A pyoderma gangrenous-like cutaneous leishmaniasis in a Libyan woman with rheumatoid arthritis: a case report

BACKGROUND: Several case reports describe diseases presenting with skin ulcerations, which resemble pyoderma gangrenosum especially in immune-compromised patients, often proven on further workup, to have an infective or malignant etiology. However, treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum by systemic steroids or other immunosuppressive agents may worsen the condition. CASE PRESENTATION: We report here, a 45 year-old Libyan woman with rheumatoid arthritis on low dose steroids with pyoderma gangrenosum-like skin lesions and positive pathergy. Slit-smear was positive for Leishmania amastigotes and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The lesions healed completely by parenteral sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam) 600 mg daily. CONCLUSION: We report for the first time, a rare and unusual presentation of pyoderma gangrenosum like-cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis should not be ruled out in the differential diagnosis of unresponsive skin diseases, with slit/smear and a skin biopsy is required.