Bilateral peripheral ulcerative keratitis associated with pyoderma gangrenosum

Abstract

Purpose: A 37-year-old Hispanic man with a history of chronic myelogenous leukemia was first seen with fever and preseptal cellulitis of this right orbit after a tooth extraction.

Methods: The patient subsequently developed bilateral, severe peripheral ulcerative keratitis. He was treated with systemic antibiotics for a presumed underlying infectious cause. Several painful, necrotizing skin lesions developed over his face, trunk, and extremities.

Results: Repeated skin biopsies of the necrotizing lesions were consistent with pyoderma gangrenosum. Both the skin lesions and peripheral ulcerative keratitis responded dramatically to systemic prednisone.

Conclusions: Pyoderma gangrenosum should be included in the differential diagnosis of peripheral ulcerative keratitis.