Koebnerization of Hailey–Hailey disease into chronic prurigo nodularis: Clearance of both entities under a naloxone therapy

Abstract

Hailey–Hailey disease (HHD) is a genetic skin disorder, accompanied by lesional pruritus and a relevant impact on quality of life of affected patients. Approved or even successful treatments are still lacking, highlighting the need for further insight in therapeutic options. µ-opioid receptor antagonists have recently been identified as a potentially successful therapy in HHD-patients, while already being used successfully in treating chronic pruritus. In our case of a patient with severe HHD and generalization of chronic pruritus, which led to koebnerization of HHD lesions into clinically healthy skin, intravenous naloxone treatment proved extraordinarily beneficial in improving both HHD and concomitant chronic pruritus.