described recently (31–33). Therefore, JAK inhibitors may be a potential option consideration for PASH treatment. Colchicine has been known as an affordable, well-tolerated treatment for gout for thousands of years, which is derived from the bulb-like corms of the Colchicum autumnale plant. Studies have found that colchicine can impair neutrophil function and decrease the levels of the inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-18, and IL-6) (34). Therefore, it is frequently utilized for the treatment of many inflammatory diseases, especially for those patients who cannot receive conventional immunosuppressive therapy or biologics due to contraindications such as tuberculosis or HBV infection (35). Furthermore, thalidomide and doxycycline are widely used in inflammatory skin diseases due to their potent anti-neutrophil, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory cytokine activity (36, 37). In this case, based on our previous experience with the treatment of PG and HS, we implemented a combination of prednisone, thalidomide, colchicine, and doxycycline with daily topical application of corticosteroids. Complete healing of skin ulceration of both legs and remission of the facial acne and HS were achieved dramatically. Aside from the weight gain caused by oral corticosteroids, no side effects have been observed so far.

More study is needed to fully explore the pathological mechanism for this rare disease and to find more effective treatment.

Concluding Remarks

In conclusion, PASH syndrome is a distinct entity that belongs in the spectrum of AIDs. A comprehensive and radical approach is necessary when it comes to treatment. More controlled studies with long-term follow-up are needed to confirm the efficacy of these combined therapies.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author/s.

Ethics statement

Written informed consent was obtained from the participant for the publication of any potentially identifiable images in this case report.

Author Contributions

JH collected the clinical data and drafted the manuscript. LT, WS, and JL read and revised the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version and final manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Supplementary Material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.856786/full#supplementary-material