TY - JOUR
T1 - Treatment with alpha interferon associated with the development of paraneoplastic pemphigus
AU - Kirsner, R. S.
AU - Anhalt, G. J.
AU - Kerdel, F. A.
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - The use of interferon (INF) is usually considered safe, the major side-effect being a flu-like syndrome. However, with its ability to alter immune responsiveness, INF has been associated with the induction of autoimmune diseases. We report a patient with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia who developed a generalized blistering eruption after treatment with systemic INF-α 2A (INF) for multiple skin cancers. The patient's skin showed histological features, immunofluorescence findings, and immunoprecipitation diagnostic of paraneoplastic pemphigus. Despite aggressive treatment the patient died. In our patient, the use of INF was temporally related to the development of paraneoplastic pemphigus. Although interferon has been shown to induce other autoimmune diseases, to our knowledge this is only the second report of a patient treated with an interferon who subsequently developed a fatal autoimmune blistering disorder. Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a recently described autoimmune bullous disorder with a poor prognosis. The mechanism by which INF triggered the paraneoplastic pemphigus is not known.
AB - The use of interferon (INF) is usually considered safe, the major side-effect being a flu-like syndrome. However, with its ability to alter immune responsiveness, INF has been associated with the induction of autoimmune diseases. We report a patient with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia who developed a generalized blistering eruption after treatment with systemic INF-α 2A (INF) for multiple skin cancers. The patient's skin showed histological features, immunofluorescence findings, and immunoprecipitation diagnostic of paraneoplastic pemphigus. Despite aggressive treatment the patient died. In our patient, the use of INF was temporally related to the development of paraneoplastic pemphigus. Although interferon has been shown to induce other autoimmune diseases, to our knowledge this is only the second report of a patient treated with an interferon who subsequently developed a fatal autoimmune blistering disorder. Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a recently described autoimmune bullous disorder with a poor prognosis. The mechanism by which INF triggered the paraneoplastic pemphigus is not known.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028923220&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0028923220&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1995.tb08688.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1995.tb08688.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 7718471
AN - SCOPUS:0028923220
SN - 0007-0963
VL - 132
SP - 474
EP - 478
JO - British Journal of Dermatology
JF - British Journal of Dermatology
IS - 3
ER -