Get started
Work

Acneiform eruptions and inflammatory striae as probable reactions to adalimumab

Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Sir, A 36-year-old male presented with multiple inflammatory striae which developed gradually over the past 15 days on his abdominal skin. He also developed acneiform eruptions over the face, trunk, and arms for the past 10 days. The patient was a known case of Crohn's disease for 10 years. He had been given oral prednisolone to the maximum dose of 60 mg/day, on and off over the past 10 years. Oral steroids were stopped 6 months back, and injection adalimumab was started in the dose of 40 mg subcutaneously every 15 days until date. He was not on any other oral or topical medication concurrently. Patient already had a few striae albicans over both axillae and thighs for 3–4 years. He started to develop new striae over the abdominal region for the last 15 days approximately 5½ months after beginning adalimumab, which was reddish and mildly tender associated with burning sensation [Figure 1]. There were no similar changes in preexisting striae over axillae and thighs. He also developed multiple erythematous papules and pustules over the face, chest, back, bilateral arms and forearms, and periumbilical region for the past 10 days which were slightly itchy [Figure 2].Figure 1: Inflammatory striae over abdominal skinFigure 2: Acneiform eruptions over backThe patient was started on topical retinoid cream for acneiform eruptions and emollient along with topical retinoid cream for striae and is under regular monthly follow-up. Adalimumab is a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibiting, anti-inflammatory, biologic medication. It is a recombinant human immunoglobulin1 monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity and specificity to human soluble TNF-α. Clinical trials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, plaque psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurative, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, noninfectious uveitis, and Crohn's disease have shown that adalimumab is effective when administered at a dosage of 40–80 mg for every 15 days.[123] Binding of TNF-α to TNF-α receptors leads to the inflammatory response of autoimmune diseases. By binding to TNF-α, adalimumab reduces this inflammatory response. Adalimumab works by reducing the proportion of tuberculosis-responsive cells by 50% and suppression of antigen-induced interferon-γ production by 64%. Neither apoptosis nor differential induction of interleukin-10 (IL-10) was observed in whole-blood cultures with adalimumab.[45] Since TNF-α is also a part of the immune system, treatment with adalimumab may increase the risk of infections. The side effects that may occur with the adalimumab are serious infections such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B in carriers, other infections by viruses, fungi, bacteria, heart failure, liver failure, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, disturbed vision, fatigue, body ache, respiratory distress, anemia, diarrhea, pain in abdomen, and burning micturition.[67] In an observational prospective study by Atzori et al., cutaneous reactions in patients with inflammatory bowel disease on adalimumab were observed as follows: Infections (32%), eczematous dermatitis (23%), infusion systemic reactions and at the injection site, paradoxical psoriasis onset or worsening (5.7%), followed by a mixture of different cutaneous reactions, including urticarial reactions, chronic lupus erythematosus, lichenoid eruption, erythema nodosum, and alopecia areata. The eruptive growth of benign lesions was also recorded (15%), mainly seborrheic keratosis and ruby angiomas, followed by neck and groins fibropapillomas. Preexisting herpes infections, steroidal acne, diffuse folliculitis, striae distensae, skin fragility with capillarity and one case of leukocytoclastic vasculitis were recorded and excluded from the study even if they continued to occur after exposure to adalimumab.[8] Nonmelanoma skin cancer and basal-cell carcinoma have also been reported with TNF-α blockers.[9] Formation of new striae albicans or inflammatory striae due to biologics has not been reported, and development of inflammatory striae was a surprising finding in this patient. Acneiform eruptions have been reported majorly with infliximab and in a few cases with adalimumab. Their appearance ranged from erythematous papules to cystic lesions requiring oral isotretinoin therapy.[10111213] The immunological cascade triggered by the direct block of TNF-α, produces a parallel decrease in IL-1, decreasing endothelial permeability, leukocyte migration, and the inflammatory process.[78] Hence, the effect produced in this patient is paradoxical because infliximab and adalimumab have been used successfully as off-label prescriptions in the treatment of acne conglobata,[14] SAPHO syndrome.[15] In conclusion, we highlight the need to deepen our understanding of the pathophysiology of such paradoxical reactions that are described here. It remains unknown why these types of drugs improve acneiform eruptions in some patients and worsen them in others. The development of inflammatory striae due to adalimumab was another unusual finding in this patient. Declaration of patient consent The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed. Financial support and sponsorship This study was financially supported by the Department of Dermatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi, India. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.
DOI: 10.4103/cdr.cdr_9_18
Authors: PriyankaBorde Bisht, Shilpa Garg
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3196168533
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: 10