Decline of anti-desmoglein 1 IgG ELISA scores by withdrawal of D-penicillamine in drug-induced pemphigus foliaceus

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2005 Jan;30(1):43-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2004.01655.x.

Abstract

A case of pemphigus foliaceus arising during the administration of D-penicillamine was reported. A 72-year-old woman with systemic sclerosis developed flaccid vesicles and crusted erythema of the skin after administration of D-penicillamine for 1-year. She was positive for anti-desmoglein 1 IgG by ELISA. The withdrawal of D-penicillamine resulted in improvement of the skin lesions and ELISA scores for anti-demoglein 1 antibodies revealed a surprisingly rapid decline. This case is a classical incidence of drug-induced pemphigus foliaceus, in which D-penicillamine was constantly required not only to induce, but also to maintain the production of the autoantibodies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antirheumatic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Autoantibodies / analysis*
  • Cadherins / immunology*
  • Desmoglein 1
  • Drug Eruptions / etiology*
  • Drug Eruptions / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pemphigus / chemically induced*
  • Pemphigus / immunology
  • Penicillamine / administration & dosage
  • Penicillamine / adverse effects*
  • Sclerosis / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Autoantibodies
  • Cadherins
  • Desmoglein 1
  • Penicillamine