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Correlation of disease activity and serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen in acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis: A case report
Author(s) -
Honma Masaru,
Iinuma Shin,
Kanno Kyoko,
Komatsu Shigetsuna,
MinamiHori Masako,
IshidaYamamoto Akemi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/1346-8138.12926
Subject(s) - anhidrosis , medicine , carcinoembryonic antigen , methylprednisolone , disease , dermatology , cancer
Hypohidrosis and anhidrosis are congenital or acquired conditions which are characterized by inadequate sweating. Acquired idiopathic generalized hypohidrosis/anhidrosis ( AIGA ) includes idiopathic pure sudomotor failure ( IPSF ), which has the following distinct features: sudden onset in youth, increased serum immunoglobulin E and responds favorably to systemic corticosteroid. No clinical markers reflecting the disease severity or activity have been established. Here, we report a case of AIGA in a J apanese patient successfully treated with repeated methylprednisolone pulse therapy. In this case, serum carcinoembryonic antigen ( CEA ) levels increased up to 19.8 ng/mL along with aberrant CEA immunoreactivity of eccrine sweat glands. Interestingly, the serum CEA level normalized as sweating improved with repeated methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Therefore, serum CEA level may serve as a useful clinical marker of hypohidrosis or anhidrosis.