Journal List > J Rheum Dis > v.21(1) > 1064169

Moon and Ko: Dermatological Side Effects of antitumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Therapy

Abstract

As antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) agents are progressively being used in various medical conditions, dermatological adverse events have been encountered more frequently. To understand such dermatological conditions that have been documented while undergoing an-ti-TNF therapy, we reviewed relevant literature, including case reports and case series. Reported dermatological conditions included infusion and injection site reaction, cutaneous infection, psoriasiform eruption, dermatitis, allergic rash, lupus-like lesion, vasculitis, lichenoid reaction, granulomatous reaction, hair loss, cutaneous infection, and cutaneous neoplasm. These events had varying strengths of causal association and severity therefore, drug discontinuation may or may not be required.

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Figure 1.
Injection site reaction on the forearm manifested by erythema and edema.
jrd-21-9f1.tif
Figure 2.
Psoriasis on the (A) anterior and (B) lateral aspect of leg after adalimumab therapy. (C) Histopathologic examination shows confluent parakeratosis, absence of granular layer, regularly elongated rete ridge, suprapapillary thinning of epidermal plate, Munro's microabscess (H&E, ×100).
jrd-21-9f2.tif
Figure 3.
Acute urticaria on the back of the patient with adalimumab therapy.
jrd-21-9f3.tif
Figure 4.
Leukocytoclastic vasculitis on the lower extremity after infliximab therapy.
jrd-21-9f4.tif
Figure 5.
(A∼ C) Pigmented purpuric dermatoses on the leg after adalimumab therapy. (D) Histopathologic examination showed heavy infiltrate of neutrophils with leukocytoclasis, extravasation of RBC and fibrinoid necrosis of vessel wall (H&E, ×200).
jrd-21-9f5.tif
Figure 6.
Sarcoidosis on the (A) face and (B) inguinal area of the patient who occur the same lesion on her lung after adalimumab therapy. (C) Histopathologic examination showed multiple well circumscribed noncaseating granulomas consisted of epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, and lymphocytes in the dermis (H&E, ×40).
jrd-21-9f6.tif
Figure 7.
(A) Granuloma annulare on the dorsum of hand after adalimumab therapy. (B) Histopathologic examination showed palisading granulomas surrounding degenerated collagen (H&E, ×100).
jrd-21-9f7.tif
Figure 8.
(A) Verruca plana on the both lower extremity. (B) Close-up view. (C) Histopathologic examination showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis and perinuclear vaculoated cells in the upper epidermis (H&E, ×200).
jrd-21-9f8.tif
Table 1.
Dermatological side effects of anti-TNFα therapy
Infusion reactions
Injection site reaction
Psoriasis and psoriasiform eruption
Eczema-dermatitis and allergic rashes
Drug-induced lupus erythematosus
Vasculitis and pigmented purpuric dermatoses
Lichenoid reactions
Granulomatous reactions
Hair loss
Cutaneous infections
Cutaneous malignancy
Cutaenous lymphomas
Non-melanoma skin cancers
Melanoma

TNFα: tumor necrosis factor alpha.

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