A Case of Bullous Pemphigoid Arising after Infliximab Therapy in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune, subepidermal blistering disease commonly seen in the elderly. It is known as autoimmune bullous dermatoses with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 40,000 and shows no gender or racial predilection. It has an autoimmune nature with immunoglobulin (Ig) G and/or C3 complement targeting hemidesmosomal antigens located in the epidermal basement membrane zone. Drug-induced pemphigoid, although rare, can occur in patients taking penicillamine, furosemide, captopril, penicillin, or sulfasalazine, but infliximabinduced pemphigoid has not been reported. We experienced a case of infliximab-induced pemphigoid in 54-year-old woman with a 17-year history of rheumatoid arthritis.