Vol.22 No.4

Case Report

Morphea associated with the use of adalimumab: a case report and review of the literature

Authors

Julio Ramírez1 , M. Victoria Hernández1 , Javier Galve2 , Juan D. Cañete1 , Raimon Sanmartí1

  • Arthritis Unit, Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Villarroel 170, Stairway 11, 2nd Floor, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
  • Department of Dermatology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Received:

26 July 2011

Accepted:

28 September 2011

Published online:

18 November 2011

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Abstract

Therapy with TNF blockers may induce cutaneous adverse events, but the development of morphea, a localized scleroderma lesion, is extremely infrequent. We describe a 37-year-old man with ankylosing spondylitis treated with adalimumab who developed morphea lesions in the lower limbs after 12 months of treatment. Adalimumab was discontinued, which resulted in progressive improvement in the skin lesions, with only mild hyperpigmentation remaining. We also review reports of morphea and other adverse cutaneous events related to anti-TNF treatment.

Key words

Ankylosing spondylitis - Antirheumatic agents - Drug toxicity - Localized scleroderma - Tumor necrosis factor-alpha