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Herpetiform pemphigus induced by penicillamine
Author(s) -
MARSDEN R.A.,
DAWBER R.P.R.,
MILLARD P.R.,
MOWAT G.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1977.tb14257.x
Subject(s) - penicillamine , pemphigus , dermatology , medicine
SUMMARY A patient with arthritis is described who developed a dermatitis herpetiformis‐like rash after 8 months of D‐penicillamine therapy and which cleared soon after the drug was discontinued. The histopathologicat findings were compatible with a diagnosis of pemphigus, showing intra‐epidermal vesicles and spongiosis but no acantholysis. Intercellular antibody was detected by indirect immunofiuorescence at the onset of the eruption (titre I in 160) and also found in serum taken prior to penicillamine treatment (titre i in 20). It is now well known that D‐penicillamine can induce pemphigus. The findings reported here suggest the possibility that the patient was predisposed to develop the eruption before the drug was given.